Introduction:

'1991: The Year Punk Broke' is a documentary made by filmmaker Dave Markey into Sonic Youth and Nirvana's European festival tour in the summer of 1991. The video as well as containing live performances by the aforementioned bands (and a few other punk luminaries sharing the bill), also features numerous amounts of backstage footage recorded during the tour. This document endeavours to provide you with brief descriptions of the scenes features and where possible the date and location this footage took place in. This guide is indebted for many of the dates and information to a tour diary written by Dave Markey himself about his experiences of the tour.

As ever, if you have any information not present here which you feel should be added to the guide please e-mail the maintainer of this section.

Reading the guide:

This guide describes the video scene by scene. The scene numbers are arbitrary figures added by the maintainer to make the guide easier to read. The numbers in brackets are rough start/finish times (in minutes and seconds of the scenes), so you can skip straight to any particular part on the video should you wish.

The video features the following 'Nirvana' performances:

Scene 1 (0:35-0:47)

The video opens with Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore repeatedly saying the bands name to a bemused baby in a pushchair. This was shot on the band's day off in Bremen, Germany on 08/26/91.

Scene 2 (0:48-3:49)

The video then moves to a seemingly disused railway line in Stuttgart, Germany on 08/29/91. Thurston is repeating a strange sort of improvised beat/hip-hop mantra while Kurt and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth dance inanely to the beat of the mantra.

Scene 3 (3:50-8:11)

Sonic Youth song 'Schizophrenia'.

As with the other songs there is edited footage from the rest of the tour, mostly backstage or the band out and about in the cities they were visiting.

Scene 4 (8:12-8:54)

Thurston is seen in leaning out of the window, with 70's cop style sunglasses. The camera is set up in what appears to be the window opposite and films Thurston pouring forth advice to passers by including at one point a woman and child on a bicycle. The advice includes this pearl of wisdom "You are not just a duck, you are human. Go forth and thrash!", which links into the first 'Nirvana' performance of the video, 'Negative Creep'.

Scene 5 (8:55-11:39)

'Negative Creep' from 08/20/91 Sir Henry’s Pub, Cork, Ireland.

'Negative Creep' is a very different version from the version present on 'Bleach'. Kurt sings the first verse in a mock falsetto voice before the band thunders into the main part of the song. Also edited into this footage are brief clips of the destruction from 08/23/91 Reading Festival, Reading, UK. This includes footage of Krist carrying Kurt on his shoulders, guitar and all (which may in fact be from 08/25/91 Hasselt, Belgium) and Thurston helping Kurt back on stage.

Scene 6 (11:40-12:38)

Thurston stating his intentions for the tour, he says that Sonic Youth and the bands they are playing with are trying to reach their fans that have the same feelings as them. He mentions the political situation in Russia and then ends it all by screaming "fuck them, fuck them all" into the microphone.

Scene 7 (12:39-12:59)

This scene is a dog barking with Thurston mimicking the dog saying "I wonder what festival 'Sonic Youth' is playing with 'Nirvana' tonight?". This was shot on the band’s day off in Bremen, Germany on 08/26/91.

Scene 8 (13:00-13:17)

Thurston is interpreting a poster for one of the band's shows: "It's not a clone, it's not a fake, it's just fucking live, man!" is his less than insightful comment.

Scene 9 (13:18-16:00)

Sonic Youth song 'Brother James'.

Scene 10 (16:01-17:30)

This is backstage at Nirvana's gig in Rotterdam, Holland 09/01/91. The band appears to be a little the worse for wear and are basically goofing around. Dave is seen holding various fruits from the band's deli tray, commenting on its contents in a fake Dutch accent. Dave and Krist then flirt with each other aided no doubt by the bottle of wine they pass between them. The scene ends with Krist crushing a full carton of fruit juice while Dave repeats "I love your juice" in his Dutch accent.

Scene 11 (17:31-20:30)

'School' from 09/01/91 Rotterdam, Holland.

At the end of the song the destruction is shown. Kurt is seen thumping the drum set with the symbol sound while Dave repeatedly thanks the audience, "you have been a wonderful audience".

Scene 11 (20:31-21:37)

Thurston interviewing fans about the state of rock and roll and offering them his opinions: "The first step we need to do is to destroy the record companies, do you not agree?". This was shot in Stuttgart on 08/29/91.

