Unplugged is a live album by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on July 30, 1996, by Columbia Records. It was recorded on April 10, 1996, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Majestic Theatre for the television series MTV Unplugged, in which the musicians perform songs on acoustic instruments. The recording was the band's first concert since early 1994. In the interim, lead singer Layne Staley battled heroin addiction so severe that the group was unable to perform live, leading them to temporarily disband. Nevertheless, the band persevered and released their self-titled third studio album in late 1995, though they remained unable to promote the effort with live shows.