The Band Explains: Those Fucking Snowflakes - 'Stop Being Dickheads To Each Other'
Channeling a potent blend of political punk, hardcore rock and math rock Those Fucking Snowflakes talk to us about their music video for ‘Stop Being Dickheads To Each Other’, which lyrically promotes equality and kindness and visually was inspired by low budget zombie movies and Anti-Tory sentiment.
Could you talk us through the creative process behind the music video for 'Stop Being Dickheads To Each Other'?
We had no money, we made and edited the video ourselves. We used quick cut editing to cover up all the cheap backgrounds, bad makeup and lack of lighting. It goes with the b-movie zombie style though. It was filmed in one day and it shows. The fast pace goes with the song though.
How does the video connect with the song?
‘Stop Voting Tory’ was the last line written for the song. The other parts of the chorus speak about how ‘We all exist under the same sun’ and ‘We’re all bags of emotion’ - the message is, everyone is a person no matter what background and everyone has feelings, so don’t be a dick to them. People would do well to remember that.
The ‘Stop Voting Tory’ line fell into place because of the whole ‘Windrush’ scandal and the Boris ‘letterbox’ comments, it seemed to sum up a dangerously acceptable form of intolerance in modern society.
It connects to the video with Theresa May, who has a bit of an anti-gay history, passing both the Tory Leadership and a hatred of the underclass on to Boris Johnson. The Zombie Johnson’s head straight out and attack the homeless and a child on a crutch.
There was a lot more we could have done with it, but it’s a short song and we were limited by having no money or time.
Do you have any behind the scenes stories you can share with us?
I was really ill on the day of filming, there was meant to be a part where the Zombie Johnsons set fire to a hospital but I needed to get back to bed. It was going to be a shot of us outside the hospital then cut to a photo of it on fire, we would never burn a hospital for our own selfish gains. Maybe next time.
The video was filmed in an empty room and corridor next to our practice room, this is the same space we used to record the song. It’s been used in another local music video.
The alley where the Johnson’s attack the homeless guy has now been fenced off, it’s been open for decades but a week after we filmed it was fenced off. We think it’s to prevent anymore Johnsons invading. That’s good Tory Apocalypse planning.
Theresa May was meant to be played by Alice, who is the singer in Barquin’s (not their real name) other band ‘Oceans Over Alderaan’. She dropped out last minute due to illness and was replaced by Cameron, we had never met them before but they had been to our gigs and responded to the Facebook callout. We’re all friends now though, it’s a good way to meet people. Cameron had seen us live and said ‘Dickheads’ was his favourite song.
Could you tell us about the ideas/ themes/ imagery used?
We wanted to address intolerance as a disease, that spreads. Using the time tested Zombie method, as a way of passing it in story form, just seemed quite natural. We dress that way on stage so it works as an origin story to the band, in a way.
It shows up awful behaviour for what it is, repetitive nonsense perpetrated by mindless zombies.
These days intolerance seems to spread through dickheads on social media though, or Tommy Robinson posting unwanted flyers through my door.
Is there a message the video is trying to convey?
The message is in the repeated shouting of the chorus ‘stop being dickheads to each other’ - a lot of our songs don’t follow such a simple football chant, 4/4 timing, repeated words chant style - but it seemed more apt for this song. The more we say it the more the message might get through.
Don’t be a zombie, try to think about what you are doing and how your actions affect people.
Our next song is called ‘Vegan Sausage Rolls vs Gamon Faced Vampires’ - it’s about Piers Morgans bizarre outrage over savoury snacks. That one is going to be fun to make, wonder if he will play himself - he seems to like attention.
Interview by Karla Harris