Alice in Chains – Unplugged vinyl returns to the charts

Alice in Chains remain one of the defining names of Seattle’s grunge wave, and in 2026 their legacy is once again finding a fresh audience. According to a recent report on Billboard’s Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart, the acoustic favorite Nutshell returned to the ranking in June 2026, more than three decades after its original release.

Nutshell returns to the streaming charts

The 1994 track Nutshell, first released on the EP Jar of Flies, re-entered Billboard’s Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart at No. 25 for the chart week dated June 8, 2026, marking its 34th overall week on that tally. A Yahoo Music report on the chart move highlights that this is a rare feat for a song that was never released as a traditional single.

The renewed chart presence is fueled by continued streaming growth. A Spotify statistics overview compiled in mid-August 2026 lists total streams for Alice in Chains at just over 5 billion, with Nutshell alone approaching 491 million plays and adding nearly 446,000 daily streams at that time. These figures place the song alongside Man in the Box and Would? among the band’s most-played tracks on the platform.

Unplugged anniversary reissues and vinyl momentum

The timing of Nutshell’s chart resurgence dovetails with renewed attention to the band’s acoustic catalog. In late July 2026, rock outlet ThePRP reported that Alice in Chains and their label announced a 30th anniversary edition of their live album MTV Unplugged, with new vinyl and CD pressings scheduled for release on September 25, 2026. The piece notes that the original album reached double platinum status in 2022 and that the new edition will be available in several color variants via the band’s official store and selected retailers.

This anniversary activity follows earlier vinyl success for the band’s self-titled 1995 album. In February 2026, Forbes reported that the so-called “Tripod” album debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart after a reissue, just one place short of the top position. When viewed together, a high showing on a physical-format chart and a decades-old song adding weeks on a streaming-only chart underline how the catalog is finding both collectors and casual listeners.

The musical core of Alice in Chains

Alice in Chains emerged from Seattle in 1987 with a heavy, minor-key sound that fused metal riffing with grunge’s darker introspection. Across studio albums from Facelift and Dirt to Rainier Fog, the band’s songwriting has leaned on layered vocal harmonies between guitarist Jerry Cantrell and their lead singers, thick down-tuned guitars, and a strong sense of dynamics between restrained verses and explosive choruses.

Where the band stands now

As of mid-August 2026, Alice in Chains are actively curating their back catalog with anniversary releases and remain an ongoing band, but no future tour dates or studio albums have been officially announced and confirmed on their website beyond the MTV Unplugged 30th anniversary edition.

This article was assisted by AI and edited by our music desk. Sources are linked in the text. Dates, chart positions and certifications can change at short notice; correction notes are welcome via the editorial contact on our imprint/contact page.