Today’s video of the day is Skinny Puppy – “Rivers” released in 1989.
The fan-made video for Skinny Puppy‘s “Rivers” gives fans a fresh visual take on the haunting track from their 1989 album Rabies. This song showcases Skinny Puppy’s intense, dark sound, which fans of industrial music adore. Rabies marked a pivotal time in Skinny Puppy’s career. It was the band’s fifth studio album, released through Nettwerk Records and, in Europe, by Play It Again Sam (PIAS). The album includes collaborations with Al Jourgensen of Ministry, adding a gritty edge that drew fans deeper into Skinny Puppy’s unique world.
Formed in 1982 in Vancouver, Skinny Puppy’s founding members, cEvin Key and Nivek Ogre, quickly gained recognition. Their first release, the EP Remission (1984), set the tone for their intense, experimental style. By 1985, they’d expanded with Bites, featuring Wilhelm Schroeder (aka Bill Leeb) on keyboards. However, Schroeder soon left, and Dwayne R. Goettel replaced him in 1986. Goettel’s influence helped shape the band’s evolving sound, which grew darker and more complex across albums like Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse and Cleanse Fold and Manipulate. The Rabies album captured Skinny Puppy at the peak of their raw, confrontational style. “Rivers,” like much of the album, dives into unsettling themes with heavy electronic layers and intense vocals. This approach influenced later bands like Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, positioning Skinny Puppy as pioneers in the industrial genre.
Tragically, Skinny Puppy disbanded after Goettel’s death in 1995. However, they returned in 2000 with a live appearance in Dresden and released The Greater Wrong of the Right in 2004. Over the years, they produced more music, including Mythmaker in 2007 and Weapon in 2013. In 2023, they announced their final tour, ending a long, impactful career. Their influence on industrial and gothic music remains undeniable. This fan video for “Rivers” stands as a tribute to the band’s intense legacy, honoring a song from one of their most iconic albums.
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