None other than the poster art king himself, Frank Kozik

will direct the first Soundgarden video, which is for the lead single "Pretty

Noose," off the group's soon-to-be-released new album, Down On The

Upside. Kozik is off to Seattle to today to get to work on the video. The

iconoclastic artist, whose edgy graphic style defines late '90s rock & roll (as

well as ATN's graphic look), says he sent off a treatment to the band, and

thought "no way they're going to go for this." Next thing he knew he'd been

hired. "No band performance, no acting," he said. "Most of it will be shot at

the OK Hotel [a very hip club/gallery/hotel] in Seattle. The band will be seen

in it. How would I describe it? A semi-psychedelic glimpse at the downside of

alternative culture." And from Kozik, what else should we expect? The album

will be released in late May, which is when the group will open the Soundgarden

web site and conduct an on-line chat there. All leading up to the group's

Lollapalooza gig this summer.