Black Grape - Reverend Black Grape (Video)

What this video is

Released in May 1995, 'Reverend Black Grape' arrived as Britpop was reaching its commercial peak, dominated by guitar-oriented acts. Black Grape — formed by Shaun Ryder and Bez after Happy Mondays' dissolution — offered a conspicuously different proposition: hip-hop cadences, funk undercurrents, and provocative lyrical content. The single's controversy centred on its assertion that Pope Pius XII collaborated with…

Why it matters

A landmark of mid-90s post-Madchester crossover, 'Reverend Black Grape' fused hip-hop flows, funk rhythm beds, and indie-rock energy in a way that stood distinctly apart from the Britpop consensus. The video, directed by Don Letts — a foundational figure in punk-reggae visual culture — extended…

The director

Don Letts (born 10 January 1956, London) is a British film director, DJ, and musician. He rose to prominence as videographer for The Clash in the late 1970s and co-founded Big Audio Dynamite with Mick Jones in 1984. He has directed approximately 300–400…