Features
MTV Bans Primus Video
The band’s video for “Lacquer Head” has apparently incurred the ire of MTV Networks, which has refused to air the video because it “looked too pro-drug,” a Primus spokesperson told Pollstar.
The video combines live concert footage and stop-action animation to depict a gasoline-huffing character blowing himself up with a little help from the devil while watching a concert video on TV.
Los Angeles-based Internet radio station KNAC said in a release it has acquired exclusive rights to air the video and it is available on the station’s Web site. However, a spokesperson at Interscope Records was unable to verify that KNAC has exclusivity.
“You’ve got Satan feeding drugs to a kid watching TV and then riding him to hell. How pro-drug is that?” the Primus spokesperson asked rhetorically.
Claypool is a little more direct.
“Along comes a Primus video that addresses the dangers of chemical abuse (glue sniffing) and these (MTV) hypocrites run for cover,” said Claypool in a statement on the KNAC.com Web site.
“I assume our youth needs to see a video about ‘breaking stuff’ or the virtues of wearing a ‘thong’ rather than a couple of puppets going to hell for sniffing gasoline. But alas, public service announcements don’t help to sell Pepsi.”
MTV did not return calls from Pollstar for comment.