Viral Videos: Diesel Presents Pete The Meat Puppet

Diesel has just launched a new series of videos that are equally disturbing as they are funny. The series of unusual videos will make you cringe, wince and quite possibly wretch, as part of Diesel's latest twisted interactive entertainment experience. (Watch the videos at the end of this post).

Pete The Meat puppet probably relegates Chucky into second place as the most scary doll in the world. This hilarious music video plots the rise to success of a modern day Pinnochio made of meat, and his even more rapid spiraling decline into depravity. Be prepared to throw up as you see him chew on his own leg in a state of desperate hunger.

Each of the videos takes audience participation and community generated content to an entirely disturbing new territory.

Sailing even closer to the bone of good taste is Hair Bath. Like most people I am sure, I think there is something pretty disgusting about hair once it has been cut from your head. But to see someone quite literally bathing in a bath full of the stuff... and rubbing it all over their face! Weirder still than a naked girl bathing in hair, is that the girl claims the hair was sent in by visitors to the Diesel website.

Dance Party on the other hand is equally dark, but in less of a stomach turning way. Either its rye parody of reality talent shows, or the awkward semi-naked misfit dancers pulling some pretty odd dance moves, or maybe both, had me laughing out loud. There are more episodes being uploaded each week, so stay tuned to see who will win the contest.

View more videos at Diesel.com


Pete The Meat Puppet - With handy karaoke lyrics


Dance Party - An Underground Endurance Dance Contest


Hair Bath - Will you send her in some of your hair?

Some stills from the videos.

Dirty Thirty - Limited Edition Diesel Jeans For €30

Expect queues outside Diesel stores on Friday 10th October if the rumor of €30 Diesel denim jeans turns out to be true. Recently several sites (Denim Blog, Set Your Style) have commented on the 'Dirty Thirty' rumor but until now there have been no images of the product (click image for hi-res version, more images below the fold).

Images posted to denim fan site Honest Forum show a new product that features a unique wash, custom details including 1978 leg stitching, and commemorative 'Dirty Thirty' patch, that would appear to be the jeans in question. According to SassyBella the denim is to be priced at €30, mirroring the brands 30 years (and making them finally affordable for me!). No official announcement from Diesel has been made, but an email and leaked URL on Diesel.com which has been circulating online among friends of people working for Diesel details the participating stores and draws reference to the 'special' price point, indicating that the rumor will prove to be true. Other than the absurdly cheap price, the product will apparently only be available for one day only (Friday 10th October), which would make this one 'limited edition' product that will be truly collectable.

I hope that they will also be for sale on the Diesel Online store as I don't live anywhere near any of the stores in question.

If this aspect of Diesel's birthday celebrations has not yet been officially announced, the fact that Diesel are having a worldwide party has certainly not gone unnoticed as their SFW viral video has already been seen 3 million times in less than a week. Tickets to the event are still available from Diesel.

Rumplo - Social T-Shirt Shopping

Shopping for great t-shirts just got a whole lot easier. Rumplo is a social shopping community that's focus is on specialist and artist created t-shirts. The community uploads it's favorite designs from around the world, all with links to stores where the tees can be bought online. It is only a few weeks old, but already is host to hundreds of interesting designs.

Here are some of my favorites, by Your Eyes Lie, a UK collective of designers. Other designs that I liked can be seen on my Rumplo profile.

Other good t-shirt sites are Emptees and historical favorite Threadless

Fashion Predictions (from the 1930's)

This video from the 1930's contains some remarkable predictions for fashion in the 21st century. It is amazing to think that fashion designers could have even conceived of portable phone accessories! The lack of formal wear, the functional nature of fashion, even the changing environmental condition are all remarkably relevant incites. A similar project would be interesting to see, asking modern day designers to think 100 years from now.



YouTube Video

Embroidered Graffiti Sofa

Artist Richard Saja hijacks existing traditional fabric prints with his own rebelious emroidered graffiti. I like the idea of furniture becoming an actual work of art. The writters of the post which I first saw this on even suggest that you could even have a go yourself at adding your own embroidered graffiti on the item. I really like this idea, but starting with a blank canvas and treating the sofa as a kind of sketch book.

Found here

Be A Fashionable Victim, Not A Fashion Victim

When you are packing a weapon, you want it to look stylish, no? No longer concerned with the technical specifications, the thing that is going to sway my decission when buying a 'personal saftey device' is how fashionable I will look when I pull it from my bag and defend myself from attack. I may be their next victim, but would hate for any mugger to think that I was a fashion victim. That's why I will be carrying a Tazer MPH, with its sexy leopard skin print. Not only that, but when I am not busy fending off an attacker the weapon does not need to languish in my bag...oh no! It sports an MP3 player, so I can listen to all my favorite tracks while I travel in fear. Heck, just thought, if I am listening to my Tazer as I walk my dangerous route home, maybe I won't hear my attacker approach? Hummnn. As I Taze them, will the MP3 player still work??? I am going to have to get these questions answered. Stay tuned.

