sigh.... is just makes me so sad, his latest album..... sigh...

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU ? i mean Timbaland ?

What happen to the Chris we know ? soundgarden / audioslave

his latest album is full of bullshit RNB, hip hop and pop crap......

sadly, you guys who thinks his latest album is good, you dont know Chris the way we do...

For anyone out there who has a burning desire to one day be an adored rock star, we’ve got some sage advice for you. Study and scrutinize every move made by Fall Out Boy – then do the opposite. It might sound harsh, but the UG community has once again declared Pete Wentz and the gang the Worst Band of 2008 in our annual poll. Taking into consideration Fall Out Boy's position on last year’s survey (Hint: You hated them 12 months ago, too), we thought that the radio-friendly emo band might get a little break from being loathed. After all, their new album had not even been released at the time we tallied the latest survey’s results. But I suppose spending a little too much time on MTV and playing papa to Ashley Simpson's new baby still pushed the readers over the edge. Hey, we can’t help it if the UG community’s taste is so consistent that even those irksome Jonas Brothers aren’t able to displace Fall Out Boy from that of the most-hated band.

While it was a fairly one-sided year for Fall Out Boy, Metallica picked up where Avenged Sevenfold left off. You might recall in 2007 that there was obviously a love/hate relationship occurring with Avenged Sevenfold, with the Huntington Beach natives earning both the #1 Best Band and #3 Worst Band positions. While their entertaining new live CD/DVD Live in the LBC & Diamonds In The Rough has helped them nab the #3 slot among the Best Bands, Metallica's long-awaited Death Magnetic drew a decidedly mixed response from the public. But as a wise individual once said, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

We want to thank everyone in the UG community who participated in our annual Best/Worst poll – even those who tried to slip in more than one vote for each category. While we appreciate that you really, really hate or love a particular band, the rules force us to count only one vote per person. That will explain why the multiple votes you posted for "Your Mom" didn’t show up among the Worst. So without further ado, we present to you the bands that shaped (for better or worse) the year of 2008.

The Worst

01. Fall Out Boy (429 votes)

Forget the fact that Fall Out Boy had very little presence in 2008 until this month’s release of Folie A Deux. The quartet’s very existence is disconcerting enough to earn the #1 Worst Band…again.

Most of the news relating to Fall Out Boy this year was usually associated with the band’s figurehead, Pete Wentz, who apparently pissed off a lot of you by procreating. Or perhaps it was Wentz’s new gig hosting the MTV show FNMTV, which often focused its attention on artists that already have ample attention (i.e. Snoop Dogg). It should be noted that UG users’ comments have been a lot less scathing on FOB-related news stories lately, and that might be an indication that Wentz and the boys might just win you all over in a few years – or at least fall to the #2 Worst Band. Dare to dream.

02. Metallica (425 votes)

Although Death Magnetic received generally positive reviews, there are some who still feel that Metallica's first studio album in 5 years is a far cry from the Master Of Puppets days.

The legendary metal band has seemed to lighten up quite a bit since the whole Napster debacle, but it may take more than a few songs on Rock Band/Guitar Hero and a sub-par mastering job on Death Magnetic to win a lot of the hardcore fans over again.

03. Jonas Brothers (422 votes)

It makes little difference that the Jonas Brothers have received little to no coverage on Ultimate-Guitar.

You just need to visit your local Walmart, Toys R’ Us, or magazine rack (Lord have mercy, they were on the cover of Rolling Stone) to see that this is one band where the marketing has overtaken the music.

04. Coldplay (331 votes)

While there are plenty of "alternative" radio stations and magazine publications hailing Coldplay's latest album Viva La Vida as one of the best offerings of 2008, the UG community didn’t quite agree.

Churning out another huge helping of low-key soft rock that is often mistaken for something much heavier or artistically daring, Coldplay didn’t make many new fans at UG this year. And the cherry on top? Chris Martin transformed into a misanthropic diva on the BBC Radio 4 program after being probed about his songs’ meanings. Wow, imagine being famous and having people interested in the music you create. Must be rough, Chris.

05. Tokio Hotel (329 votes)

For those living in the United States, the force of nature that is Tokio Hotel hasn’t perhaps been fully understood. But you only need visit Sweden or Italy to witness the Backstreet Boys-meets-glam-rock hysteria existing among the kids overseas these days. It seems those of you who are extremely familiar with the Tokio Hotel rage are pretty damn disgusted.

Whether it’s because of vocalist Bill Kaulitz’s cartoonishly punk hairdo (which seems to not fit his musical style in any manner) or just the fact that screaming teen girls do tend to make up a good chunk of the band’s core fan base, there are quite a few reasons that might push Tokio Hotel to the #1 slot in a few years’ time.

And rounding out the list…

06. Guns N' Roses (246 votes)
07. Slipknot (198 votes)
08. DragonForce (180 votes)
09. Nickelback (161 votes)
10. My Chemical Romance (149 votes)

The Best

01. Metallica (1087 votes)

This was no close call. Metallica might have popped up on the Worst Bands of 2008 list as well, but the number of people extolling the virtues of the legendary metal outfit far exceeded the naysayers.

And what could possibly make it even sweeter? Metallica won by a landslide, with 5 times as many votes as the 2nd runner up. It’s a huge victory for a band that only a few years back was becoming a frequent butt of jokes, thanks in part to the band alienating a new generation of downloading fans. But the past is the past, and Death Magnetic is a sign that even in their mid-40s the guys in Metallica are still in their prime.

02. Slipknot (277 votes)

Changing up the formula is not always a wise idea for a band already at the top of its game, but Slipknot has seemingly come back stronger after a little change of pace. Along with opting to record the latest album All Hope Is Gone in their hometown of Iowa, Slipknot also incorporated each member in the songwriting process – a first for the masked musicians. Critically acclaimed and praised as their heaviest offering yet (particularly in the layered percussion work), All Hope Is Gone proves there is plenty of substance behind the elaborate costumes.

03. Avenged Sevenfold (264 votes)

Avenged Sevenfold might have slipped a few notches from last year’s #1 title, but it still holds the prestigious honor of no longer being considered among the worst of the worst.

The release of last year’s self-titled album was met with a flurry of both praise and pans, but a solid work ethic on the road and the entertaining new live CD/DVD Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough has won the majority over.

04. Trivium (221 votes)

The comparison to Metallica has always haunted Trivium, but 2006’s The Crusade pushed a lot of fans over the edge. Frontman Matt Heafy’s vocal style morphed into a carbon copy of James Hetfield’s, and all the screaming heard on the first few releases was a distant memory. But don’t ever accuse Trivium of being a band that doesn’t heed fans’ advice. The new album Shogun not only features the return of Heafy’s grittier vocals, it also combines the best parts of Trivium’s previous releases. Between the technical efficiency and the solid melodies, Shogun ranks up there with the best albums of 2008.

