MTV Unplugged

Poster of MTV Unplugged in November 1999.

### Recorded

November 24th, 1999 at the Majestic Theatre in the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York

### Released

March 19th, 2000 (CD)May 3rd, 2000 (VHS)

December 24th, 2000 (DVD)

### Producer

Steve Albini

***MTV Unplugged*** is a live album by alternative rock band The Infection and contains songs performed by The Infection on the television program MTV Unplugged, it was released just a day before Thanksgiving Day in November 24th, 1999.

Upon the release, the album debuted at No. 3 on the *Billboard 200* chart, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA in 2015. It won the Best Alternative Music Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, and has since been ranked one of the greatest live albums of all time.

## Background and Recording

The band taped their performance on November 24th, 1999 at the Majestic Theatre in the Brooklyn Academy of Music with an idea to have big candles decorating the stage to keep it dark and moody. Prior to the performance, SpongeBob and Sandy were offered to do the segment numerous times prior to the actual taping before finally accepting.

Unlike many artists who appeared on the show, The Infection was the second band to have filmed the entire performance in a single take. Some songs from the first three albums appear, with rarities and covers added in to the band's setlist.

A few of the members' songs were performed. Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt from Green Day joined to perform three songs with the band.

Other musicial guests appeared on the show, such as Michael Tait and Toby McKeehan from DC Talk, acoustic guitarist Elliott Smith, Mike Ness from Social Distortion, and Jerry Cantrell/Mike Ibnez from Alice in Chains.

## Track-listing

1. The Address Is On My Brain
2. Rampage
3. I Beg to Differ
4. Throwing Rocks In The Sea
5. Jesus Freak (DC Talk cover) (ft. Michael Tait and Toby McKeehan)
6. Colored People (DC Talk cover) (ft. Michael Tait and Toby McKeehan)
7. Why Did This Happen
8. Connected
9. Natural One (ft. Elliott Smith)
10. Last Call (Elliott Smith cover) (ft. Elliott Smith)
11. Infected Stuff
12. London's Burning
13. Salad Days (first known live performance)
14. Hurt
15. Angry Chair (Alice In Chains cover)
16. The Creeps (Social Distortion cover) (ft. Mike Ness)
17. Transgressions
18. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
19. When I Come Around (Green Day cover) (ft. Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt)
20. Redundant (Green Day cover) (ft. Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt)
21. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) (Green Day cover) (ft. Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt)
22. I'm Gonna See You (Lone Wolves/Sandy Cheeks song)
23. Ocean Man (Sandy Cheeks song)
24. Kendra's Star (S.B.N.S.S/Sandy Cheeks song)
25. Fantasia (Patrick Star song)

## The Infection

* SpongeBob SquarePants - acoustic lead guitar, lead vocals
* Sandy Cheeks - acoustic bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on "I'm Gonna See You", "Ocean Man" and "Kendra's Star"
* Patrick Star - drums (sometimes using steel brushes), lead vocals on "Fantasia"
* Yolandi Visser - acoustic guitar, backing vocals, piano on "When I Come Around"

### Additional musicians

* Trey Spruance - keyboards, synthesizer, piano on "Hurt"
* Mike Ness (Social Distortion) - vocals on "The Creeps"
* Elliott Smith - acoustic guitar, backing vocals on "Natural One", vocals on "Last Call"

### Green Day

* Billie Joe Armstrong - acoustic lead guitar on tracks 12, 13 and 14
* Mike Dirnt - acoustic bass and backing vocals on tracks 12, 13 and 14

### DC Talk

* Michael Tait - vocals on tracks 5 and 6
* Toby McKeehan - vocals on tracks 5 and 6

#### Alice In Chains

* Jerry Cantrell – acoustic lead guitar on "Angry Chair"
* Mike Inez – acoustic bass on "Angry Chair"