MTV Buzzworthy Blog › mtv-unplugged

Credit: PictureGroup/MTV

Thirty Seconds to Mars may be known for their sweeping, hard-hitting rock anthems, but the band showed a more serene side during their "MTV Unplugged" performance, which premiered tonight on MTV.com.

Surrounded by an audience of their die-hard Echelon fan family, Thirty Seconds To Mars performed emphatic, unforgettable renditions of "Hurricane," "Night of the Hunter," "Kings and Queens" and more. With the Vitamin String Quartet backing up the group on several songs, Jared Leto repeatedly brought the crowd in on harmonies, including the fist-pumping "No, no, no, no" chorus during "Closer to the Edge." Halfway between the conductor of an orchestra and the holy rolling leader of a tent revival, Leto commanded the rapt crowd. And when the gospel choir appeared for the band's cover of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," the crowd's sheer transcendent ecstasy is palpable.

"It's kind of like a rite of passage to do a 'MTV Unplugged,'" said Leto in a series of exclusive MTV "Unplugged" interviews. "It was a surprise that we were asked and we were thrilled... I think the whole journey of... approaching the songs in a different way really taught us a lot."

+ Watch Thirty Seconds to Mars' "MTV Unplugged" performance videos and watch more "MTV Unplugged" interviews with Thirty Seconds To Mars.

Related Content Thirty Seconds To Mars On Reworking Their Music, Involving Fans For 'MTV Unplugged', Follow Buzzworthy on Twitter

Tags 30 Seconds To Mars, mtv-unplugged, Thirty Seconds to Mars, video

Credit: PictureGroup/MTV

As an honorary member of the Echelon, it is a huge relief to finally be able to say that Thirty Seconds To Mars' "MTV Unplugged" performance is (finally) just one day away. But before we reveal the entire "Unplugged" show, which includes dramatic renditions of much-beloved Thirty Seconds To Mars classics (though really, which Thirty Seconds To Mars songs aren't much-beloved?) like "Kings And Queens," "Closer To The Edge," "Night Of The Hunter" and "Hurricane," as well a cover of U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name" with the assist of a gospel choir -- we've got an exhaustive collection of interviews with Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević shot in the band's dressing room just moments after they finished their soon-to-be legendary "Unplugged" set.

+ Watch Thirty Seconds To Mars interviews after the jump:

Read more...

Related Content Buzzworthy Interviews Echelon Members At The Thirty Seconds To Mars 'Unplugged' Taping, Follow Buzzworthy On Twitter

Tags 30 Seconds To Mars, mtv-unplugged, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Unplugged, video

Thirty Seconds To Mars fans and MTV Twitter ticket giveaway winners at the "MTV Unplugged" taping. L - R: Danielle, Erin, Felicia, Lauren, Hugo. Credit: Picture Group/ MTV

Any member of Thirty Seconds To Mars' Echelon fan family will tell you that attending a Thirty Seconds To Mars concert is nothing short of a metaphysical experience. But their "MTV Unplugged" performance, shot on a windowless New York City soundstage converted into what felt like a shipwrecked church, pitch black save for twinkling pinhole lights (later blown out by lighting that met somewhere halfway between Dark Side Of The Moon and heaven), was less a small, private taping and more a supernatural confluence shot on sacred ground. And coming from a fanbase quick to remind you that Thirty Seconds To Mars is more than just a band, no one felt the sense that something surreal was about to happen more than the lucky Thirty Seconds To Mars fans who attended the "Unplugged" performance.

Five lucky winners and their guests won MTV's Twitter ticket giveaway and, before the show, I caught up with them and found out more about their devotion and commitment to Thirty Seconds To Mars and just how far they're willing to go for the band. (One fan drove more than 1,000 miles over three days!)

+ Check out Thirty Seconds To Mars' "MTV Unplugged" fan photo gallery, and after the jump, see what these lucky winners had to say about being a member of the Echelon. Plus, watch a sneak peek of "Hurricane" from Thirty Seconds To Mars' "MTV Unplugged" performance, and don't miss the premiere of "MTV Unplugged: Thirty Seconds To Mars" Tuesday, July 19, at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.com.

Read more...

Tags mtv-unplugged, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Unplugged

You've seen 30 Seconds To Mars rock massive arenas. You've seen them at their most cinematic in their epic videos. But you've never seen them... unplugged. And now you can.

