VH1 Storytellers Season 1 poster

VH1 Storytellers — Season 1

200556 episodes9.0/10 (4 votes)

About this season

The greatest singers and songwriters play their music and tell the stories behind their greatest songs on this acclaimed VH1 music performance series. Each one-hour episode takes viewers behind the scenes with a single artist or group featuring intimate musical performances and the first-hand stories behind the performer's hits and sentimental favorites.

Episodes (56)

1
E1

1. Green Day: American Idiot Uncut

Aired 2 April 2005 • 60 min

2
E2

2. Dave Matthews Band

Aired 9 May 2005 • 60 min

3
E3

3. Bruce Springsteen

Aired 9 June 2005 • 60 min

4
E4

4. Coldplay

Aired 9 July 2005 • 60 min

5
E5

5. Jackson Browne

Aired 18 April 2006 • 60 min

6
E6

6. Elvis Costello

Aired 29 May 2006 • 60 min

Sting
E7

7. Sting

Aired 15 July 2006 • 60 min

Sting performs his hits "Fields of Gold" and "Let Your Soul Be Your Guides", as well as Police classics "King of Pain", "Roxanne", and much more.

8
E8

8. The Black Crowes

Aired 27 August 2006 • 60 min

9
E9

9. Melissa Etheridge

Aired 13 September 2006 • 60 min

10
E10

10. Lyle Lovett

Aired 21 October 2006 • 60 min

11
E11

11. Garth Brooks

Aired 20 October 2006 • 60 min

12
E12

12. Bee Gees

Aired 25 November 2006 • 60 min

13
E13

13. John Fogerty

Aired 6 June 1997 • 60 min

34
E34

34. Tom Waits

Aired 4 January 1999 • 60 min

43
E43

43. The Pretenders

Aired 2 January 2002 • 60 min

The Pretenders, led by Chrissie Hynde, first hit the charts in 1979 and have since become one of rock's most important bands.

44
E44

44. Alanis Morissette

Aired 20 June 2002 • 60 min

Alanis performs "Hand in My Pocket", "You Learn", "Thank You", "Unsent", "You Oughta Know", " That I Would Be Good" and "Still."

45
E45

45. Def Leppard

46
E46

46. David Bowie

Aired 6 June 2002 • 60 min

Performances include: "Life On Mars", "Thursday's Child", "Can't Stop Thinking About Me", "Seven", "China Girl", "Rebel Rebel", "Word On A Wing", and "Drive In Saturday".

47
E47

47. Lenny Kravitz

48
E48

48. Wyclef Jean

49
E49

49. Eurythmics

50
E50

50. CSNY

Steely Dan
E51

51. Steely Dan

Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen and Walter Becker deliver stripped‑down performances and share sharp, funny insights into the stories, inspirations, and studio quirks behind their most iconic songs. An intimate look at the craft, humor, and precision that shaped their unmistakable sound.

52
E52

52. Don Henley

53
E53

53. Pete Townshend

54
E54

54. The Best of Storytellers

55
E55

55. Stone Temple Pilots

56
E56

56. Bon Jovi

57
E57

57. No Doubt

58
E58

58. Duran Duran

59
E59

59. Smashing Pumpkins

60
E60

60. The Doors

61
E61

61. Matchbox 20

Aired 1 June 2001 • 60 min

Rob Thomas brings his group Matchbox 20 to the Storyteller stage, saying that they have always wanted to do the show. Taking the opportunity to add strings and horns, Rob discusses the beginnings of the band, and the thoughts behind some of their songs, including "Push" and "If You're Gone".

Billy Idol
E62

62. Billy Idol

VH1 Storytellers is a semi-acoustic live album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, recorded at the VH1 Storytellers in 2001 and released in 2002. It was re-released in 2008 as part of the Sight & Sound series which also includes a DVD of the performance, while the CD features a different order of the songs and adds the bonus track "Untouchables".

63
E63

63. Travis

64
E64

64. ELO

65
E65

65. Train/Fuel

66
E66

66. Goo Goo Dolls

67
E67

67. Robert Plant

68
E68

68. Green Day

69
E69

69. Bruce Springsteen

Aired 23 April 2005 • 60 min

Bruce Springsteen performs and discusses his songs in an acoustic concert at Two River Theatre in Red Bank, N.J. Taped in April 2005. The selections include “Blinded by the Light,” “Brilliant Disguise,” “The Rising,” “Devils & Dust,” “Jesus Was an Only Son” and “Thunder Road.”

70
E70

70. Coldplay

71
E71

71. Dave Matthews Band

72
E72

72. Pearl Jam

Aired 7 January 2006 • 60 min

Recorded May 31 2006 at New York's Avalon. The band last played the venue formerly known as Limelight in 1992.