05. AC/DC (213 votes)

If there is one great unifier in rock, Angus Young is thy name. Don’t believe me? Young’s riffs have the amazing ability to be appreciated anywhere from your standard rock concert to a high school mixer to a wedding – and the list goes on and on. There’s just something incredibly relatable about an AC/DC tune, and that’s a valuable trait to have.

After an 8-year break AC/DC has given the public Black Ice, and it’s full of reliable yet gritty rock tunes. The band knows not to mess with the formula, and while there are a few slight twists along the way, Black Ice stays true to the AC/DC that we’ve loved since the days of Bon Scott.

Rounding out the best…

06. Opeth (130 votes)
07. Muse (122 votes)
08. Bullet For My Valentine (113 votes)
09. Children Of Bodom (107 votes)
10. The Offspring (87 votes)

notes: i voted for FOB and Jonas Brothers (F**K you guys who loves them)

Guitars That Won’t Break The Bank

Ibanez ART100 Artist Series

With a body that looks more like a Paul Reed Smith than your run-of-the-mill Ibanez (think Vai and Satriani), the ART100 is a single-cutaway beauty that is an affordable indulgence. Running about $299, the Ibanez has received shockingly good reviews and some claim it stays in tune better than a Les Paul. Users have recommended upgrading to a higher-quality pickup, but that glitch might just be worth overlooking for the price.

Dean Dave Mustaine V VMNTX Signature

The too-good-to-be-true price tag ($499 retail, but deals are available for $299) might scare some of you away, but this Dave Mustaine signature is no flimsy recreation of the original.

Featuring a bolt-on neck joint, basswood body and maple top, the V delivers that perfect Megadeth-tinged sound and consistently stays in tune. That’s a tall order when you dip below the $500 mark. While you’re waiting to take the financial plunge on Mustaine’s other models like Gears Of War or Angel of Death, the VMNTX should tie you over nicely.

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Many of us grew up worshiping the likes of Slash or Jimmy Page, who always had their trusty Gibson Les Pauls in tow. Most of us, however, will have to pad our bank accounts a bit more before graduating to those beauties. Epiphone is known for inexpensive “copies” of all the great Gibsons, and depending on which model you select, you might just get a winner. While you can’t go wrong with the façade of any of the Epiphone models, the Les Paul Standard has received generally positive reviews from consumers. The consensus seems to be that this is the perfect guitar for the intermediate player who is seeking a reliable, durable guitar. The Les Paul Standard runs a bit more than other Epiphones, but sites like Musician’s Friend are currently selling these models for about $549.

Straight From The Pros

VOX Satchurator

It seems like all of our favorite guitar gods have been feverishly working at building the ultimate in gear and accessories over the past few years. One of the more recent additions comes from Joe Satriani, who worked with VOX to create the Satchurator distortion pedal. With high gain levels and the ability to still deliver quieter tones, the Satchurator has been embraced by those who are seeking to emulate Surfing With The Alien.

Zoom G2G George Lynch Signature “Mr. Scary” Pedal

While the Satchurator will undoubtedly satisfy Satriani devotees, the new signature pedal from 80’s icon George Lynch is designed for a much wider audience than just Dokken fans. Lynch has been working to capture a combination of pretty much every sound you can imagine – using a microchip to record an assortment of stomp boxes, tube pre-amps, vintage amps, EQ settings, and much more along the way. Whether you like a delay-heavy style or are striving for that early Metallica vibe, the G2G covers it all. The pedal features 40 original patches from Lynch himself and runs $119.

Dean DimeTime Pickup

The number of Dimebag Darrell disciples continues to grow, and the good people at Dean are ensuring that his memory and signature style carry on for future generations. The long-awaited DimeTime pickup was given a personal touch, with Dean focusing on the precise tones used on Cowboys From Hell – as well as enlisting the help of Dimebag’s guitar tech Grady Champion in the process. The DimeTime pickup is one of Dean’s newest additions, but the company also has a motherload of other Dimebag-related paraphernalia that is a must for any Pantera fan.

Marshall Limited Edition Kerry King MG10KK 10W 1x6.5 Combo Amp

This is quite a baby amp in size, but it packs a punch. Users have commented on how loud it gets, particularly considering it’s running on only 10 watts.

This practice amp doesn’t try to confuse you with a million different knobs, instead putting the focus on only 4: Clean Volume, Overdrive Gain, Overdrive Volume, and Tone. When it comes down to it, the brutal sound is what has sold metal players on the Kerry King Marshall.

Stocking Stuffers For Shredders

The Gripp Hand Trainer

Running around $5, this is one little item that counts as more of a stocking stuffer. It’s unassuming in appearance, but the Gripp Hand Trainer works as a hand/forearm strengthener to help you play for a longer period of time. While you can’t take your guitar to school or work, the Gripp Hand Trainer is small enough to use anywhere. Obviously you won’t turn into Randy Rhoads with just a squeezable ball, but it’s still a useful tool that will aid you in your practice regimen.

Outlet Tester

This looks as far from rock and roll as you can get, but it might just save that beautiful vintage amp that you worship. If you want to protect that old Marshall (or even any new equipment) while gigging on the road, put an outlet tester on your list. Priced around $10 and available at most hardware stores, you’ll save your amp from being fried. Most vintage pieces do need a little more TLC, and taking the time to use the outlet tester a few minutes before a gig will save you years of heartache.

DR Handmade Extra Life Strings

Oh, the colors. Once you get over the aesthetics of DR Handmade Extra Life Strings (“Red Devil” and “Peacock Blue” are particularly eye-catching), it becomes quickly evident that these strings are up there with Elixirs in terms of quality. The brand has earned top ratings in both tone and playability, with the main complaint being that a small amount of paint can rub off from time to time. Even with that setback, the guitarists who have tried out the colored DR Handmade Strings usually come back for more. This is one of the pricier stocking stuffers at a retail price of almost $50 (yikes), but on the plus side you won’t need to replace them anytime soon.

Dunlop Pyrex Glass Flare Slide

Anyone who’s a fan of Joe Walsh, Jack White, or Billy Gibbons has heard mastery on the slide guitar. You’ll get a different sound depending on the type used, but there’s a new slide that has gained attention for its twist on an old classic. The Dunlop Pyrex Glass Flare Slide is a shatter-resistant slide that excels in delivering in a warm, middle-harmonics tone. If you’ve been thinking of delving into a bluesier sound, the Pyrex slide will deliver effective results at a reasonable price of around $7.99.

Express Yourself

Steve Clayton Custom Picks

With the popularity of do-it-yourself T-shirt design sites like CafePress, it’s refreshing to see that pick guru Steve Clayton is expanding that idea past apparel. If you are looking to give a unique gift to your buddy (or yourself), check out the custom pick shop at http://www.claytoncustom.com. For $24.99-$450 (depending on the quantity and style), you can design everything from the shape and gauge to the text/design and material of your picks. If you steer away from generic gifts, the Steve Clayton custom shop will be a godsend.

