This riveting firsthand account tells the story behind the legendary band that helped inspire the alternative rock sound of the 90s. Before Nirvana and grunge sent alternative rock into America’s mainstream, there was Dinosaur Jr. – the famed Massachusetts band formed in 1984 by eccentric singer/guitarist J Mascis, bass player Lou Barlow and drummer Murph. In an era when independent rock meant just that, the band, alongside formative alt-rock trailblazers Sonic Youth and the Pixies, helped define the sound that would come to dominate the airwaves in the years to come. Philipp Reichenheim’s explosive documentary traces Dinosaur Jr.’s turbulent story back to where it all began. Armed with a treasure trove of archival footage, including of concerts and music videos, and new interviews with band members alongside a cavalcade of rock luminaries – from Thurston Moore and Frank Black to Kim Gordon and Henry Rollins – Freakscene testifies to the greatness of a true rock ’n’ roll original.