Sucker Punch! This UK Band Just Delivered A Knockout Troll

12 July 2021 | 12:27 pm | Tiana Speter

Is Don Broco frontman Rob Damiani diverting to the world of pro boxing? The alt-rock pranksters struck again in the lead up to their new tune 'Gumshield' releasing late last week.

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For anyone who has ever dabbled in the world of UK alt rockers Don Broco, chances are you've become familiar with the quartet's fondness for trolling and cheeky capers to promote their new material.

From incessantly spamming their own Instagram page with photos of David Beckham (leading to many fans speculating they'd been hacked) to promote their recent track Manchester Super Reds No.1 Fan, to staging a fake wedding for their bassist Tom Doyle in promotion of their music video for the 2017 banger Pretty, it's fair to say the Bedford bunch aren't afraid to embrace some tongue-in-cheek shenanigans at their fan's expense; but all in the name of fun and new tunes, of course.

Following the nu metal madness of Manchester Super Reds No.1 Fan unleashed back in May, it was anyone's guess as to what Don Broco would get up to next. But, true to form, the lads have done it again, this time riling up the boxing world into thinking frontman Rob Damiani had lost his mind and was attempting to suddenly become a professional boxer - with zero experience.

“After seeing all these YouTubers try their hand at boxing we thought it would be an interesting experiment to see if we could convince people I was deluded enough myself to fight a professional boxer," said Damiani.

Following Damiani documenting his boxing training via social media ahead of his first professional "fight" with UK Heavyweight boxer Dave 'White Rhino' Allen, fans and the media were salivating at the audacity and pure insanity of Damiani's seemingly new and divergent career pivot. But amid the social media banter and vigorous training between both Damiani and Allen, the climax of the actual fight between the pair instead resulted in a new Don Broco single Gumshield, a new accompanying music video and utimately: a beatdown entirely of the sonic persuasion. 

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“Excited to share our new song & video for ‘Gumshield’!" Damiani shared in a press release for the new track. 

"After Tom’s fake wedding for the last album and the Beckham fan account hacking on our Instagram before ‘Manchester Super Reds’ we wanted to bow out on one final prank. 

"The song itself is about the anxiety that comes with posting online and the fear of resulting arguments so the divisive nature of my entrance to the sport personally hit all those triggers for me!"

Pic from Don Broco Gumshield Music Video

Gumshield offers fans a further glimpse into the hotly anticipated fourth full-length from Don Broco, with their new album Amazing Things due out on Friday 17 September. And if the new track is anything to go by: we're in for some classic ferocious frivolity from the quartet as they tackle the pitfalls of the digital age on the impending release.

As for anyone wondering if Damiani could actually hold his own in the ring professionally? Boxing superstar Dave Allen has the definitive answer for you:

"It has been a great experience working with the Don Broco team on the music video, a great bunch of lads who are very innovative and smart.

"Rob can’t actually fight though."

Check out the brand new music video below!