Valentino Spring Summer 2008 Campaign - No Faces

I really like the idea of Valentino's latest campaign, his last for the company before his retirement. Rebelling against the saturation of top models and celebrity endorsements, the model's faces in the campaign are all obscured by their hair, or accessories. Will surely be discussed amongst the fashion press, and creates an image that makes you do a double take, without compromising on the traditional 'fashion' image.

More here...

Diesel Online Store Launches

Finally it is here. But it has been worth the wait. You can now buy online from the Diesel site, from Europe and USA from a single online store.

The Diesel Online Store officially launches today, and does so with an interactive window called the Diesel Style Lounge, that is designed to explore things that would not be possible in the window of a normal highstreet store. Models are seen floating underwater in a submerged space that the user can explore and discover the key outfits of the season. The models spin and flip as the camera pans around them Matrix style, and uses effects that are more commonly found in Hollywood movies than online.

For those that prefer a quicker and more direct experience, they can navigate direct to the male and female sections and browse from over 1,000 specially selected items. There are about three times as many items in this store than you would find in a normal Diesel store, and the selection has been chosen specifically for the more demanding and forward thinking online consumer. Some of the most sought after pieces, including specialist denim and fashion show items previously only available in a few cities, are now made available to people worldwide.

The presentation of the collection in the Style Lounge, in my opinion really represents a new direction in fashion photography. The technique used is a kind of 'Motion Photography', where the focus is still clearly on presenting the product, but adds a new dimention to the emotional angle of the image.


I have been fortunate to be a part of this amazing project, which has brought together people and companies from many different countries, and had a lot of fun on the set of the motion photography. The shoot in Berlin, Germany used a specially hand built HD Digital Video camera. The models, suspended from rigging were shot at 250 frames per second at full high definition resolution, so that when played back at normal speed it would slow one second of time down to 10 seconds. It was a fun shoot, and there was an elemtent of luck that shone down on those days. Firstly one of the models turned out by chance to have worked in a circus as a trapeeze artist since she was nine, and my Apple Power Book that got dropped actually remained in full working order (despite now sporting a rather nasty dent!).

Here are some images of the site and the shoot.

Diesel's Viral Dance Disco Lesson with Aarlf Smarks

The last time I heard viral and feet mentioned in the same sentence I had to buy some cream for athletes foot. This time thankfully it is a lot more fun than a fungal infection.

Diesel’s latest online campaign for their Freezy Sneaker shoes takes a 1970’s video of a Finnish Disco Celebrity, mashed up to promote a new sneaker design, that is decidedly 80’s. Try and make sense of that.

Don’t blame it on the sunshine. Don’t blame it on the moonlight. Don’t blame it on the good times. Don’t even blame it on the boogie. Blame it on Aarlf Smaks, This native Finnish disco dancemeister was ‘THE’ man that any self respecting disco-goer aspired to be like, and is single handedly to blame for the way your dad deploys those sexy moves on the dance floor (the ones that obviously got your Mum so hot all those years back). So maybe, just maybe, he is in a strange way responsible for your being born?

While part of the emerging trend of video remixing, in this case the remix and music was created by Hexostatic - Diesel’s choice of Aarlf Smaks to promote their new Freezy Sneakers pokes a big glittery finger in the eye of the current trend of big name celebrity product endorsement. That said, if this campaign video goes viral Aarlf may just may get again?

I remember being shown the original film by an old Finnish colleague of mine, and it made me laugh so much at the time. I am glad that some how Diesel have been able to bring this video into a piece of communication.

Oh yeah, I hope it has a viral effect, rather than a fungal effect, but either way it still makes my feet itch for some reason.

Peaceful Protest!

I really love this video. While the ending is so inevitable, it is impossible to watch it through to the end. This is like art for YouTube. Will we see a growth in more 'artistic' video's made now for the web? I hope so!

The video is part of a series of protest videos against the legalisation of a new product, FUEL FOR LIFE. If you do not know what that is yet, you probably will do soon!

Diesel's Liquid Space Holographic Fashion Show

Just got back from Florence where I was a part of the team that put on this show. It was great fun! Enjoy!

The Branded Male - Help Write This New Book

Mark Tungate is researching a new book called THE BRANDED MALE, which will explore the changing habits of male consumers, as well as analyzing the ways marketers target men. As Mark researches and writes the book he is using his blog to share his ideas and allow people to comment, suggest ideas and offer insites into the subject. The most incicive comments will find their way into the book. A nice way to become a part of a book, without having to write a book yourself.

