Modest Mouse releases 'King Rat' video, directed by Heath Ledger

A&E Dispatch |

The Joker wasn't the last legacy Heath Ledger left.

The actor directed a video for Issaquah band Modest Mouse, out today. The animated video "King Rat" debuts on MySpace Music, the same time as the band's new EP, "No One's First, And You're Next," is released. The video is also available for download on iTunes Friday, Aug. 7.

Ledger first approached Modest Mouse lead singer Isaac Brock with the idea of producing the video back in January 2007. He wanted to raise awareness of illegal commercial whaling practices through Modest Mouse's music.

His video creatively flips the script, with whales steering a boat and spearing humans.

It was left unfinished when Ledger died in January 2008, but his company, The Masses, finished the video in his honor. Proceeds from the first month of iTunes video downloads will go toward Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a nonprofit marine wildlife conservation organization. For more, check out www.seashepherd.org.

And to see Ledger's video, at noon today or after, go to www.myspace.com/modestmouse.

PETA posthumously awarded Ledger the Compassionate Artist Award for his video.

"Heath's moving video will open many eyes to whaling's bloody reality," said Lisa Lange, PETA vice president, in a release. "His work will surely live on as a reminder of the suffering that people inflict on so many whales and other sea animals."

Marian Liu: 206-464-3825 or mliu@seattletimes.com