18 of the best music videos where bands destroy shit

July 9, 2017

Admit it: We all love watching things explode, get set on fire and smashed into pieces (comment if you got the reference). Apparently, so do our favorite musicians. Music videos are unique creative outlets that allow bands to collaborate with production teams of directors and cinematographers to produce unique art that complements the music and elevates it to its full potential.

Whether they are smashing melons, chopping blocks of wood, destroying their own equipment, trashing hotel rooms or causing riots in the streets, we love seeing our rock star role models satisfy their appetites for destruction (come on, that one was too easy). Here's a list of some of the greatest music videos in which these guilty pleasures are actualized.

“The Lines” by Beartooth

So we get to watch the guys in Beartooth smash melons with sledgehammers, crush computers with baseball bats and destroy a Beartooth cake with a tennis racket? Count us in. With the video’s sole purpose of “destroying shit,” this had to be first on this list. Watch them play all summer on Warped Tour this year!

“Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore

Paramore have to take the prize for creative wackiness with this one. One day in 2014, the band set out to break the most world records in a music video, and we were definitely impressed, especially with the “fastest time to run backwards holding stuffed animals while blindfolded for 30 feet.” 6.14 seconds!

“Burning Hearts” by Silverstein

This was such a close call, since “Forget Your Heart” depicts trophies burning, skulls smashing and lightbulbs exploding. However, there is no better way to strengthen the bond between band and fans than causing a riot in the streets together. The Molotov cocktail was just the cherry on top. Ironically, their music video for “Smashed Into Pieces” didn’t have enough things smashing into pieces, and we hope you got that reference earlier. Riot with these guys all summer on Warped Tour!

“Addicted” by Simple Plan

This was such a difficult choice, such a close tie with “Shut Up!”, where Simple Plan tears up a ballroom full of disapproving adults before realizing they showed up at the wrong venue. In this music video from their No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls era, the band literally jumps a building into ruins. Who knew pop-punk posi jumps were that powerful?

“40 oz. Dream” by Good Charlotte

From destroying mailboxes with bats out of a moving vehicle to bowling in contemporary ways, these music video veterans have done it all. After several collaborations with the Sleeping With Sirens guys, there’s no denying that the GC guys are a source of inspiration for them.

“Congratulations” by Sleeping With Sirens feat. Matty Mullins

We told you! In this video, the SWS guys are destroying obnoxious caricatures of… themselves? Slightly reminds us of “I Just Wanna Live” by Good Charlotte, when they eventually abandon their food group personas.

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“You Wear A Crown But You’re No King” by blessthefall

With frontman Beau Bokan’s lumberjack skills, the band created a dope music video set with dozens of little campfires. Although we can’t expect insane pyrotechnics, we hope they’ll play this one at all the Warped Tour dates this summer!

“Bat Country” by Avenged Sevenfold

Known for indulging in the “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll” lifestyle in their early years, it is no surprise that A7x shot a music video in Las Vegas. The premise of the video is based on Hunter S. Thompson’s book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream,” and the band definitely does it justice.

“Chelsea Smile” by Bring Me The Horizon

The ultimate party song… that is too heavy to play at pretty much any party, unless it’s a live show of BMTH themselves. You can see clearly see here that this music makes the kids a little rowdy.

“Duality” by Slipknot

Well to be fair, it is mostly the Slipknot fans that do the damage in this one, but it’s pretty obvious that it was the energy of the band that caused them to do all that.

“Better Homes And Gardens” by Taking Back Sunday

A solo act of arson by frontman Adam Lazzara? This song has to be the most personal song on this entire list.

“Prayer Of The Refugee” by Rise Against

Any Rise Against fan knows how much they stand for and how much thought and passion they put into their songs. Here they destroy a supermarket while exploring the societal issues behind forced displacement.