Living Things - Bombs Below (Version 2)

What this video is

Released in 2004 against the backdrop of the Iraq War and a deeply polarized United States, 'Bombs Below' by Living Things embodied the spirit of politically engaged underground rock that used the music video format as agitprop. The band, described by critics as pairing 'AC/DC's aggression with Fugazi's humanistic fervor,' represented a lineage of American punk-influenced bands using major-label platforms for…

Why it matters

Represents a pivotal moment in mid-2000s politically charged American punk-rock music video production, where underground rock bands with major-label distribution ('Ahead of the Lions' on Jive/Zomba) deployed art-world directors to create videos that bridged MTV's commercial infrastructure with…

The director

Italian-Canadian director and photographer born 1965 in Pescara, Italy; raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Studied painting and photography at Ontario College of Art and Design. Transitioned from fashion photography to music video direction via The Revolver Film…