Unplugged co-creator dies

NEW YORK — Jim Burns, co-creator of MTV’s Unplugged, has died after being struck by a taxi while crossing Fifth Avenue in Manhattan with his dog.

In Saturday’s incident, the taxi turned onto the street and accidentally struck 65-year-old Burns near his Upper East Side home, police said.

Burns suffered a serious head injury and died on Tuesday. The taxi driver remained at the scene after the collision. Police were still investigating, but said it did not appear to be criminal.

Officers initially said Burns was with a guide dog when he was struck. But family friends said Burns didn’t have vision problems and the dog was a pet.

Burns’ friend Paul Ward said friends took comfort in knowing Burns had been doing his favourite thing — walking his dog to Central Park. The dog wasn’t injured and was being cared for by a neighbour.

An MTV spokeswoman said the network was deeply saddened to learn of the death.

Burns co-created MTV Unplugged with Robert Small. The show debuted in 1989 at the height of MTV’s musical and cultural influence in the United States. It has featured artists such as Nirvana, Eric Clapton, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z and Bob Dylan in an intimate venue performing stripped-down versions of their songs.

“As co-creator of the beloved Unplugged franchise, his groundbreaking work continues to resonate with audiences around the world,” MTV said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.”

According to Billboard, Clapton’s Unplugged album sold 7.7 million copies after its 1992 debut, the most-ever for the series. Nirvana sold 5.1 million copies when it debuted in November 1994 at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was the band’s first album after frontman Kurt Cobain’s suicide in April 1994.