Faith No More - Falling to Pieces

What this video is

Released in 1990 as the third single from The Real Thing, 'Falling to Pieces' arrived during Faith No More's unexpected MTV breakthrough following 'Epic.' The surrealist video aesthetic — practical props, vivid studio sets, absurdist imagery — reflects the brief cultural moment when heavy/alternative music acts could command significant music video production budgets and MTV rotation. The video's warm,…

Why it matters

Represents a key document of alternative metal's mainstream MTV penetration circa 1990, and the surrealist concept video as a vehicle for bands resisting straightforward performance or narrative formats. Ziman's consistent visual language across both 'Epic' and 'Falling to Pieces' established an…

The director

Born 1963 in Johannesburg, South Africa. South African-born director and writer who relocated to the UK in 1984. Directed over 400 music videos for artists including Faith No More, Ozzy Osbourne, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, and Shania Twain,…