“MTV Unplugged in New York” (1993)
So we’re cheating a little with this entry—it’s a TV concert after all—but we’d argue that its iconic status and its quality earn it a place on our list. Hard to believe now, but back in the early 90s the entire “unplugged” concept—a live, acoustic set from an ordinarily electric band—was a novel and interesting one. Equally hard to believe is that 20 years ago, music television was an important part of the zeitgeist, and when MTV cottoned on to the “unplugged” idea, they sought out a number of big name bands for the format: none bigger, in November 1993, than Nirvana. Kurt Cobain and co., however, didn’t exactly play ball. Coming off the release of the confrontationally uncommercial In Utero, they refused to play a standard, hit-heavy set list and instead performed minor songs and covers of David Bowie, Lead Belly and The Vaselines, as well as some work by the Meat Puppets (a band whose name might have been invented to unsettle network execs), whose members joined the band on stage. MTV didn’t much like the result, but it aired anyhow—and then six months later Cobain killed himself, and the downbeat performance, for which Cobain had requested stage decorations of lilies, “like a funeral,” became talismanic for bereft fans (and immensely profitable for MTV, which began airing it practically on a loop). It’s a damn good show, though, despite the slightly soppy, soft-focus staging and shooting: there is something undervalued about watching a show where neither the cameras nor the musicians are leaping around like madmen. The recording was directed through multiple cameras and without interruption by Beth McCarthy-Miller, a live TV maestro who went on to direct eleven seasons of “Saturday Night Live.” And, at the risk of sounding like a weepy teenager in jeans ten sizes too big, the whole concert is sort of symptomatic of Cobain’s approach to music: gentle, heartfelt and basically misunderstood by an establishment that wanted him to shut up and play the hits in an easy, commercially viable way. The fact that it subsequently became an enormously lucrative album and film after Cobain’s death is not very surprising, really, but it doesn’t take away from the quiet excellence of Nirvana’s performance here.
From the Playlist to your playlist: “The Man Who Sold The World,” then a relatively unknown Bowie tune; the Lead Belly closer “Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” after which the band refused to do an encore, not believing they could top their performance of the song.
Check out Marilyn Manson\’s Dead to the World, and Madonna\’s Truth or Dare. Both incredibly fun experiences.
The Grateful Dead movie! it has everything a rock film should have that paints a picture of who they were as a band for the 10plus yrs they\’d put in by 76\’ when it cam out…Rock n roll circus – classic british rockers stoned for days under the big top, using TV cameras of the circa: 1968. Pink Floyd Live in Pompeii & The Cure (SHOW) hard to explain how perfect these 2 films are in shaping the craft of live concert film camera work and editing, AND hard to explain how they didn\’t make the lists at all?
the fact dat Queen Live at Wembley was the best rock performance of all time history and the fact that the masterpiece of their work to move crowds and shouts like that are not in this list makes this a retarded topic.
the performances of led zeppelin should not be over looked.
Snubbing Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii as "stupid" and omitting The Song Remains The Same automatically makes this whole list null & void.
…Shadows and Light by Joni Mitchell – but it's probably the same category as Songs Remain The Same…
I'd add "Runnin' Down a Dream" and "U2 3D" (which has some of the best 3D I've ever seen. Multiple times I almost yelled "Down in front" only to realize it was coming from the film itself)
Fantastic article but what about 'Total Balalaika Show'? And why does 'Woodstock not count as a great movie?
How is The Concert For Bangledesh not on this list. It's the best concert film ever as far as reason for existing, the musicians the play, the music they play etc.
Surprised to see you brush aside Pink Floyd's Pompeii as simply 'stupid.' Try taking it off Mute next time!
Down with Ben Brock!!!
They're not called The Band because they're generic. Just, the name stuck from when they where the backing band of other frontmen and especially Dylan for his tours in 65, 66, and also for The Basement Tapes. Music From the Big Pink is considered a masterpiece, (#34 in Rolling Stone's 500 best albums). Learn your history before trying to be smart.
"Generic" and "always on the verge of stardom"? From 1968 to about 1977 The Band were one of the biggest, most popular rock groups in the world. They didn't play "roots rock"; that didn't even exist then.
2. Meredith Hunter did NOT try to rush the stage and get stopped by a Hell's Angel. He was a black man attending the festival with an attractive, blonde, white girlfriend, and he was being hassled by the Angels and other members of the audience. He brandished the gun during an argument and an Angel ran up and stabbed him multiple times in the back. At least attempt to show some respect for the dead and get that right, okay?
3. The Last Waltz concert happened in 1976. Raging Bull was in 1979 and released in 1980.
Great list! "Liza with a Z" is pretty good too.
Uh… The Grateful Dead Movie?