UNSUSPECTING shoppers may have thought the zombie apocalypse had started outside the Halesowen News offices yesterday (Sunday).

Scenes that would not have looked out of place in horror flick Return of the Living Dead unfolded in Stourbridge High Street, Market Street and the Ryemarket shopping centre, while monstrous looking figures were also seen clawing at the offices of the Halesowen News in St John’s Road, Stourbridge.

Halesowen News:

But no - World War Z had not erupted in the Black Country.

The spectacle was in fact the filming of a new music video for acclaimed singer/songwriter Ian Passey, who works under the moniker of The Humdrum Express and who has released 13 albums and EPs to date.

Halesowen News:

And behind the camera was Black Country musician/music video director Nick J Townsend, of metal band Weak13, who has created more than 30 video clips for national and international artists.

Ian, from Kidderminster, explained: "I’ve been teaming up with Nick pretty regularly. He’s someone I really enjoy working with to help expand on some of my ideas. I also love to get as many people involved as possible with the videos and I’m always amazed by how many love being a part of them.”

More than 60 actors and music fans, aged from just three months to 72, took part in the music video shoot for Ian’s newest single E-Petition – a tongue-in-cheek take on withering social norms – which will be released as a single on Halloween (October 31).

Halesowen News:

The video, which was also shot inside Stourbridge High Street venue Claptrap, is also set to be released on October 31.

Among those taking part in the video shoot was Rita Dabrowicz from Worcester who said: “It was a truly fun and unexpected Halloween event.”