Black Grape - In The Name Of The Father

What this video is

Released July 1995 as the second single from Black Grape's debut album It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah, 'In the Name of the Father' arrived at a pivotal moment when Britpop dominated UK charts but Black Grape — formed by former Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder alongside rapper Kermit — offered a funkier, more subversive and hip-hop-literate alternative. The song's pointed satirical attack on organised…

Why it matters

A key artefact of the post-Madchester alternative dance lineage, the video documents the stylistic bridge between rave-era Manchester hedonism and the mid-90s funk-rock / hip-hop crossover that critics identified as anticipating big beat. Its satirical religious theatrics, fast-cut MTV editing,…

The director

Donovan Letts (born 10 January 1956, London) is a British film director, DJ, and musician. He first gained prominence directing music videos for the Clash and is credited with bridging punk and reggae music through his DJing at London's The Roxy club. He…