Scene 12 (21:38-26:22)

Sonic Youth song 'Teenage Riot'.

Scene 13 (26:23-28:46)

The band members eating food backstage; members of Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr are seen ordering food. Krist offers Thurston a packet of 200 cigarettes and Kim Gordon interviews J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. According to Dave Markey's tour guide this is a parody of the Madonna 'truth or dare' scene with Sandra Bernhard. It also tells us that this footage was recorded on 08/25/91 Pukkelpop Festival, Belgium.

Scene 14 (28:47-32:15)

Dinosaur Jr song 'Freakscene'.

Scene 15 (32:16-33:03)

Thurston and Kim interview a guy who claims that he is going to put the cover art for the Sonic Youth album Goo. This was recorded in Dublin, Ireland on 08/21/91.

Scene 16 (33:04-33:43)

This is one of the funnier segments. One of the crew members describes a disease called 'Thurstonitis', which apparently involves wandering around record stores looking for Sonic Youth records, meeting the locals and pretending that you understand when they are talking to you in a foreign language.

Scene 17 (33:44-34:37)

Some band members talk about Iggy Pop. Iggy himself after coming to Thurston's calls soon runs off without saying a word. Mudhoney's Mark Arm blows his nose, sportsman style (without a tissue). One of the less inspiring scenes shall we say.

Scene 18 (34:38-37:56)

Babes in Toyland song 'Dustcake Boy'. Kurt and Krist are seen watching the band from the side of the stage.

Scene 19 (37:57-38:39)

Sonic Youth doing a French interview through an interpreter; they comment that they can't understand a word each other are saying and that this happens a lot. This was recorded backstage at the Reading Festival, 08/23/91.

Scene 20 (38:40-40:05)

Thurston being interviewed about one of the shows and going off on a massive rant about nothing in particular.

Scene 21 (40:06-44:44)

Sonic Youth song 'Dirty Boots'.

Scene 22 (44:45-45:18)

The Sonic Youth band members and crew do mock self-congratulation scene on the show they just played, which according to Dave Markey is once again a homage to Madonna's self promotional movie 'In Bed With Madonna'. Kurt is introduced as Kevin Costner; he tells the other band members that he thinks they were "neat" at which point they all put their fingers in their mouths feigning nausea (echoing the rude comments Madonna made about Costner in the movie). Kurt then spins around and throws a bottle against the wall. This set piece parody was recorded backstage in Hasselt, Belgium on 08/25/91.

Scene 23 (45:19-47:21)

Endless Nameless from 08/23/91 Reading Festival, Reading, UK

After the song Kurt dives into the drum set dislocating his shoulder.

Scene 24 (47:22-47:45)

Steve Shelley, the Sonic Youth drummer, complains about their rider (the person who gets the backstage food, drink and drugs).

Scene 25 (47:46-48:52)

Krist is seen smoking from a bong. Kim complains to her manager that there were industry people at their show.

Scene 26 (48:53-49:14)

Sonic Youth in a fun park in Nuremberg, Germany on 08/30/91. Thurston talks about being a punk.

Scene 27 (49:15-49:32)

Thurston flushing a shit down the toilet, calling it "a work of art". According to Dave Markey this was recorded in Halle, East Germany on 08/28/91.

Scene 28 (49:33-54:39)

Sonic Youth song 'I Love Her All The Time'.

Scene 29 (54:40-56:33)

This scene echoes the "golden shower TV" scene in 'Live Tonight! Sold Out!'. This time it is the members of Sonic Youth doing the station ID. The scene then moves onto show brief segments of a number of interviews Sonic Youth were doing at the time. In one interview Mudhoney bassist Matt Lukin is seen standing in for Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley and a certain Courtney Love makes an early appearance. This was all recorded backstage at the Reading Festival, 08/23/91.

Scene 30 (56:34-58:00)

This is rather odd; a band appears to be playing random feedback. The band's identity is obscured, as only their lower halves are shown along with some smashed mirror balls (you know those cheesy disco things). This is illuminated by examining Dave Markey's tour diary which states that Thurston buys and destroys 2 of the aforementioned items on 08/27/91 Bremen, Germany. At the end of the section Thurston is seen holding up a Germs (Pat Smear's ex-band) single.

