Product Details

• Actors: Mark Arm, Babes In Toyland, Lori Barbero, Kat Bjelland, Nic Close
• Directors: David Markey
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Geffen Records
• VHS Release Date: April 12, 1993
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302761271
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,318 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Director

Filmed a month prior to the release of their breakthrough album Nevermind, 1991: The Year Punk Broke also includes footage of Nirvana unknowingly on the cusp of leading a massive cultural movement as they performed anthems such as "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Polly" and "Negative Creep." Also featured is Dinosaur Jr.'s thundering live versions of "Freak Scene" and "The Wagon" and Babes In Toyland's brutal performance of "Dustcake Boy" as well as an appearance from legendary punk forefathers The Ramones as they blast through their 1977 classic "Commando." 1991: The Year Punk Broke is also packed with 65 minutes of bonus material, including the previously unreleased featurette "(This Is Known As) The Blues Scale," featuring over 40 minutes of additional live footage of Sonic Youth performing "White Kross," "Eric's Trip," "Chapel Hill" and "Inhuman," plus a rare Nirvana performance of "In Bloom." Other extras include live rough cuts of "Mote" and "Flower," the original movie trailer, and "Broken Punk" -- a 2003 panel discussion with Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, Steve Shelley and Lee Ranaldo, Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis and Filmmaker Dave Markey.

Just as Woodstock captured the pinnacle of the `60s counter-culture movement in cinema, 1991: The Year Punk Broke prolifically documents a new generation of artists that once again grew tired of the stereotypical rock and roll lifestyle and ripped apart this force-fed formula, stripping it down completely and rebuilding from the ground up with its own DIY ethics and creating a scene all their own. With screeching feedback and a wall of sound, Sonic Youth lead the charge, straight through the superficial rock world of the `80s, marking the beginning of the year punk finally broke into the mainstream, giving credence and legitimacy to all those artists who helped pave the way before them.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best concert video ever!, June 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 1991: Year Punk Broke [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Despite what the previous reviewer said, I think Thurston's narration is hilarious. This video is a great anthropological look into "alternative" music circa 1991. The reason it was called "Punk" is because for America, Nirvana and others commercial success from the fringes of music industry recalls the Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks and the Clash's commercial success in England in 1976 thru 1978. Punk was never commercially viable in the USA, and bands like Black Flag, X, the Minutemen and the Germs never got to soak the benefits (or lack there of...) of fame. I guess, as a Nirvana fan, the only thing this film needed was more Kurt. Other great performances here include Babes in Toyland's "Dustcake Boy," Dinosaur Jr.'s "The Wagon" and a fast "Commando" by the Ramones. I'm hungry damn it. Where can I find me a pig's head?

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "the festival scene is beautiful, a picturesque field of mud, February 16, 2000

By 

Funkmeister G - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1991: Year Punk Broke [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is my favourite film, I bought the video a couple of years ago & have watched it seemingly hundreds of times because it is pure fun. Thurston really became a hero for more resons than the excelelnt music w/ raps & rants like "tonight will be the night that the skies will open & spray forth the divine hand & poisoned finger & say everybody 'you're not just a duck, you are human, YOU ARE HUMAN! go forth, go forth & thrash'" which then segues into Negative creep by Nirvana. Kim & J talking is amusing. Dave & Krist pouring wine & fruit everywhere & Kurt being quiet generally except for ramming himself into the drums & spraying SY w/ beer. The onstage performances are generally brilliant, Thurston almost hangs off the front of the stage @ 1 point. Also notable is Courtney's 1st step into fame thanks to an mtv creew showing up. There's a lot more moments I could mention but you should watch it for yrself. Also recommened for Nirvana fans wanting to find out about Sonic Youth [you need to]. Oh whoever mentioned that 1st Teen Spirit performance that was in the Hype! film which focussed on Seattle whereas this here is more broad.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best of early 90s alternative (when it really was that), January 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 1991: Year Punk Broke [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A very humorous and fascinating look at Nirvana and Sonic Youth's 1991 European Tour. There is a classic bathroom scene with Thurston Moore that is one of the highlights of this documentary. The most interesting thing about this film is seeing Nirvana before the explosion of "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It's hard to believe that at one time they were just three guys who were opening for Sonic Youth. Dinosaur Jr. plays a few legs of the tour and J. Mascis contributes to the humor of the film. The spontaneousness of this back stage glimpse makes "The Year Punk Broke" a classic moment in time in the history of true alternative music.