Strap Graphics

Have you ever felt that your guitar strap might be improved tenfold if only you had your own face emblazoned on it? If you’re not that self-absorbed, then perhaps a buxom blond will do just fine. If you like the idea of the Steve Clayton custom picks but prefer something a little more eye-catching onstage, check out Strap Graphics. At http://www.strapgraphics.com/custom.php you can upload your own design and select such specifics as the strap width, leather color, and stitching. Running $59 and up, the custom-made straps are made of high-quality leather and are currently being shipped free during the holidays.

Oddities

Iron Maiden Eddie’s Evil Brew

This gift has absolutely nothing to do with playing the guitar and it’s only available to those in Europe, but we couldn’t resist putting it on the list.

What better way to class up that next party of yours than to bring along a bottle of Iron Maiden Eddie’s Evil Brew? Although we have no idea how this merlot tastes, there’s something downright charming about seeing Eddie’s shining face staring back at you as you dine with grandma and grandpa.

Dave Mustaine’s Black Gold Blend

There’s only one thing stranger than seeing an Iron Maiden image on your merlot bottle, and that would be Dave Mustaine’s silhouette donning your coffee container. We were given the tip off on Dave Mustaine’s Black Gold Blend from none other than a Megadeth bulletin on MySpace, so this is the real deal. And we’re all in luck this time – unlike Eddie’s Brew, the Mustaine Blend is available in the US and runs a reasonable $14.99. Check out www.networthcoffeebrokers.com to find out more details on this bizarrely cool holiday gift.

UG Readers’ Selections: Santa, Sex, And A Texas Ranger

We went the traditional route with our staff-written holiday gift guide, providing some logical, wallet-friendly ideas for guitarists. But our tiny list doesn’t even begin to cover the desires and wants of the UG community, and our recent survey made that crystal clear. Oh sure, the most popular selections were the standard “guitar” (60 percent) or “amplifier” (20 percent) answers, but we were surprised to find that not far behind was a wish for “talent.” Sad, yet intriguing.

Some of you chose to get a little more creative with the wish list, and at times that originality came close to equaling vulgarity. Of course, you certainly got our attention. The following UG readers’ selections are unusual and might come in a far second to a Strat or Les Paul, but as one person pointed out, there’s really only one gift that keeps on giving: Chuck Norris’ fists.

Santa’s Mom

While most jokes using “Your Mom” as a punchline are comic gold, this one takes humor to the next level.

We have to admit that seeing 75 people collectively suggest “Santa’s Mom” as a must-have holiday gift was a tad disturbing. May we suggest Santa’s 20-something-year-old daughter instead?

A Bigger…Well, You Know

If a guitar does not appear to be in your future this Christmas, asking for a bigger member is worth a shot.

And if by chance you do grow an inch or two, we salute you.

A Guns N’ Roses Reunion With All The Original Members

Axl, you know that it would be the ultimate step in rebuilding your career. Sure, Chinese Democracy made a fairly solid showing internationally, but a reunion with Slash, Izzy, Duff, and yes, even Steven would likely win back all those fans you alienated over the past 15 or so years. We probably have a better chance of getting struck by lightning, but let us believe in Christmas miracles.

Jessica Alba Looks, Yngwie’s Speed And Control, and Chuck Norris’ Fists

We’re not sure if a boy or girl asked for this gift, but it matters not.

Anybody who mentions Chuck Norris is a badass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEOkxRLzBf0    <<<<watch this

MTV Unplugged is a series showcasing popular musical artists playing acoustic instruments.

Unplugged
Unplugged refers to acoustic music, that is, music that only uses instruments whose sound is not electronically modified, for example acoustic guitar, acoustic piano, etc., as opposed to electric guitar, synthesizer, etc.

The word became incorporated into the title of a popular MTV series that began in the 1989/1990 US TV season, MTV Unplugged, on which musicians performed acoustic or "unplugged" versions of their familiar repertoire. Many of these performances were subsequently released as albums, often featuring the title Unplugged
Inspiration for MTV Unplugged
The inspiration for the Unplugged series has been attributed to the popularity among musicians of a variety of musical performances on stage, film, television and record in earlier decades. Elvis Presley's "In-the-Round" performance in his 1968 Comeback Special, and the Beatles informal studio jams in the 1970 film Let It Be were both precursors of the "Unplugged" concept.

Other more specifically "unplugged" performances occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s including the June 1979 appearances by Pete Townshend at The Secret Policeman's Ball - a series of benefit shows in London for human rights organization Amnesty International at which the usually electric guitar-wielding Townshend was persuaded by benefit producer Martin Lewis to perform his hits Pinball Wizard and Won't Get Fooled Again on acoustic guitar. The performances were widely seen and heard on the 1980 live album and the UK-only movie of the benefit and inspired other rock performers to emulate Townshend.

Two years later in September 1981 Lewis produced a sequel benefit show The Secret Policeman's Other Ball that featured similar performances by other rock performers including Sting, Phil Collins and Bob Geldof. The 1982 live album of these performances and the US version of The Secret Policeman's Other Ball movie (which incorporated a 'flashback' of Townshend's 1979 performances) both became very successful and were widely seen and heard in the USA.

The phenomenon of rock stars re-creating their hits in an acoustic manner was thus well established by the early 1980s though the word 'unplugged' had not yet been applied to the concept.

In addition, the late 1980s saw a renewed interest in folk and acoustic music in general (accompanied by a wave of nostalgia for the music of the 1960s, which also had a significant folk/acoustic movement). Many new acts established during the period had a strong folk/acoustic influence, e.g. The Indigo Girls, R.E.M., Sinéad O'Connor, Suzanne Vega, Lyle Lovett, Michael Penn, Enya, and Bruce Hornsby and the Range. At the same time, many established folk and folk-influenced artists of the 60s and 70s experienced renewed success — some reaching the greatest commercial success of their careers — such as Paul Simon, The Grateful Dead, Jethro Tull, Bonnie Raitt, Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler, Yes, and Bob Dylan.

The first rock artist to perform in an "unplugged" mode on MTV were Jethro Tull, who, on November 17, 1987 as an acoustic trio (Ian Anderson, Dave Pegg, and Doane Perry), performed a bit of "Serenade to a Cuckoo" and "Skating Away (On the Thin Ice of the New Day)". XTC performed in May 1989, and Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora performed "Livin' On A Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" during the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards.

Following the popularity of the Bon Jovi performance, MTV began the Unplugged series of concerts.

It is common for the featured musicians to display their musical influences by covering other artists.

Memorable moments on MTV Unplugged

1989-1992
When the series first aired on November 26 1989[1], it featured Squeeze, Syd Straw and Elliot Easton. The first 13 episodes were hosted by American singer and songwriter Jules Shear.

