THE SECRET STATE Releases Behind-The-Scenes Video For “Fight Or Flight;”Unprecedented Access And Support Given To This Project From The U.S. Military

In advance of their unprecedented video for the song “Fight Or Flight,” THE SECRET STATE–Dan Martiniano (Lead Vocals, Piano), Josh Jones (Guitar, Vocals), Hunter Schafer (Bass, Backup Vocals), Danny Espinosa (Digital Performer) and Mike Marx-Gibbons (Drums, Violin)

The official music video was shot at Fort Irwin in California on the U.S. Army’s National Training Center (NTC) and stars active duty soldiers. This type of access and clearance has never before been granted by the military and they have given their full support for this project. All footage featured in the “Fight Or Flight” video was shot exclusively for the music video.

This song and video are very personal to THE SECRET STATE. The Baltimore-based fivesome includes three members who’ve served in the military. The drummer and violinist, MIKE MARX-GIBBONS, enlisted in the Army on September 12, 2001 and has stayed in the Army National Guard. He served in Iraq from Dec 2003-May 2005 as a Combat Medic. Two other band members, guitarist JOSH JONES and digital performer DANNY ESPINOSA, were in the Coast Guard and later served in Afghanistan as defense contractors.

“Fight Or Flight” is a song about a patrol on deployment in Afghanistan and their homecoming. Speedy Bagheri, the band’s executive producer, and THE SECRET STATE set out to honor and pay tribute to the U.S. military and to give the world an authentic glimpse and a visceral understanding of what American Soldiers face in combat overseas. The band shot at multiple locations throughout Fort Irwin, CA.

The first and key location is the Painted Rocks, a place where every military unit that completes training there paints their unit patches on a large rocks outside the front gates of Fort Irwin. They also shot in “Ertabat Shar,” a mock Afghanistan village located inside Fort Irwin and used for intense combat training for troops about to deploy overseas. To preserve the authentic representation of a soldier’s life and the sacrifice they freely make,

THE SECRET STATE called upon active duty soldiers. The ten featured in the music video are members of the 11th Armored Cavalry (ACR) based at Fort Irwin, CA. Known as the “Blackhorse Regiment” this unit was activated in 1901. There was a rigorous selection process to be part of the music video.A list of those active duty soldiers featured in the “Fight Or Flight” music video:

· SSG Timothy Cooke Squad Leader Cavalry Scout

· SGT Kevin Graham Team Leader Combat Engineer

· SGT Gary Williams Team Leader Cavalry Scout

· SGT Jonathan Birkey Squad Medic Combat Medic

· SPC Juan Fernandez Infantryman

· SPC Daniel Radebaugh Infantryman

· SPC Chris Ellison Engineer, Horizontal Construction

· SPC Jesse Gomez Infantryman

· SPC Anthony Nieves Infantryman

· SPC Karano Dukuly Combat Engineer