Primus — DMV

JUL 01 1993 · 12:00

Primus — DMV (1993) Director: Mark Kohr Era: Alt-Rock / Funk-Metal Peak (1993) - Post-Lollapalooza underground breakthrough era; Primus riding the crest of alternative mainstream crossover with Pork Soda debuting at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. A rare convergence of live concert document, sardonic social commentary, and experimental collage filmmaking from the creative peak of one of alternative rock's most idiosyncratic acts. The video's warm-toned, high-contrast aesthetic and archival Greek Theater footage make it an irreplaceable primary source for both Primus's visual legacy and the broader story of 1993 Bay Area rock culture. High preservation priority given its documented historical footage components. Context: Released in 1993 as the second single from Pork Soda, 'DMV' arrives at the apex of alternative rock's commercial breakthrough. Primus occupied a singular niche: too weird for mainstream radio, too popular to remain underground, following a Billboard 200 No. 7 debut. The video's collage of concert footage, bathroom grotesquerie, and recycled animation embodies the band's sardonic rejection of rock spectacle, satirizing the drudgery of everyday American life—DMV lines, dentists, cold toilet seats—through the lens of Bay Area absurdism. It documents a real 1993 Greek Theater performance, grounding surrealism in genuine concert document. Director notes: Kohr directed three Primus music videos from the Pork Soda era: 'DMV,' 'My Name Is Mud,' and 'Mr. Krinkle,' establishing a sustained creative partnership with the band. The DMV video was produced by Raub Shapiro and edited by Alan Chimenti. Per Wikipedia, the video incorporates live and backstage footage shot at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA on October 1, 1993, combined with toilet imagery and animation/artwork originally created for the 'Tommy the Cat' video. Approximately 40 seconds of the song's outro were removed for the video edit.