Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged Performance Coming to DVD

Nearly 14 years to the day that it took place, Nirvana’s landmark MTV Unplugged performance will be released on DVD.

When it hits shelves on November 20, 2007, Unplugged in New York (Geffen/MTV Networks/UMe) will feature the complete and unedited 66-minute concert, including rehearsals and a previously unseen performance of the Meat Puppet’s song “Oh, Me.” The DVD will also feature MTV News interviews with the band and audience members.

In addition, Unplugged in New York will present the show in Dolby Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound and include both the shorter original broadcast version and Nirvana’s entire unedited performance.

This will mark the first time that the concert has been made available on DVD.

Filmed November 18, 1993, at Sony Music Studios, the show first aired on MTV on December 14, 1993, just four months before singer/guitarist/songwriter Kurt Cobain killed himself with a shotgun blast to the head. When released on CD in November 1994, MTV Unplugged in New York debuted at No. 1, won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996 and was quickly certified five times Platinum.

Favoring a selection of carefully chosen tracks over the band’s hits, Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl performed acoustic versions of Nirvana’s “About a Girl,” “Come As You Are,” “Pennyroyal Tea,” “Dumb,” “Polly,” “On a Plain,” “Something in the Way” and “All Apologies.”

In a demonstration of Nirvana’s musical diversity, they also performed cover versions of six songs: David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World,” the Vaselines’ version of “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam,” the traditional folk song (popularized by Leadbelly) “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” and the Meat Puppets’ tracks “Plateau,” “Oh, Me” and “Lake of Fire.” For the latter tracks, Nirvana were joined by Meat Puppets singer-guitarist Curt Kirkwood and bassist brother Cris Kirkwood. Also seen and heard throughout are Nirvana’s touring guitarist Pat Smear, who has been a recurring member of Grohl’s band, Foo Fighters.

The DVD adds the MTV News “Bare Witness” feature of interviews with the band, the MTV production staff, and fans in the audience, plus the rehearsal footage for “Come As You Are,” “Polly,” “Plateau,” “Pennyroyal Tea” and “The Man Who Sold the World.”

COMPLETE SHOW (UNEDITED)
About A Girl
Come As You Are
Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam
The Man Who Sold the World
Pennyroyal Tea
Dumb
Polly
On a Plain
Something in the Way
Plateau
Oh, Me
Lake of Fire
All Apologies
Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

MTV NEWS: BARE WITNESS
Documentary
The Rehearsals:
Come As You Are
Polly
Plateau
Pennyroyal Tea
The Man Who Sold the World