Hype! is a 1996 documentary directed by Doug Pray about the rise and fall of grunge rock in the early to mid-1990s, particularly in Seattle. It incorporates interviews and rare concert footage to trace the steps of grunge, from its subversive inception in neighborhood basements, to its explosion as a pop culture phenomenon. Hype! shows grunge from the point of view of people within the grunge scene, and attempts to dispel some of the myths of the genre promulgated by media hype.
Hype! includes interviews and performances from bands (primarily oriented with the Sub Pop Records axis) such as TAD, Mudhoney, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Coffin Break, The Gits, Love Battery, Flop, The Melvins, Some Velvet Sidewalk, Mono Men, Supersuckers, Zipgun, Seaweed, Pearl Jam, 7 Year Bitch, Hovercraft, Gas Huffer, and Fastbacks.
If you’re a Gen-Xer (like much of the Film Dumpster staff), it’s a must watch. If you’re not, it’s still an incredibly fascinating look at a significant moment in music history. You can watch Hype! below (it is playable, despite the video thumbnail). You can also watch a recent follow up video, visiting some of those interviewed in the film twenty years later.