Scene 31 (58:01-58:16)

This is footage of a German TV show, which appears to be something like the German equivalent of the Waltons.

Scene 32 (58:17-59:13)

The video moves back to the fun park, this time showing a 50ft model that speaks German to passers by. This was shot on 08/30/91 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Scene 33 (59:14-60:44)

Gumball song 'Pre'.

Scene 34 (60:45-62:03)

This section involves Thurston interviewing someone on the properties of German sausages.

Scene 35 (62:04-62:17)

Thurston shouting that he wants to eat a pig's head, after viewing a figure holding one on top of one of the stalls at the fun park. This was shot on 08/30/91 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Scene 36 (62:18-62:54)

Thurston interviewing two female German children about what their favourite bands are. They do not appear to speak English and just look nervous and shake their heads and giggle in response to Thurston's questions. This was shot on the band's day off in Bremen, Germany on 08/26/91.

Scene 37 (62:55-63:12)

J Mascis discussing the possibility of his fathering a Japanese love child.

Scene 38 (63:14-64:03)

Murph the Dinosaur Jr drummer discussing playing with hair as opposed to being a skinhead and his constant view of J Mascis' rear end.

Scene 39 (64:04-66:23)

Dinosaur Jr song 'The Wagon'.

Scene 40 (66:24-67:57)

Thurston discussing touring Europe in the early days and the differences between then and now (1991).

Scene 41 (67:58-70:18)

Sonic Youth song 'Mote'. The first 30 seconds or so of which are recorded at the soundcheck.

Scene 42 (70:19-71:19)

Thurston singing (deliberately) badly to some cheesy pop song and giving commentary on some of the fairground attraction. This was shot on 08/30/91 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Scene 43 (71:20-75:58)

'Smells Like Teen Spirit' from 08/20/91, St Henry's Pub, Cork, Ireland. This section also includes lots of footage of other shows on the tour including 08/23/91 Reading Festival, UK, 08/24/91 Koln, Germany and 09/01/91 Rotterdam, Holland.

Scene 44 (75:59-76:43)

Thurston sitting down eating breakfast discussing punk breaking through into the mainstream and Motley Crues' lamentable cover of the Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the UK. This was recorded on the morning of the band's gig in Hasselt, Belgium on 08/25/91.

Scene 45 (76:44-77:11)

The Ramones are seen driving in a car and waving to the camera. This in Hasselt, Belgium on 08/25/91.

Scene 46 (77:12-77:31)

Thurston at same breakfast table as before. This time discussing the Ramones.

Scene 47 (77:32-78:51)

The Ramones song 'Commando' from Hasselt, Belgium on 08/25/91.

Scene 48 (78:52-79:18)

Some backstage scenes with music dubbed in the background, none of which is worthy of mention.

Scene 49 (79:19-79:41)

Kurt is giggling and being dragged around on the floor, with someone saying that he (Kurt) is too drunk to play. It appears this footage was taken backstage at 09/01/91 Rotterdam, Holland. Dave Markey later comments that Krist told him that Kurt was "flying on mushrooms" which may explain some of his later behaviour.

Scene 50 (79:42-84:21

Sonic Youth song 'Kool Thing. During this song members of Nirvana and Sonic Youth are seen playing the popular teenage game 'spin the bottle' (which according to Dave Markey was "uneventful"). At the end of the song members of Nirvana are seen forming a conga line and dancing across the car park. It would appear that this is shot close to the railway footage that opened the video (which would make it 08/29/91 Stuttgart, Germany).

Scene 51 (84:22-85:21)

Kim is applying make up to the members of Nirvana before they go onstage for the 09/01/91 Rotterdam, Holland show. Kurt discusses changing his white coat for a miniskirt.

Scene 52 (85:22-88:00)

'Polly' from 09/01/91 Rotterdam, Holland.

It includes some backstage clips of the band including Dave waving around some shrubbery and Krist playing spoons (sadly not audible)

Scene 53 (88:01-88:58)

Thurston at the window again basically talking rubbish again.

Scene 54 (88:59-98:07)

Sonic Youth song 'Expressway To Yr Skull'. As the song climaxes the video cuts away to show various other clips including Thurston and Kim on a rooftop.

Releases: A video release.

Released: 1992

Additional Information: Intended to be a video diary of the August-September 1991 European tour. Directed by Dave Markey.