'90s Grunge Band's Iconic Album That Almost Was a Disaster Hits No. 2 Thirty Years Later

Thirty years ago, a legendary grunge group released an album that would become a testament to what made them one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Now, Alice in Chains' Unplugged is suddenly charting. The record's legendary status and recent surge up the charts are even more remarkable given how close it came to being a massive disaster.

'Unplugged' by Alice in Chains Is Charting on Billboard's Top Album Sales Chart

Recorded on April 10, 1996, Alice in Chains Unplugged is widely regarded as one of the best MTV Unplugged sessions and a masterpiece on its own terms. Featuring Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell's incredible harmonies and raw emotion, the album has given listeners chills for more than three decades. In fact, a July 2019 Louder article argued it "is the best live album ever made."

Now, more than 30 years after its original release on July 30, 1996, Unplugged continues to prove it is an all-time great album. After it was reissued on vinyl on September 25, 2026, to celebrate the record's 30th anniversary, Unplugged reached No. 2 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart for the week ending October 10, 2026. Still going strong today, the record is currently ranked at No. 36 on the chart.

'Unplugged' by Alice in Chains Full Track List:

• 1. "Nutshell"

• 2. "Brother"

• 3. "No Excuses"

• 4. "Sludge Factory"

• 5. "Down in a Hole"

• 6. "Angry Chair"

• 7. "Rooster"

• 8. "Got Me Wrong"

• 9. "Heaven Beside You"

• 10. "Would?"

• 11. "Frogs"

• 12. "Over Now"

• 13. "The Killer Is Me"

Why 'Unplugged' by Alice in Chains Was Nearly a Disaster

In one key way, Alice in Chains was perfectly positioned to make its Unplugged album a masterpiece. While the band is remembered for its heavy sound and electric guitar solos, it released two acoustic EPs, 1992's Sap and 1994's Jar of Flies. Despite that, circumstances existed that should have doomed Alice in Chains Unplugged.

During his life, Layne Staley proved himself to be a true artist and powerful vocalist whose performances continue to stun people to this day. As such, anyone who whittles down his legacy and makes it about his substance use disorder is doing a massive disservice to him, Alice in Chains, and themselves. Still, that doesn't mean the effects of his struggles should be ignored, especially when considering why Alice in Chains Unplugged almost became a disaster.

As a Grunge Magazine article updated in May 2025 noted, Staley was suffering from severe withdrawal on the day of the recording of Unplugged. As a result of the physical toll it took on him, he struggled to execute some lyrics and required multiple takes of several tracks. Even though songs took several attempts, the magic that makes him one of the best rock vocalists of all time was still captured in the end.

Additionally, Alice in Chains' other vocalist was horribly sick during the recording. As Jerry Cantrell explained during a February 2025 Broken Record podcast appearance, which Ultimate Guitar summarized, he was so ill that he needed a garbage can on stage.

"I was sick as a dog. I was not feeling well. And if you look very closely, there's a trash can at my feet for me to vomit in… When the light went green, and the cameras went on, and we started playing, I got a little adrenaline rush," Cantrell remembered. "So that turned out to be one of the greatest shows we've ever played. I was feeling like f*****g s**t until it started, and then as soon as the show was over, I went back to feeling like s**t and back on the IV."

If all that wasn't enough, it had been more than two and a half years since Alice in Chains had performed a full-length public concert together when Unplugged was recorded. Yet, the band overcame it all to create a masterpiece so timeless that it has returned to the charts three decades later and will surely be celebrated for years to come.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available 24 hours a day through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Nov 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.