On December 13, 1990 at the MTV Studios New York Poison recorded some of their top ten singles of which four of them appear on the Crack A Smile...And More! album.

When Paul McCartney himself appeared on the show in January 25 1991, he chose to release the set as Unplugged (The Official Bootleg). Show producer Alex Coletti has gone on record in an interview stating his view that had McCartney not released the album and its subsequent popularity, the concept would have never gained the cult status that it went on to enjoy.

In 1992 TNT were featured doing an acoustic version of their songs Lionheart and What I Need. Also, in 1992, Mariah Carey performed a cover version of The Jackson 5 song I'll Be There along with back up singer Trey Lorenz. That live version was so good that it was released as a single and went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

10,000 Maniacs were the first act to perform on the show twice. They were featured on the February 4, 1991 show as well as their more well-known performance in 1993, which was released on album. R.E.M. was the second band to have performed twice, in 1991 (see MTV Unplugged: R.E.M. (1991)) and 2001 (see MTV Unplugged: R.E.M. (2001)). Other artists like Robert Smith (one with his band The Cure, the other as a Korn guest), MC Lyte and Maggie Estep also appeared more than once in the show.

In 1992 Eric Clapton recorded an Unplugged performance at Bray Studios in London (see Unplugged (Eric Clapton album)). His was widely praised and criticized for heavily reworking many of his famous songs so they would work in an acoustic context, in some almost to the point of unrecognizability. Clapton's Unplugged album went on to become the bestselling Unplugged album in the U.S., with sales of 10 million.

Pearl Jam's March 1992 setlist was never released as an album. In the early days Unplugged was also used for young artists to gain exposure. It wasn’t financially responsible to release every show as an album, let alone a show with an up and coming band like Pearl Jam was at the time. MTV has filmed over 100 Unplugged performances but less than 30 of them have been released. While many wish that a CD/DVD of Pearl Jam - MTV Unplugged will be released, this is unlikely. However, high quality bootlegs of the show do exist, with fantastic audio quality and great video quality in pro-shot.[1]

1993-1994
On February 13, 1993, Swedish duo Roxette became the first non-English speaking band ever to perform at MTV Unplugged. During the show they covered songs from other artists such as Aretha Franklin, Neil Young and The Byrds.

In Neil Young's 1993 performance (see Unplugged (Neil Young album)), two of the songs were played twice after Young was dissatisfied with them. He gave the drummer grief both times for playing too fast. Four songs from the performance were cut from the final broadcast.

Nirvana's performance on Unplugged was one of the last televised performances by Kurt Cobain, recorded about five months before his death. Nirvana's setlist consisted of some of their lesser known originals, and covers of songs by the Meat Puppets (who also appeared on the show) and Lead Belly. The only real "hit" played during this performance was "Come as You Are." This contrasts with other Unplugged performances, where artists largely perform their hit singles and other original material. Nirvana's performance was released on CD one year later as MTV Unplugged in New York and then on DVD in 2007.

Bruce Springsteen also performed in 1993, and in a twist on the program's theme, most of his set was performed with amplified instruments (see In Concert/MTV Plugged).

Some songs from Midnight Oil's 1993 performance on Unplugged appear on their album The Real Thing.

Stone Temple Pilots' 1993 performance saw the debut of the song "Big Empty", which would go on to be a hit off the band's 1994 album Purple.

Bob Dylan recorded an Unplugged concert in 1994 over two nights that was combined into one show.

On September 29, 1994, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs performed the first Latin/Spanish show at MTV Miami studios. The playlist included covers of The Clash's "The Guns of Brixton" and Clint Eastwood's "Stop That Train".

1995-1998
 
The MTV Unplugged 2.0 logo used for artists appearing a second time.On August 9, 1995, Kiss performed on MTV Unplugged in what fans consider a historical concert (see Kiss Unplugged). Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons contacted former members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley and invited them to participate in the event. Fan reaction to Criss and Frehley at the Unplugged show was so positive that, in 1996, the original lineup of Kiss reunited, with all four original members together for the first time since 1979. Also in 1995 on Valentine's Day the grunge band Hole performed on "Unplugged" with memorable performances of "Miss World," and "Doll Parts," and covers of the Nirvana songs "You Know You're Right" (as "You've Got No Right") and "Old Age", and also the Duran Duran song "Hungry Like the Wolf."

On April 10, 1996, Alice in Chains would give their first performance in three years and one of their last concerts as a group for 9 years on the show (see Unplugged). Lead singer Layne Staley was visibly in poor health from his heroin addiction (which would eventually claim his life six years later). Scott Olson, a recording engineer from London Bridge Studios in Seattle, was included as a rhythm guitarist for this concert to help flesh out the songs and match the layered guitar sounds of the band studio records. A band considered as alternative metal, the acoustic arrangements were clearly distinguishable from the previous versions of their songs, including "Down In A Hole". On July 30 of the same year, Alice in Chains released an Unplugged album from the performance, with the new song, "Killer Is Me," being released as a new track introduced at the performance. The songs "Angry Chair," "Frogs," and "Killer Is Me" were not broadcast on the original show, but were included on Alice in Chains' Unplugged album.

Oasis were due to play for the show at the Royal Festival Hall on August 23, 1996, but at the 11th hour lead singer Liam Gallagher pulled out, citing a sore throat. Main songwriter and guitarist Noel Gallagher then took over for vocals and sang for every song during the concert. Liam watched the performance from a balcony and openly mocked the group. Alanis Morissette rounded out the decade with her performance in 1999 featuring songs from her mega-hit album Jagged Little Pill and her recently released Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. Her unplugged show was also turned into an album featuring 12 performances from the night.

1999-present
In 1999, Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira's concert on MTV unplugged became the first episode of the program to be broadcast entirely in another language; her native Spanish.

In 2000 the German band Fanta 4 has performed in the Balver Höhle.

In 2001, Japanese Pop Singer Hikaru Utada became the youngest singer and the third Japanese Pop Singer, the first and second being Chage and Aska, to be featured on MTV Unplugged.

Jay-Z: Unplugged is rapper Jay-Z's 2001 music album that contains some of his past songs with live acoustic instruments performed by Jay-Z himself with the hip-hop group The Roots. The album was recorded during the taping of an MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode on November 18, 2001. It sold more than 600,000 copies.

Lauryn Hill unveiled her much-anticipated new material on a 2002 MTV Unplugged special, and later released it on the album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. It had been three years since the release of Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Hill appeared with her hair cut off and performed in a stripped-down, minimalist style. Her set included her playing an acoustic guitar, spoken word segments, and occasionally breaking down in tears.

MTV revived the series when Alicia Keys' Unplugged special aired on MTV on September 23, 2005. It was the first Unplugged for MTV in nearly three years, and special guests for Keys' performance included Mos Def, Common, Damian Marley and Maroon 5's Adam Levine. The show was released on CD and DVD in October 2005 (see Unplugged (Alicia Keys album)).

