I remember watching the news in 1999 when they talked about the rioting that happened at Woodstock 99 how everyone considered it a failure, and my mom turned to me and said, “People died at Woodstock 69; how was this one the failure?” Well, great minds think alike, because Ely Morgan has some similar thoughts on the ridiculous way that Woodstock ’99 was framed by the media. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Ely Morgan has a long history in rock music. His previous bands include Die Princess Die, Manta Ray, and Goth Jock, and he’s put out a bunch of albums with those bands, toured extensively, and been featured at SXSW twice. He also shot footage that was used for two separate documentaries about Kathleen Hanna, he’s published books about music, and he’s booked bands. He’s done a lot of things. Now his latest project is Scuba Cop, a noise rock band pulling from influences as diverse as the Pixies, Jesus and Mary Chain, Pissed Jeans, Metz, and Jesus Lizard.
Today, Scuba Cop are debuting their newest video for their single “Damages of Disgrace” off of their upcoming self-titled album coming out on July 5, and it’s a song about that fateful day in 1999 when Limp Bizkit got blamed for a riot. “Damages is about the HBO documentary on Woodstock 99,” explains Morgan. “It was played out like some tragic catastrophe. When they interviewed the kids that went, most said they had a blast and they said they would go again. It is hilarious when they decided to pass out candles at the end and then wondered why people were starting fires. I also think Limp Bizkit got a bad rap, like they started all the craziness. There were other bands that were just as bad at stirring the pot like Korn, Rage against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Kid Rock. I was not a fan of Limp Bizkit in 1999, but I am a fan of the 2024 version. They have an incredible sense of humor and don’t take themselves too seriously. I just watched the promo video for their Loserville tour, and it is honestly the funniest thing I have seen all year.”
While the song may be in defense of Limp Bizkit, there’s nothing rap-rock about this tune. It’s just a wall of big, fuzzy noise and Morgan’s intense vocals. It is an absolute sonic force to be reckoned with, hitting with the strength of a nuclear bomb. The bizarre video utilizes lo-fi video, some cheap effects, and a few animal masks to make something trippy and absurd. It’s difficult to interpret whether it’s meant to be serious or funny, but I feel like it’s supposed to be both. Check out the video below.
Scuba Cop is out on July 5, and you can preorder the album here. Follow Scuba Cop Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
Photo courtesy of Scuba Cop
