Jim Burnes, ‘MTV Unplugged’ co-creator has passed away at 65

MTV’s ‘Unplugged’ offered fans and artists a new avenue for musical intimacy and connection in a pre-internet society. The show’s cozy set up, fit with moody lighting and warm sonic arrangements allowed for 90s grunge stalwarts and 80s hair metal forebearers to embrace their softer side, embedding itself within pop culture for years to come.

As reported by Billboard, the show’s co-creator, Jim Burns has passed away at age 65. Burns was hit by a yellow taxi cab on Fifth Avenue while walking his dog the morning of December 23rd. He was rushed to Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center immediately in a critical condition and was confirmed dead this morning.

Burns co-created the iconic acoustic performance series alongside Robert Small in 1989. The show truly hit its stride, confirming its importance in Gen Y’s psyche during the early to mid-90s with career-defining sets from Nirvana, Eric Clapton and Alice In Chains.

Unplugged was reincarnated for millennial audiences this September, featuring Shawn Mendes as its first guest. The show has also experienced different iterations over time, including an online exclusive series and one-off specials that featured the likes of Miley Cyrus, Vampire Weekend and Katy Perry.

Watch Nirvana’s bone-chilling cover of ‘The Man Who Sold The World’ below.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.