Ricky Martin performed in October 2006. The album was issued on separate CD and DVD releases on November 6, 2006, and reissued on May 2, 2007 in a combo-package CD+DVD format. In addition, Wal-Mart exclusively carries the bonus DVD "Making of Ricky Martin MTV Unplugged."

On March 2, 2007, MTV aired Korn Unplugged. Featuring guest appearances by Amy Lee of Evanescence and also The Cure, the show's setlist was comprised of a selection of the band's hits including "Got the Life", "Falling Away from Me", "Freak on a Leash", and "Blind", as well as a cover version of The Cure's In Between Days, which was performed with The Cure themselves.

Mexican Grammy and Latin Grammy award-winning artist Julieta Venegas' MTV Unplugged session premiered on June 5, 2008. She collaborated with Spanish rapper La Mala Rodriguez on her classic hit "Eres Para Mi", sang along with Juan Son on her song "De Mis Pasos", and released new material such as "El Presente", "Algún Día" featuring Gustavo Santaolalla, and "Ilusion" featuring Marisa Monte. This performance marks the first time a Mexican female artist is featured in the series. Her audio CD and DVD of the performance is set to be released on June 17, 2008.

Performances inspired by the "Unplugged" format
The success and popularity of the series has inspired artists to emulate the format in other venues.

Tesla released one of the first unplugged albums in 1990, Five Man Acoustical Jam.

Jethro Tull had a semi-unplugged European tour in 1992; the tour and subsequent album were both titled A Little Light Music.

MTV's sister channel, VH1, made the format even more intimate by interspersing semi-acoustic performances with the artists discussing the history and memories of the songs, in VH1 Storytellers.

Bon Jovi performed unplugged in 2007 on CMT. The Police, Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney and John Mayer were scheduled to perform, but it appears these were scrapped.

The fourth season of Canadian Idol featured an Unplugged night which was held at Toronto's Masonic Temple. This episode of Canadian Idol was a tribute to MTV in two ways: a direct tribute to the Unplugged Format, and to celebrate the recent licensing of the new MTV Canada which is, to this day, still located in the Masonic Hall. The highlight of the night was Eva Avila who wowed the judges, the nation and even the back-up singers. She would continue to build on this standout performance and claim victory of Canadian Idol's fourth season.

Rockband Seether recorded a Live & Acoustic Album at a show in Philadelphia called One Cold Night in 2006.

The Foo Fighters did an all acoustic American tour in 2007, with shows that resembled the Unplugged format

         NIRVANA

Nirvana was an American grunge band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Kirts Novoselic in Abberdeen, Washington. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who joined the band in 1990.

Prior to Nirvana, alternative music was consigned to specialty sections of record stores, and major labels considered it to be, at the very most, a tax write-off. After the band's second album, 1991's Nevermind, nothing was ever quite the same, for better and for worse. Nirvana popularized punk, post-punk, and indie rock, unintentionally bringing it into the American mainstream like no other band to date. While their sound was equal parts Black Sabbath (as learned by fellow Washington underground rockers the Melvins) and Cheap Trick, Nirvana's aesthetics were strictly indie rock. They covered Vaselines songs, they revived new wave cuts by Devo, and leader Kurt Cobain relentlessly pushed his favorite bands — whether it was the art punk of the Raincoats or the country-fried hardcore of the Meat Puppets — as if his favorite records were always more important than his own music. While Nirvana's ideology was indie rock and their melodies were pop, the sonic rush of their records and live shows merged the post-industrial white noise with heavy metal grind. And that's what made the group an unprecedented multi-platinum sensation. Jane's Addiction and Soundgarden may have proven to the vast American heavy metal audience that alternative could rock, and the Pixies may have merged pop sensibilities with indie rock white noise, but Nirvana pulled at all together, creating a sound that was both fiery and melodic. Since Nirvana was rooted in the indie aesthetic but loved pop music, they fought their stardom while courting it, becoming some of the most notorious anti-rock stars in history. The result was a conscious attempt to shed their audience with the abrasive In Utero, which only partially fulfilled the band's goal. But by that point, the fate of the band and Kurt Cobain had been sealed. Suffering from drug addiction and manic depression, Cobain had become destructive and suicidal, though his management and label were able to hide the extent of his problems from the public until April 8, 1994, when he was found dead of a self-inflicted shotgun wound. Cobain may not have been able to weather Nirvana's success, but the band's legacy stands as one of the most influential in rock & roll history.

Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar) met Chris Novoselic (born Krist Novoselic) (bass) in 1985 in Aberdeen, WA, a small logging town 100 miles away from Seattle. While Novoselic came from a relatively stable background, Cobain's childhood had been thrown into turmoil when his parents divorced when he was eight. Following the divorce, he lived at the homes of various relatives, developing a love for the Beatles and then heavy metal in the process. Eventually, American hardcore punk worked its way into dominating his listening habits and he met the Melvins, an Olympia-based underground heavy punk band. Cobain began playing in punk bands like Fecal Matter, often with the Melvins' bassist Dale Crover. Through the Melvins' leader Buzz Osborne, Cobain met Novoselic, who also had an intense interest in punk, which meant that he, like Cobain, felt alienated from the macho, redneck population of Aberdeen. The duo decided to form a band called the Stiff Woodies, with Cobain on drums, Novoselic on bass, and a rotating cast of guitarists and vocalists. The group went through name changes as quickly as guitarists, before deciding that Cobain would play guitar and sing. Renamed Skid Row, the new trio featured drummer Aaron Burkhart, who left the band by the end of 1986 and was replaced by Chad Channing. By 1987, the band was called Nirvana.

Nirvana began playing parties in Olympia, gaining a cult following. During 1987, the band made ten demos with producer Jack Endino, who played the recordings to Jonathan Poneman, one of the founders of the Seattle-based indie label Sub Pop. Poneman signed Nirvana, and in December of 1988, the band released their first single, a cover of Shocking Blue's "Love Buzz." Sub Pop orchestrated an effective marketing scheme, which painted the band as backwoods, logging-town hicks, which irritated Cobain and Novoselic. While "Love Buzz" was fairly well-received, the band's debut album, Bleach, was what began the ball rolling. Recorded for just over 600 dollars and released in the spring of 1989, Bleach slowly became a hit on college radio, due to the group's consistent touring. Though Jason Everman was credited as a second guitarist on the sleeve of Bleach, he didn't appear on the record; he only toured in support of the album before leaving the band at the end of the year to join Soundgarden and then Mindfunk. Bleach sold 35,000 copies and Nirvana became favorites of college radio, the British weekly music press, and Sonic Youth, Mudhoney, and Dinosaur Jr., which was enough to attract the attention of major labels.

