Music videos certainly seem (to me) to be a mainstay of the past. I mean, MTV doesn’t even play them anymore, and they don’t seem very revolutionary either. Although I could just be jaded / old and not give a crap about them, which is more than likely the case.
A smattering of hardcore / underground bands have made videos too - some made it to headbanger’s ball, like Leeway’s, others had no real reason to have music videos, presumably… I mean, why spend the money if MTV wasn’t gonna play it? Especially before file sharing / youtube, like…what’s the point?
Anyway a lot of them are pretty low budget but here are a few classics I’d love to share.
Merauder “Master Killer”
Soo many good things about this video, from Jorge’s pony tail haircut to the fact that he’s sitting on a throne, but my #1 fav thing about it is the drummer’s sunglasses. What a cool dude! This video is so very tough-guy and so very 90s. Also, you can spy some “ninjas” doing nunchucks in the background in some scenes. What the hell?
D.R.I. - “Beneath The Wheel”
This fairly high-quality video has got a few things going on with it. It’s got that classic “i stick out at my high school” theme with the hessian who is late for class, etc. The drum set is HUGE and has 2 bass drums but there are only a few fills on the toms and the drummer looks incredibly bored the entire song. There’s a legit 3D part of the video (like where you’re supposed to wear glasses!) - during the line, “Fell asleep last night at a party.” Soo good. The song is long, though, and i’m surprised they didn’t make a video edit version. Oh yeah and of course the guitarist is wearing his own band shirt during the video.
Suicidal Tendencies “Institutionalized”
Ok, this is a classic…but weird. I doubt they made it when the album first came out but look how young Mike Muir looks! must have been 85 or so…around Join The Army, since Rocky George is in the video and he wasn’t in the band til then. Anyone know? Either way, well shot video of a classic song. Totally awesome skateboarding and style in this one too.
Cro Mags - “We Gotta Know”
This has gotta be the best of the videos. You get to see how huge a band the Mags actually were, not only with just the skinhead / hardcore kids but with the metalheads too. Harley’s got a sick Confederate flag hat, the crowd is going insane, and it’s just a f’in incredible intro and song to one of hardcore’s best LPs. They’re all pretending they’re rock stars in the vid but honestly they didn’t have any money.
Agnostic Front - cable access show
this has GOT to be the worst “music video” / live set ever done. the drummer isn’t even hitting the cymbols, stigma isn’t even there and roger is playing guitar, and the bassist is just laughing, not to mention they’re not even plugged in, and so obviously the studio tracks. it’s incredible.