73
E73

73. Dixie Chicks

Recorded live in September 2006 at the historic Los Angeles Theater, Dixie Chicks Storytellers was the grand finale in the whirlwind that surrounded the release of the band's 5x Grammy Award winning album Taking the Long Way. Fans are treated to personal anecdotes and inspiration around some of the band's biggest hits including "Not Ready to Make Nice," "Cowboy Take Me Away" and "Wide Open Spaces." Dixie Chicks Storytellers also features three never before seen performances from the original broadcast including "Lullaby," "Easy Silence" and "So Hard." The Dixie Chicks are witty, charming and sometimes irreverent, but above all, incredible musicians and songwriters. With over 25 million albums sold, Dixie Chicks are the biggest selling female band of all time in the U.S. Dixie Chicks are Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Robison. Track Listing: 1.The Long Way Around 2.Truth No. 2 3.Silent House 4.Cowboy Take Me Away 5.Lullaby 6.Lubbock or Leave it 7.Not Ready to Make Nice 8.Easy Silence 9.So Hard 10.Wide Open Spaces 11.Sin Wagon

74
E74

74. Jay-Z: Life of an American Gangster

Mary J. Blige
E75

75. Mary J. Blige

Aired 25 February 2008 • 60 min

With more than 40 million records sold and eight Grammys, Mary J. Blige is considered one of the most successful R&B singers of our time. In 2008, the music channel VH1 honored the successful artist with an invitation to the highly acclaimed concert series “Storytellers”. With her then current Grammy-winning album “Growing Pains” and songs from her almost 20-year career in tow, the New York native took to the stage of the venerable Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC in February 2008. In front of an enthusiastic crowd of fans and the cameras of VH1, the successful singer and songwriter performed her best known songs and the story of how they came about, delivering a very intimate and personal concert that could only be created as part of “Storytellers”.

76
E76

76. Snoop Dogg

77
E77

77. Kid Rock

Aired 27 November 2008 • 60 min

Kid Rock had the audience on their feet as he taped an episode of "VH1 Storytellers" The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville. The one-hour episode will treat fans to a unique experience as Kid Rock performs songs off of his latest double platinum-selling album, Rock 'N Roll Jesus, in addition to past hits, backed by his Twisted Brown Trucker Band. Following in "Storytellers" format, viewers will gain unprecedented insight into Kid Rock's personal songwriting process as they get a unique opportunity to hear him share his inspiration and the stories behind such songs as "Batwitaba," "Devil," "So Hott," "All Summer Long," "Half Your Age" and "Amen."

78
E78

78. Kanye West

Aired 28 February 2009 • 60 min

The hip-hop superstar performs songs from his latest disc, 808s & Heartbreak, along with other classic Kanye hits.

79
E79

79. ZZ Top

Aired 27 June 2009 • 60 min

80
E80

80. Foo Fighters

Aired 27 November 2009 • 60 min

This episode of Storytellers features Foo Fighters performing a selection of some of their most popular songs. Following in the VH1 Storytellers format, Foo Fighters will answer questions from the audience and give viewers a unique opportunity to hear the inspiration behind their classics as well as some newer material.

81
E81

81. John Mayer

Aired 28 January 2009 • 60 min

The seven-time Grammy® Award-winning Mayer treated his fans to a rare and intimate performance, Thursday December 10th at Brooklyn's Steiner Studios. This exclusive performance features a showcase of his new album "Battle Studies" and gives fans a unique opportunity to learn more about the inspiration behind his music.

82
E82

82. Christina Aguilera

83
E83

83. T.I.

Aired 10 December 2010 • 60 min

T.I. performs live from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City as part of the VH1 Storytellers concert series.

85
E85

85. Cee Lo Green

Aired 20 May 2011 • 60 min

Grammy winner Cee Lo Green gave the crowd a night they'll never forget at the April 19th taping of his "VH1 Storytellers" in Culver City, CA. During the taping, Cee Lo performed a selection of 10 songs in front of a very intimate 150-member audience. Starting the night off with "Crazy," Cee Lo told the audience, "I started this journey not for glory, not for fame, not for fortune, but... for fun!" From there Cee Lo was reunited on stage with Goodie Mob and surprised fans by announcing the group would be getting back together for a future album. After that, the night took a sentimental turn as Cee Lo sang for the first time "She Knows" dedicating it to his mother who passed away when he was a teenager. While tearing up, he told the crowd "I feel like I'm living out her dream, her want for me." The two-hour long taping of "VH1 Storytellers" also included crowd pleasers "Forget You" and "Bright Lights Bigger City" which Cee Lo said "is a song dedicated to regular people working for the weekend, living for Friday and Saturday night," both from his current album, "The Lady Killer."

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