During the summer, Nirvana released "Sliver"/"Dive," which was recorded with Mudhoney's Dan Peters on drums and produced by Butch Vig. The band also made a six-song demo with Vig, which was shopped to major labels, who soon began competing to sign the group. By the end of the summer, Dave Grohl, formerly of the D.C.-based hardcore band Scream, had become Nirvana's drummer and the band signed with DGC for $287,000. Nirvana recorded their second album with Vig, completing the record in the summer. Following a European tour supporting Sonic Youth in the late summer, Nevermind was released in September, supported by a quick American tour. While DGC was expecting a moderately successful release, in the neighborhood of 100,000 copies, Nevermind immediately became a smash hit, quickly selling out its initial shipment of 50,000 copies and creating a shortage across America. What helped the record become a success was "Smells Like Teen Spirit," a blistering four-chord rocker that was accompanied by a video that shot into heavy MTV rotation. By the beginning of 1992, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" had climbed into the American Top Ten and Nevermind bumped Michael Jackson's much-touted comeback album Dangerous off the top of the album charts; it reached the British Top Ten shortly afterward. By February, the album had been certified triple platinum. Kurt Cobain found himself referred to in the media as the "spokesman of a generation", with Nirvana the "flagship band" of "Generation X".^[1] Cobain was uncomfortable with the attention and placed his focus on the band's music, believing the band's message and artistic vision to have been misinterpreted by the public, challenging the band's audience with its third studio album In Utero.

Nirvana's success took the music industry by surprise, Nirvana included. It soon become apparent that the band wasn't quite sure how to handle their success. Around the time of Nevermind's release, the band was into baiting their audience — Cobain appeared on MTV's Headbanger's Ball in drag, the group mocked the tradition of miming on the BBC's Top of the Pops by Novoselic constantly throwing his bass into the air and Cobain singing his live vocals in the style of Ian Curtis, and their traditional live destruction of instruments was immortalized on a Saturday Night Live performance that ended with Novoselic and Grohl sharing a kiss — but by the spring, questions had begun to arise about the band's stability. Cobain married Courtney Love, the leader of the indie rock/foxcore band Hole, in February of 1992, announcing that the couple was expecting a child in the fall. Shortly after the marriage, rumors that the couple were heavy heroin users began to circulate and the strength of the rumors only increased when Nirvana canceled several summer concerts and refused to mount a full-scale American tour during the summer. Cobain complained that he was suffering from chronic stomach troubles, which seemed to be confirmed when he was admitted to a Belfast hospital after a June concert. But, heroin rumors continued to surface, especially in the form of a late-summer Vanity Fair article which implied that Love was using during her pregnancy. Both Love and Cobain denied the article's allegations, and publicly harassed and threatened the article's author. Love delivered Frances Bean Cobain, a healthy baby girl, on August 18, 1992, but the couple soon battled with Los Angeles' children's services, who claimed they were unfit parents on the basis of the Vanity Fair article. The couple was granted custody of their child by the beginning of 1993.

Since Cobain was going through such well-documented personal problems, Nirvana was unable to record a follow-up to Nevermind until the spring of 1993. In the meantime, DGC released the odds-and-ends compilation Incesticide late in 1992; the album reached number 39 in the U.S. and number 14 U.K. As the group prepared to make their third album, they released "Oh, the Guilt" as a split-single with the Jesus Lizard on Touch & Go Records. Choosing Steve Albini (Pixies, the Breeders, Big Black, the Jesus Lizard) as their producer, Nirvana recorded their third album, In Utero, in two weeks during the spring of 1993. Following its completion, controversy began to surround Nirvana again. Cobain suffered a heroin overdose on May 2, but the event was hidden from the press. The following month, Love called police to their Seattle home after Cobain locked himself in the bathroom, threatening suicide. Prior to debuting In Utero material during the New Music Seminar at New York's Roseland Ballroom in July, Cobain had another covered-up overdose. By that time, reports began to circulate, including an article in Newsweek, that DGC was unhappy with the forthcoming album, accusing that the band deliberately made an uncommercial record. Both the band and the label denied such allegations. Deciding that Albini's production was too flat, Nirvana decided to remaster the album with R.E.M.'s producer, Scott Litt.

In Utero was released in September of 1993 to positive reviews and strong initial sales, debuting at the top of the U.S. and U.K. charts. Nirvana supported it with a fall American tour, hiring former Germs member Pat Smear as an auxiliary guitarist. While the album and the tour were both successful, sales weren't quite as strong as expected, with several shows not selling out until the week of the concert. As a result, the group agreed to play MTV's acoustic Unplugged show at the end of the year, and sales of In Utero picked up after its December airing. After wrapping up the U.S. tour on January 8, 1994, with a show at Center Arena in Seattle, Nirvana embarked on a European tour in February. Following a concert in Munich on February 29, Cobain stayed in Rome to vacation with Love. On March 4, she awakened to find that Cobain had attempted suicide by overdosing on the tranquilizer Rohypnol and drinking champagne. While the attempt was initially reported as an accidental overdose, it was known within the Nirvana camp that the vocalist had left behind a suicide note.

Cobain returned to Seattle within a week of his hospitalization and his mental illness began to grow. On March 18, the police had to again talk the singer out of suicide after he locked himself in a room threatening to kill himself. Love and Nirvana's management organized an intervention program that resulted in Cobain's admission to the Exodus Recovery Center in L.A. on March 30, but he escaped from the clinic on April 1, returning to Seattle. His mother filed a missing persons report on April 4. The following day, Cobain shot himself in the head at his Seattle home. His body wasn't discovered until April 8, when an electrician contracted to install an alarm system at the Cobain house stumbled upon the body. After his death, Kurt Cobain was quickly anointed as a spokesman for Generation X, as well as a symbol of its tortured angst.

Novoselic and Grohl planned to release a double-disc live album at the end of 1994, but sorting through the tapes proved to be too painful, so MTV Unplugged in New York appeared in its place. The album debuted at the top of the British and American charts, as a home video comprised of live performances and interviews from the band's Nevermind-era, titled Live! Tonight! Sold Out!, was issued at the same time (the project began prior to Cobain's passing and was completed by surviving bandmembers).

In 1996, its electric counterpart, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, was released, debuting at the top of the U.S. charts. Following Cobain's death, Grohl formed the Foo Fighters (early rumors that Novoselic would also be a member of the band ultimately proved to be false) — releasing their self-titled debut album in 1995, followed by The Colour and the Shape in 1997 and There Is Nothing Left to Lose in 1999. Novoselic formed the trio Sweet 75, releasing their debut in the spring of 1997, and also appeared along with former Dead Kennedys' frontman Jello Biafra and former Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil on the 2000 live set Live From the Battle in Seattle under the name the No W.T.O. Combo.

