The Presidents of the United States of America - Volcano

What this video is

Released in 1997 as the lead single from the band's second album II (1996), 'Volcano' arrived during the peak saturation of alternative rock on MTV, when the channel was actively platforming quirky, high-concept videos from Seattle-adjacent acts. The Presidents of the United States of America were part of a Pacific Northwest wave that followed Nirvana's commercial breakthrough, distinguished by absurdist humor and…

Why it matters

Represents the comedic high-concept strand of mid-90s alt-rock music video production that ran parallel to grunge's more earnest visual tradition. Demonstrates how second-wave alternative bands used MTV as a venue for surreal consumer satire, and documents the transitional moment when…

The director

American music video director and cinematographer based in San Francisco. Started directing music videos in the late 1980s and founded production company Fire Ball Films. Worked on The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) as a lighting camera assistant. Best…