Deep Elm Records Releases Alternate Video Due To Concerns Over "Violent?" Content

Deep Elm Records is releasing an alternate video for FIGHTSTAR's "Paint Your Target," the first single from the London-based band's debut They Liked You Better When You Were Dead. The original video for "Paint Your Target" features school children in a spirited game of playground war. Although the video contains simulated gunfire and explosions, there are actually no weapons in the video.

No US media outlet has officially banned the video, but the BBC declared the video "offensive" and refused to show it on any of its terrestrial stations.

The band and label issued these statements:

"This is social commentary on how violence is inherent in our culture. It's a real shame that rock music can't be the platform for revolution in modern media like it used to be." -FIGHTSTAR bassist Dan Haigh, who also directed the original video.

"Censorship has gone too far. This is a bunch of school children playing with their fingers pointed like guns. You'll find this on every playground in America. We live in a society of war...perhaps we need to focus on what we are teaching our children." - John Szuch, founder Deep Elm Records

Both videos can be viewed online. The original version is located here, and the updated video is located here.

What do you think? Has media censorship gone too far? Or is this a responsible move on the part of both the band and the media? Does censorship have a place in punk rock? Pay a visit to the forum and let me know what you think.