By the late '90s, research began by Novoselic for a proposed box set of previously unreleased songs from throughout Nirvana's career. The project was supposed to surface in the fall of 2001 (to coincide with the tenth anniversary release of Nevermind), but legal problems began to surface. In 1997, Grohl and Novoselic formed the Nirvana L.L.C. partnership with Courtney Love (who manages Cobain's estate) — a company that required a unanimous vote by all three regarding future albums, photos, and anything else Nirvana-related. When all three couldn't agree on the songs to be included on the box set, the matter was taken to court as Love attempted to dissolve the partnership. The project was ultimately shelved indefinitely as any legal decision was tied up in court.

(sry, I wasn't allowed to upload any more pics)

i stumbled upon this article on yahoo.... and i lol'ed.... its about egos of musicians. lol XD

           EGOS

It's time to admit the truth. You will never be a rock star. You care too much about what people think. Yeah, you make outlandish comments from time to time, but you do it under some pseudonym on a comment board to make it easy. You wouldn't go on national TV and say stuff like, "I'm the voice of this generation." That's the difference between your ego and a rock star ego. Your ego has a lowercase "e." People like Kanye West have E-G-O-S.
 
West claims he's the voice of his generation. He compares himself to Michael Jordan. He bitches loudly and publicly when he doesn't win awards. He's not afraid to use his real name. Whether or not he is his generation’s defining voice, it’s clear that he definitely has its biggest ego.
 

But should it be any other way? Of course not. Rock ’n’ roll is not about modesty. It's about being the loudest one in the room. If some stupid stuff gets said along the way, well, that's just the price of admission. Shoot the mouth off first, explain yourself later. Or don't. That's even better. Rock stars don't need to give any explanations.
 
Here are the five biggest egos in rock history. Why are they the biggest? Because I say so. I don't need to explain myself. I am the blogger of this generation. Genaration X that is....

The Top Five Biggest Egos:
 
BONO
Any dude who can meet with world leaders one weekend and then have two 19-year olds sit on his lap the next has a BIG ego. Bono's life is dedicated to bigness. He sings big anthems, not songs. He's out to save rock ’n’ roll and the world. He's not just a rock star; he’s a messiah, at least to himself. And, yes, I'm a little jealous.
 
comment: yeah, I'm jealous too, he fronts one of the best bands in the world and world leaders drop on thier knees in a awe when meeting him...

JOHN LENNON
How huge was John Lennon's ego? He said his band was bigger than Jesus. What more proof do you need? Even Kanye hasn’t gone that far. By the way, this week the Vatican finally forgave Lennon for his 1966 dis. Those guys can hold a grudge.
 

comment: gotta love John Lennon, he deserve the right to have a ego bigger than Jaysus Chirst, from Beatles to the Yoko Ono Band... he sure has one... Lennon revealed his rebellious nature and wit on television, in films such as A Hard Days Night, in books such as In His Own Write, and in press conferences and interviews

NOEL & LIAM GALLAGHER
Oasis' brothers spent most of the '90s claiming they were the best band in the world and boasting how they saved British rock from ruin. They also spent a lot of time writing songs "inspired" by a lot of other British rock. It takes a big ego to remake Beatles songs and call them your own.
 

comment: sry the best band in the world in Nirvana :P, well during the 90's lah.... they actually save british rock during the 90's by remaking Beatles song, dont believe ? check out "Dont Look Back In Anger", the intro piano part was a ripoff John Lennon's "Imagine", anyways the song rock and it's my fav Oasis song :P, if u want to rip off somone songs make sure you do it rite...

MADONNA
Madonna's ego is so big she believes that she can actually stop time. The Material Girl is on a never-ending quest to be forever twenty-something. Her bionic limbs are the first step toward immortality. Her insistence on pretending to be the teen pop star of the moment is the second step. The third? It probably will have something to do with her next boy toy.

comment: one word: MILF << go find out wad dat means
 

TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
You might not remember this late-'80s nouveau R&B artist. He made a debut album in 1987 that many thought was brilliant, especially him. D'Arby liked it so much he announced that he was going to be bigger than the Beatles. That's why you don't remember him. The Beatles saying they're bigger than Jesus? OK. Emerging R&B star saying he's bigger than the Beatles? Not OK.

comment: lol, who da hell is this guy ? first album sold over 12 mil copies, second album sold wittle over 2 mil and you claim ure bigger than Beatles ? give me a break

Alice in Chains is an American Grunge band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1987 by guitarist Jerry Cantrell and vocalist Layne Staley. Although widely associated with grunge music, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and acoustic elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released three studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations, and two DVDs. The band is known for its distinct vocal style which often includes the harmonized vocals of Staley and Cantrell.

Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s, along with bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. It was one of the most successful music acts of the 1990s and sold over 14 million albums in the United States alone.^[1] The band achieved two number-one Billboard 200 albums (Jar of Flies and Alice in Chains), 11 top ten singles on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, and six Grammy Award nominations.

Although never officially disbanding, Alice in Chains was plagued by extended inactivity due to Layne Staley's problems with substance abuse, culminating in his death in 2002. Alice in Chains reunited in 2005 and as of 2008 are working on their first studio album in 14 years with new lead vocalist William DuVall.

Although Alice in Chains has been labeled grunge, alternative rock, and hard rock, Jerry Cantrell identifies the band as primarily heavy metal. He told Guitar World in 1996; "We're a lot of different things... I don't quite know what the mixture is, but there's definitely metal, blues, rock and roll, maybe a touch of punk. The metal part will never leave, and I never want it to". Alice in Chains has cited musical influences such as Black Sabbath, Van Halen, and Metallica.

Jerry Cantrell's guitar style combines what Stephen Erlewine of Allmusic called "pummeling riffs and expansive guitar textures" to create "slow, brooding minor-key grinds". While down-tuned distorted guitars mixed with Staley's distinctive "snarl-to-a-scream" vocals appealed to heavy metal fans, the band also had "a sense of melody that was undeniable," which introduced Alice in Chains to a much wider pop audience outside of the heavy metal underground.

The band has been described by critics as "hard enough for metal fans, yet their dark subject matter and punky attack placed them among the front ranks of the Seattle-based grunge bands".Three of the band's releases feature all acoustic music, and while the band initially kept these releases separate, Alice in Chains' self-titled album combined the styles to form "a bleak, nihilistic sound that balanced grinding hard rock with subtly textured acoustic numbers".

Alice in Chains is also noted for the unique vocal harmonies of Staley and Cantrell, which included overlapping passages, and dual lead vocals. Alyssa Burrows said the band's distinctive sound "came from Staley's vocal style and his lyrics dealing with personal struggles and addiction". Staley's songs were often considered "dark", with themes such as drug abuse, depression, and suicide, while Cantrell's lyrics dealt more with personal relationships.

Today I Would like to intro

JIMI HENDRIX !!!!

James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was a Blues/rock guitarist, Top 40 act and an undisputed guitar innovator whose recordings during the psychedelic era helped to redefine the sound of the electric guitar which also proved an inspiration for heavy metal music.

