Damage Control

Former Dark Brothers porn director Gregory Dark (he of "New Wave Hookers" fame) has been helming music video productions for years for everyone from teen queen Britney Spears to rapper Xzibit, and has had many of his mini-epics in heavy rotation at MTV, VH1 and BET.

Now, according to official fan site DamagePlan.net, Pantera side-project Damage Plan (featuring Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul) has hired Red Ezra ("Serenity In Toyland," "Riders," and "Love Shack") to direct the clip for "Breathing New Life," the first single off their "New Found Power" album, due out through Elektra on Feb. 10. Ezra previously directed Pantera's "Drag The Waters" video.

This means Red Ezra is on the Elektra payroll for at least a couple days or so, which in turns means Warner Brothers is doing business with a pornographer. Hardly controversial... but it is just a tad ironic that the label who once booted Ice-T for singing "Cop Killer" is now paying a porn director to help image their artists.

Hey, all the power to Elektra/Warner Bros., Red and Damage Plan for their forward thinking. Too bad MTV will never play it. Not because it's directed by a porn director, but simply because they haven't played a real heavy metal band in years....