Video premiere: Killers bassist Mark Stoermer debuts 'Beautiful Deformities'

Mark Stoermer is well-known for his role as bassist for indie rock stars the Killers. However, he’s got an impressive résumé that goes way beyond that group: Stoermer has worked as a producer (for Aussie foursome Howling Bells’ third album); toured with the Smashing Pumpkins as bass player; and written, produced, and released three solo albums — the first of which, Another Life, was released in 2011; the second, Dark Arts, in August 2016; and the latest, Filthy Apes and Lions, in August this year.

Yahoo Music is pleased to debut the startling video for his latest single, “Beautiful Deformities.” The video — titled “Beautiful Deformities (The Monastic Controversy): Acts I-V” — shows an alternate society, not too dissimilar from our own, in which differences in appearance and lifestyle are punishable by death. Blond clonelike soldiers round up a collection of unique beauties, following the commands of a Hitler-esque dictator. Be sure to watch all the way through for the twist ending…

“The lyrics for ‘Beautiful Deformities’ are based off an art history story from the 12th century, in the form of a dialogue between two monks regarding censorship/art suppression,” explains Stoermer of his unique project. “The video, inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, takes this theme to the 20th century, referring to totalitarian regimes and the censorship they imposed. The villain, played by me, represents the archetypal dictator. The hero, also played by myself, is an angel who eventually redeems the so called ‘freaks and degenerates.’”

If you’d like to keep up with Stoermer’s schedule, check here.