Biography

Born in Seattle, Washington, he followed a medical discharge from the 101st Airborne Division (from a broken ankle after a parachute jump). Hendrix, who had been playing guitar (left handed) since childhood, initially made his living supporting touring soul and blues musicians, including Curtis Knight, B. B. King and Little Richard during 1965. His first notice came from appearances with The Isley Brothers, notably on the two-parter "Testify" in 1964. On October 15, 1965, Hendrix signed a three year recording contract with Ed Chaplin, receiving $1 and 1% royalty on records with Curtis Knight. The agreement was later to cause continual litigation problems with Hendrix and other record labels.

By 1966 he had his own band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, and a residency at the Cafe Wha? in New York City. While with the Blue Flames, he was discovered by Chas Chandler, of British rock group The Animals, who brought him to England, where Chandler as the record producer helped Hendrix form a new band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell.

After a few concerts, the band started to gain a reputation amongst their contemporaries, impressing Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, as well as members of The Beatles and The Who, who signed him to their record label. This promise was borne out in their first single, a cover of "Hey Joe", a stylized blues song that was virtually a standard for rock bands at the time.

Further success came with the follow-up, the incendiary original "Purple Haze", whose heavily distorted guitar sound would be highly influential for the next 20 years, and the ballad "The Wind Cries Mary". These three songs were all Top 10 hits. 1967 also saw the release of the group's first album, Are You Experienced, whose mix of melodic ballads ("Remember"), pop-rock ("Fire"), psychedelia ("Third Stone From The Sun") and traditional blues ("Red House") would prove the template for much of their later work. Hendrix was taken to hospital suffering burns to his hands after setting his guitar on fire for the first time at the Astoria Theatre in London on March 31, 1967. He was later warned by Rank Theatre management to "tone down" his stage act after causing damage to amplifiers and stage equipment at his shows.

At the instigation of Paul McCartney the band was booked for the Monterey Pop Festival, and the concert, featuring Hendrix's iconic burning and smashing guitar, was immortalised by filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker in his film Monterey Pop. The Montery festival was seen as a triumphant homecoming. This was followed by a short tour opening for the pop group The Monkees, who asked for him simply because they wanted to see him play. Unfortunately, the Monkees' audience didn't warm to Hendrix and he quit the tour just as "Purple Haze" began to chart. Chas Chandler later admitted that being thrown off The Monkees tour was designed to give maximum media impact and outrage for Hendrix given the complaints from the conservative Daughters of the American Revolution.

Meanwhile back in England, Hendrix's wild-man image and musical gimmickry (such as playing the guitar with his teeth) continued to garner him publicity. 1967 also saw the release of his second album. Axis: Bold as Love was in the vein of the album Are You Experienced, with tracks such as "Little Wing" and "If 6 Was 9" showing his continuing mastery of his instrument. However, increasing personality differences with Noel Redding combined with the influence of drugs and alcohol led to a disastrous tour of Scandinavia. On January 4, 1968, Hendrix was jailed by Stockholm police, after completely trashing a hotel room.

The band's third recording, the double album Electric Ladyland 1968 , was more eclectic and experimental, featuring a lengthy blues jam ("Voodoo Chile"), the jazz inflected "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" and what is probably the definitive version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower". (Hendrix credited British band The Alan Bown for inspiration on the arrangement.) The recording of the album was extremely problematic, with Hendrix's work habits becoming erratic and a studio filled with his hangers-on caused longtime producer Chandler to quit on December 1, 1968. Chandler complained that Hendrix's insistence on doing multiple takes on every song ("Gypsy Eyes" apparently took 43 takes and he still wasn't satisfied with the result), combined with what he saw as incoherence caused by drugs led to him to sell his share of the management to Mike Jeffrey.

Despite this, many of the album tracks show Hendrix's expansion beyond the scope of the original trio (it is said that the sound of this record would help inspire Miles Davis' sound on Bitches Brew). Due to this expansion of horizons, and a deterioration in his relationship with his bandmates (and particularly Redding), the Experience broke up. His relations with the public also came to a head when on January 4, 1969 he was accused by television producers of being arrogant after playing an impromptu version of "Sunshine of your Love" past his allotted timeslot on the BBC1 show Happening for Lulu. On May 3 he was arrested at Toronto International Airport after heroin was found in his luggage. He was later bailed for $10,000 US. On June 29, Noel Redding formally announced to the media that he had quit the Jimi Hendrix Experience, although he effectively ceased to be with Hendrix during most of the recording of Electric Ladyland.

By August of 1969, however, Hendrix had formed a new band in order to play the Woodstock festival. The set, while notably under-rehearsed, ragged, and played out to a slowly emptying field of revellers, featured an improvised instrumental version of "The Star Spangled Banner", distorted almost beyond recognition, clearly symbolic of the unrest in US society over both civil rights issues and the Vietnam War. "The Star Spangled Banner" was an instant classic. The inspiration was politically motivated and it was the cry of the new generation.

The Woodstock band was short lived, and Hendrix formed a new trio, Band Of Gypsys, comprising Billy Cox, an old army buddy, on bass and Buddy Miles on drums, for two concerts around New Year 1969/70. His association with Miles however was not to last and ended abruptly during a concert at Madison Square Gardens on January 28, 1970, when Hendrix walked out after playing just two songs, telling the audience "I'm sorry we just can't get it together". Miles later stated during a television interview that Hendrix felt he was losing the spotlight to other musicians. The rest of that year was spent recording sporadically, often with Mitchell, and attempting to carry out the Rainbow Bridge project, an ambitious combination of film/album/concert set in Hawaii. On July 26, Hendrix played at his hometown of Seattle at Sicks Stadium, where under the influence of drugs he started verbally abusing members of the audience.

In August he played at the Isle of Wight festival with Mitchell and Cox, expressing disappointment onstage at his fans' clamour to hear his old hits rather than his new ideas. On September 6, during his final European tour, Hendrix was greeted by booing and jeering by f

Jimi Hendrix, a 20th century music artist, is still being listened to in the next century, around the world, by new generations of music lovers. His material can be found in many new media forms - VHS, CD, DVD - doing live performances and personal interviews. Jimi Hendrix stepped into ans while performing at the Fehmarn Festival in Germany in a riot-like atmosphere. Bassist Billy Cox quit the tour and headed back to the United States after reportedly being dosed with PCP (phencyclidine). Hendrix rema

ined in England, and on September 18th, he died in bed of suffocation (vomit inhalation) after taking too many of an unfamiliar German sleeping pill. His body was returned home and he was interred in the Greenwood Memorial Park, Renton, Washington, USA.

his own mind and experiences, shared it with the world, and so changed millions of peoples formulated ideas about music. As with other loved musicians, Jimi Hendrix' music is known to 'speak' to one's soul.

BELOW ARE SOME JIMI PICS: