Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4424 in VHS
• Released on: 1993-04-12
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Color, NTSC
• Original language: German
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Customer Reviews

"the festival scene is beautiful, a picturesque field of mud
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.

Best concert video ever!
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?

The best of early 90s alternative (when it really was that)
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.