Modest Mouse plans to release the music video actor Heath Ledger directed before his death in January 2008, the band’s spokesperson tells SPIN.com. The Dark Knight actor helmed the animated clip for “King Rat,” a bonus tune off 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. No specific date has been set for the release, which is expected to happen “soon.” The video was animated by Terry Gilliam (Twelve Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas).

In a 2007 interview with VH1 frontman Isaac Brock spoke about the collaboration with Ledger.

“Heath and I have a mutual friend and when we were in Australia, my fiancé and some of us in the band went out on a boat with him and his family and friends and talked about the idea,” Brock said of the video’s origin. “The idea sort of dropped, but then he just sent me an email saying that he wanted to do it.”

In related Modest Mouse news, the Portland, OR, band will drop a 7″ orange vinyl single April 18 (out digitally April 21) with two new songs, “Satellite Skin” (watch concert video below) and “Guilty Cocker Spaniels.” Though the band hasn’t confirmed any other releases, New Jersey record store Vintage Vinyl reports MM will offer three more singles before releasing an eight-song EP, No One’s First and You’re Next, this August.

Modest Mouse will perform “Satellite Skin” on the Late Show with David Letterman on March 18. Kevin Willis, who produced Tool’s clip for “Stinkfist,” will direct its music video.

The band’s U.S. tour comes to a close this weekend. To read about and hear music from Mimicking Birds, the opener hand-picked by Brock, click here.

WATCH: Modest Mouse, “Satellite Skin”



Modest Mouse, “The Whale Song”

