Today GODSMACK premiered the official music video for “Bulletproof,” the lead single from the multi-platinum band’s upcoming WHEN LEGENDS RISE album that’s due out April 27 via BMG. Directed by filmmaker Troy Smith, the satirical clip documents the band’s quest to make a new video. Click here to watch.
In the video, GODSMACK’s manager–played by actual manager, Paul Geary–suggests that it’s time for the band to expand their fan base by working with new (and clueless) video directors, including one played by Sebastian Bach and another by Billy Ray Cyrus. After being pitched a host of awful ideas, Sully Erna decides to hire his cousin, Salvatore Pasquale from Sicily, Italy. Everything hilariously goes wrong at the shoot, climaxing with the set catching fire and, ultimately, the destruction of the video files.
Read a Q&A with SULLY ERNA and Salvatore Pasquale below.
Q&A with SULLY ERNA of GODSMACK and Salvatore Pasquale:
Q: Who wrote the script?
Erna: I wrote most of it and had some contributions from Troy Smith and Kenny Funk
Pasquale: This a scripta was a no good from beginning. I tella Selly, Why you no call me before. I could make a you something so stronga. But no, my cousin, he no like no help from a no one. So now looka what happen.
Q: Do they want it described as a mini-film or something else?
Erna: Yes! It is a short film/music video.
Pasquale: You no hear me when I speaka? This a no filma. This a something like…I don’t a even know what it is.
Q: What was the inspiration to take this approach for the video?
Erna: We just really enjoy having fun and laughing. Music is about entertainment just as much as it’s about the art. And we want to share what we do with audiences of all ages. The band discussed having me direct this debut video, so I just ran with that concept and twisted it up. Comedy is nothing more than reality exaggerated. And anyone who doesn’t enjoy a fun video like this, is simply taking life much too seriously.
Pasquale: I no wanna do this approacha…Selly no nothing about making a filma. Next time-a you wanna make a something nice, you call-a Pasquale and he make a you best video eva! Molto Bene! I no need answer no more. Ciao!
To coincide with the album’s release, the band will reign in release weekend with festival appearances at Welcome to Rockville in Jacksonville, FL and Fort Rock in Sunrise, FL before heading to Monster Energy’s Carolina Rebellion May 5 in Concord, NC and Rock on the Range in Columbus, OH on May 20. Next up, there’s a co-headlining outdoor amphitheater tour with SHINEDOWN hitting more than 30 cities. Produced by Live Nation, the six-week run kicks off July 22 and makes stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Atlanta, New York and many more before wrapping September 2. For more information on the tour and to purchase tickets, visit http://godsmack.com/.
20 years since the release of their debut album and 20 million album sales later, GODSMACK—Sully Erna [vocals, guitar], Tony Rombola [guitar], Robbie Merrill [bass], and Shannon Larkin [drums]–are an even stronger animal than before. The proof is in the grooves of WHEN LEGENDS RISE, the band’s seventh studio album and their first album in four years. The album is available for pre-order now here.
