Thrilled to announce that we will be screening Dave Markey’s 1991 The Year Punk Broke on September 18th at The Claremont Laemmle 5. You might know director Markey from his HC punk band SIN 34 that haunted Southern California from 1981 to 1984 prior to half the band morphing into Painted Willie, who had a number of records released by the venerable SST.
Markey’s DIY roots and unflappable work ethic saw him pick up a Super 8 camera as a teenage kid to shoot shorts and films. He returned to the Super 8 when he directed the cult classic films Desperate Teenage Love Dolls and Lovedolls Superstar. I can not put into words how much I love these two films. They are the sanded down no nonsense west coast 80’s answer to Warhol & Paul Morrissey’s Factory flicks of the 60’s and 70’s. They are unlike anything you have ever seen.
Now, about that film of his that we are screening. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth asked Markey on the fly to join the band on a short summer tour of festivals in Europe in 1991 that captured Sonic Youth crossing over into the pop pantheon as well as Nirvana at the precipice of releasing their Nevermind record. The film that Markey would edit of this footage, which includes live performances by Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Babes in Toyland, Dinosuar Jr., Gumball & The Ramones was issued theatrically in 1992. It is not only a fascinating documentary, but also serves as a send up of Madonna’s Truth or Dare doc and the music industry as a whole. A glorious warts and warts cinema verite document that is deserving of Pennebaker on Dylan accolades.
This film has rarely been seen on the big screen since it’s release, and Dirty Opera is thrilled to present it at The Laemmle 5 in Claremont on September 18th at 7:30 PM. Dave Markey will be in attendance for a Q&A directly after the screening. Everyone says tickets won’t last, and they are right, for nothing lasts – but wait! Here then, is something worthy of not decaying. 1991 The Year Punk Broke. Tickets are available here.
Heartening to add that Markey has not stopped. He has just finished an incredible documentary on Bill Bartell of the band White Flag. Join us for an evening with a true artist who continues to lend his talent to lifting others.