RPM - Sugar Ray

What this video is

Released November 1997 as the second and final single from Sugar Ray's Floored album, 'RPM' arrived during a pivotal transitional moment in American alternative rock. The song's nu-metal-adjacent guitar riff and aggressive tempo stood in stark contrast to the reggae-pop crossover of 'Fly,' illustrating the band's genre-blending identity. The video premiered amid Sugar Ray's co-headlining tour with 311 and Incubus —…

Why it matters

Occupies a documented crossroads between Sugar Ray's heavier nu-metal origins and their emerging pop-rock identity. As the harder-edged counterpart to 'Fly' on Floored, 'RPM' preserves a snapshot of the band's transitional sound — funk-metal roots filtered through mid-90s alternative rock…

The director

Born August 9, 1968 in Kalamazoo, Michigan; raised in Newport Beach, CA. Holds a B.A. in Psychology from UC Irvine. Began career as a still photographer for local bands before founding G Recordings in 1993. Produced Sugar Ray's debut album and co-wrote songs…