Read his progress and add your own comments here

I already submitted my comments:

I think you could dedicate an entire chapter to the 'let's add another blade' phenomena of marketing to men. The epitome of male product marketing, razor and shaving products, have struggled to reinvent themselves and have taken an increasingly predictable approach to differentiation. Simply adding a new blade. I thought that two blades as opposed to one made a real difference, but I struggle to feel the improvement that my 5 blade razor should be delivering. The question your book could ask is just how many blades will I be shaving with in 5 years time?

Did you ever see this quite impressive web site marketing for Philips? Harnessing cutting edge video and with it's ironic and provocative humor to create a viral effect, this is a memorable example of male marketing to the young and internet savy male.

I have had the pleasure to work with Mark, collaborating with him in the creation of FIFTY, for which Mark was the writer, and I can assure you it is worth your while contacting Mark as he is a really talented and nice guy!

Terrorism In Second Life - American Apparel Attacked

The Second Life Liberation Army (SLLA), a band of long time residents of Second Life are demanding political rights and to be polled on changes to the virtual world. In an attempt to draw attention to their cause they have undertaken different campaigns, and one of the most recent was a terror attack against some of the new flock of big brands that are popping up with marketing actions in the popular 3D world.

Carrying out what they call military actions, they have targeted potential customers that entered American Apparel's Second Life store, shooting them and forcing them out of the store. Unlike the real world, American Apparel were able to disable the software that enabled such interaction within their zone. This is unfortunately where Second Life mimicing 'first life' ends.

The SLLA claim to have nothing against American Apparel, appearing to want to use a large brand as a means to drive stronger awareness to their cause.

An interview by Wayne Porter of ReveNews with the SLLA can be read here.

Heard on Popbitch and Marketing Vox.

Less Rain - T-Shirts

A really nicely designed and fun t-shirt design label. The t's are nice, farly common designs, and nothing too new - the dot matrix and 'Hello - My Name Is' t-shirts are cool as you can customise them with your own designs, blocking out squares on a matrix, or writting your name on the name sticker design. What is really nice is the simple and ironic animated store.

Check them out here...

Heidies Rule!

Wanna know what happens when 3 people get locked up in a room with their only access to the outside being their internet connection. And believe me when I say they are connected with the outside world. Check out the amount of hits they got for their video on YouTube in one day. I hope that these girls get up to a lot more stuff like this! They are natural stars!! And the internet community are joining in - that is the best part. They are helping the girls get their 15mb of fame.

Heidies Upload Their First Polaroids

Maybe these girls could get some commissions! Chat with them now, before they get taken down!

Diesel.com Hijacked!!! By Two Girls Called Heidies

So will Heidi and Heidi2 manage to succeed in their search for internet stardom? Hijacking Diesel's homepage is certainly a good start! With 6 live camera feeds, regular You Say - We Do sessions and live chat with the kidnappers of Diesel's underwear salesman this is an ambitious entertainment project!

Catch them live now! Before they get taken down, or bored of their 15 megabytes of fame.
View the on DIESEL.COM

Will Global Warming Be So Bad?

Diesel have just posted a new video on YouTube and their own website Diesel.com, that introduces their new provocative Global Warming Ready advertising campaign. Diesel asks...'Is Global Warming such a bad thing?' Leaving the viewer to decide, they claim to be ready just in case. So after the Stern report, here is Diesel's report into the effects of Global Warming...the findings -sunglasses recommended for the warmer times ahead! If it is going to happen, you may as well look stylish.

Diesel - Global Warming Ready - New Campaign

Diesel's latest advertising campaign is timely to say the least. The campaign depicts a drastically changed world, altered by the effects of Global Warming. Taking on a long time serious issue, but one that has in recent months become a very 'hot' topic (no pun intended!).

The striking and sophisticated images are set in various locations around the world, each having succomb to the effects of Global Warming; From New York sky scrapers emerge from the ocean, with flood waters upto the 50th floor to more subtle interpretations, such as tropical parrots taking the place of pigeons as the native bird in Venice's fames St Marco's Square. In all of the images, shot by fashion bad boy Terry Richardson, the people (dressed in Diesel naturally), seem unperturbed by the new environment, and in most cases are enjoying the new warm conditions. When you first see the images they seem quite normal beautiful fashion images, but it is only on the second look that they reveal their true story. Considering that we are bombarded with tabliod style news with it's hyperbowl horror story approach, this is an interesting and more thought provoking way of bringing attention to the issue.

The campaign can be seen online at Diesel.com

Lamborghini Murcielago - Edition Versace

Lamborghini revealed an special edition of their Murcielago model designed by Versace, designed to coincide with Paris fashion week. Each of the 10 examples come with a modified interior featuring Versace designed patterned fabric and a silver numbered commemorative tag. The car also comes complete with Versace luggage and watch. As if either of the brands are not in themselves the image of over indulgence and extreme luxury, I guess that this partnership will no doubt get themselves talked about that little but more!