Modest Mouse releases 'King Rat' video, directed by Heath Ledger
Before Heath Ledger's death, he teamed with Issaquah band Modest Mouse on a project designed to raise awareness of illegal whaling.
By Marian Liu
Seattle Times staff reporter
Music video - King Rat, on myspace
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=61500391The Joker wasn't the last legacy Heath Ledger left.
The actor directed a video for Issaquah band Modest Mouse, out today. The animated video "King Rat" debuts on MySpace Music, the same time as the band's new EP, "No One's First, And You're Next," is released. The video is also available for download on iTunes Friday, Aug. 7.
Ledger first approached Modest Mouse lead singer Isaac Brock with the idea of producing the video back in January 2007. He wanted to raise awareness of illegal commercial whaling practices through Modest Mouse's music.
His video creatively flips the script, with whales steering a boat and spearing humans.
It was left unfinished when Ledger died in January 2008, but his company, The Masses, finished the video in his honor. Proceeds from the first month of iTunes video downloads will go toward Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a nonprofit marine wildlife conservation organization. For more, check out www.seashepherd.org.
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