Sonic Youth headlined the 1991 tour documented in the film 1991: The Year Punk Broke.
The documentary was directed by Dave Markey and follows Sonic Youth on a European tour with several alternative-rock acts, including Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., and Babes in Toyland. It captures the moment when independent American music was reaching a much larger audience.
Nirvana receives substantial attention in the film because the group was on the verge of becoming internationally famous after Nevermind. However, Sonic Youth was the established headlining act whose tour provided the documentary’s framework. The title refers to the cultural importance of 1991, a year that also saw major releases from Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and other bands associated with alternative rock and grunge.