Toronto-based punks PUP are well known for one-upping themselves. Nearly every live performance they put on is sweatier, rowdier and somehow more chaotic than the last, and the same can be said for their music videos. Teaming up with their longtime director Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux, PUP continuously shock and surprise fans with next-level concepts and visual effects.
Today, PUP release their latest for Old Wounds, a totally immersive, choose your adventure style video. Across an unbelievable number of intersecting videos, the four members challenge you, their new tour manager, to get them back to their hotel room safely after a sold out show. There are 28 different ways to die, 16 aliens, 10 beers, 5 Eastern Conference NBA playoff team references, and only 4 ways for Stefan, Steve, Nestor and Zack to survive the night.
“This video is one of the craziest things we’ve done as a band,” laughs singer/guitarist Stefan Babcock. “I’m so proud of this thing, and am absolutely convinced that Jeremy is a total savant.”
Fans who have gotten to know the four members of PUP over the years will pick up all the subtle nuances that the band and Jeremy included in the video.
“We actually each wrote our own individual storylines,” Babcock continues. “From Steve’s sports obsession to Zack’s weirdo sci-fi brain soup, and Nestor’s unnatural love of pizza to me going off the deep end in the wilderness… this video is pure PUP.”
Fresh off of a whirlwind run at some of North America’s biggest festivals including Lollapalooza, Boston Calling, Shaky Knees, Osheaga, and more, PUP will wrap up the year by supporting post-hardcore legends Thursday for select dates in addition to a few more headlining shows through the US.
PUP unleashed their sophomore album The Dream Is Over into the world last May. It was welcomed with open arms from the likes of The New York Times (“among the most exciting punk bands of recent years”), Pitchfork (“a glorious pile-up of emotional wreckage”), The FADER (“one of the year’s most exciting rock records”), NPR Music (“chaotically catchy”), The A.V. Club (“explosive; life-affirming”) and many more.
Since the 2014 release of PUP’s self-titled debut, this ferocious four-piece has truly taken the world by storm. They were listed amongst Rolling Stone’s Breakout Rock Acts of 2014, named one of Kerrang’s 20 Hottest Bands In The World Right Now and garnered nominations for three Juno Awards (Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards), including a 2016 Video Of The Year nod for “Dark Days,” and the Prism Prize (an award granted to the Best Canadian Music Videos of 2014).
