Video Vault Sundays: June 15, 2025 - Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

In 1986, Peter Gabriel stunned the music world with his single Sledgehammer. While the song itself was a funky and soulful departure from his earlier work, it was the music video that truly broke boundaries. Using stop motion, claymation, and a host of practical effects, the video created a surreal and mesmerizing visual experience that felt like a living painting in motion.


MTV put Sledgehammer in constant rotation, and it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The video’s creativity, energy, and experimental visuals pushed the limits of what a music video could be. It did not just support the song, it transformed it into something unforgettable.

Fun fact: Sledgehammer holds the record for the most MTV Video Music Awards won by a single video, with nine awards in 1987.