Philip Anselmo has shared a dark, comedic music video for "Choosing Mental Illness," a highlight off Philip H. Anselmo & the Illegal's sophomore album Choosing Mental Illness as a Virtue. Directed by the ex-Pantera singer's partner, Katherine Richardson-Anselmo, the six-minute-plus clip pays homage to Miloš Forman's iconic 1975 movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, recasting Anselmo as one of many disgruntled residents of a mental hospital overseen by the nefarious Nurse Ratched (Greasy Strangler's Michael St. Michaels).
"This video is based on one of my favorite films about the harshness of mental illness," Anselmo told Loudwire of the new "Choosing Mental Illness" video. "Being up close and personal with the struggle, I often feel like [protagonist] R.P. McMurphy, who I play in the clip. I've had a lot of questions about the LP title, Choosing Mental Illness as a Virtue, and the song title, 'Choosing Mental Illness,'" he continues, "but make no mistake, I take mental illness very seriously, especially because it often goes untreated." True to his word, the video concludes with statistics regarding America's mental illness epidemic, accompanied by a message of encouragement.
Philip H. Anselmo & the Illegals have a slew of dates coming up behind Choosing Mental Illness as a Virtue, which came out last January. Check those out below.
Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals tour dates:
Sept. 06 — New Orleans, LA — Santos
Sept. 07 — San Antonio, TX — Rock Box
Sept. 08 — Dallas, TX — Trees
Sept. 09 — Houston, TX — Scout Bar
Sept. 11 — Knoxville, Tenn. — The Concourse
Sept. 12 — Greenville SC — The Firmament
Sept. 14 — Harrisburg, PA — The Capitol Room
Sept. 15 — Providence, RI — Fete Music Hall
Sept. 16 — Wantagh, NY — Mulcahy's
Sept. 18 — Brooklyn, NY — Saint Vitus Bar
Sept. 20 — Rochester, NY — Montage Music Hall
Sept. 21 — Ft. Wayne, IN — Piere's
Sept. 22 — Harrison, OH — The Blue Note
Sept. 23 — Louisville, KY — Diamond's Pub Concert Hall
Sept. 25 — Green Bay, WI — Green Bay Distillery
Sept. 27 — Joliet, IL — The Forge
Sept. 28 — Pontiac, MI — The Crofoot (Berserker Fest)
Sept. 29 — Pop's – Sauget, IL — Pop's
Sept. 30 — Fayetteville, Ark. — George's Majestic