30 Seconds To Mars will be joining the prestigious ranks of artists such as Bob Dylan, Nirvana, R.E.M., and Smashing Pumpkins when they come together to shoot their "MTV Unplugged" performance on Friday, May 13, in New York City. But as any 30 Seconds To Mars fan knows, 30 Seconds To Mars is more than just a band. They're a movement and a family, and they wouldn't be either of those things without the Echelon. Which is why we're giving away five pairs of tickets to some very lucky Echelon members to attend 30 Seconds To Mars' "MTV Unplugged" taping.

+ Enter to win tickets to 30 Seconds To Mars' "MTV Unplugged" taping by following @MTV on Twitter and retweeting THIS tweet!

Here's what you need to know before you enter:

+ You must be at least 18 years old.

+ The taping is Friday, May 13, 2011, in New York City. Transportation is not provided. (Sorry!)

+ The taping time has yet to be determined, so you should be available all day. Usually "Unplugged" tapes in the mid-afternoon.

+ The winners will be selected at random.

**OFFICIAL RULES**

Tags 30 Seconds To Mars, mtv-unplugged

(Credit: Scott Gries/MTV)

We're all still catching our breath and drying eyes from Phoenix's near-holy "MTV Unplugged" performance. The marimba on "Lisztomania" would have been worth the entrance fee alone, had there been an entrance fee!

But what about the men behind the music? What's on their minds? We decided to find out in this exclusive Buzzworthy Q&A with the fine Frenchmen of Phoenix.

Find out how Phoenix felt about appearing on "Saturday Night Live" (guitarist Laurent Brancowitz musing, "We didn't know it was imporrrrtaaant,' FTW!"). Hear about how Phoenix has changed since the group's early days, how they felt about PS22's kiddie chorus cover of "Lisztomania" and much, much more.

Check out the interview as well as their "Unplugged" performance of "Lisztomania" below.

+ Watch Phoenix's entire "MTV Unplugged" performance.

Tags mtv-unplugged, Phoenix, video

(Credit: Scott Gries/MTV)

Phoenix, while loved and adored by their passionate fans, are truly artists' artists. Their impeccable arrangements, stellar instrumental skills and awe-inspiring production make even the most talented artist take pause. And now we all get to see how Phoenix works -- the heart, soul and brains behind Phoenix -- in this stunning, intimate setting with Phoenix's "MTV Unplugged."

Watch Phoenix's "MTV Unplugged" performance, including "Lisztomania," "1901," "Long Distance Call," "Rome," "Playground Love" and "Armistice." And check out photos of Phoenix's "MTV Unplugged" taping.

"Lisztomania"

"1901"

"Long Distance Call"

"Rome"

"Playground Love"

"Armistice"

Tags mtv-unplugged, Phoenix, video

You can't watch Phoenix's stellar, stunning "MTV Unplugged" performance, shot live in New York City, until Monday, June 21, on MTV.com. But you can watch an exclusive sneak peek of their performance of the group's harpsichord-heavy and hysteria-inducing hit "Lisztomania," off its critically acclaimed, Grammy-winning 2009 release, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

Then come back to MTV.com on Monday, June 21, to watch six full-length, never-before-seen video performances of "Lisztomania," "1901," "Long Distance Call," "Rome," "Playground Love" and "Armistice," plus brand-new interviews with the French favorites. And check out photos from the set below.

(Credit: Tamar Anitai/MTV)

Related Content Check Out More Behind-The-Scenes Photos From Phoenix's Unplugged Taping, Watch Phoenix Videos

Tags mtv-unplugged, Phoenix, video

(Scott Gries/MTV)

Grammy-winning French band Phoenix, known for its transcendent lyrics and scholarly themes set to brilliantly lush orchestrations, brought its inimitable brand of aloof-yet-intimate alt-pop to MTV for an exclusive "Unplugged" performance. Set against a strikingly stark, cinematic white backdrop in a New York City studio (the edge of Hell's Kitchen, to be exact), Phoenix performed an inimitably grand, gripping set to a devoutly rapt audience.

You can watch all of Phoenix's "MTV Unplugged" performance this Monday, June 21. And don't miss a video sneak peek of Phoenix's "Unplugged" performance this Friday, June 18.

Until then, check out Phoenix's set list and photos from its "MTV Unplugged" taping, and watch its incredible "1901" video.

Phoenix "MTV Unplugged" Set List
"Lisztomania"
"1901"
"Long Distance Call"
"Rome"
"Playground Love"
"Armistice"

Tags mtv-unplugged, Phoenix, video