Not a lot of
documentaries are able to take you on an emotional and extraordinary journey
like A Band Called Death can. Yes, the band is called Death and their name,
in terms of their musical journey, is pretty ironic. The punk band, made of
three African-American brothers (unheard of at the time), was punk long before
punk was ever popular in the mid-1970s. They may not have paved a golden career
at the time of their initial inception, but they make an impact long after the
music stops playing.
A Band Called
Death follows the story of Dannis, Bobby, and David Hackney, three brothers
who started a punk rock band back in 1974 and who never quite made it to fame
during the prime of their lives. Most of the documentary is given life through
the memories and experiences of two of its members Dannis and Bobby (David
passed away in 2000). They share the humble beginnings of Death, tracing their
journey to Detroit, where they would play their music so loudly they’d attract
the attention of their neighbors.
The brothers
face hardship throughout the ‘70s as they try and make a name for themselves,
sign a record deal, and get discovered. They do record several original songs
in 1975, but the problem isn't their music, though record
executives are surprised because African-Americans are initially in the Motown
music business.
The issue is
always their name. The name Death isn't something anyone wants them to keep,
one record executive offering to sign them on the condition they change it to something less depressing. It’s David who puts his foot down and
refuses to change a name that’s a part of who they are as people, having been
heavily influenced by their father’s death years before. Fading into the
unknown, it’s not until 35 years later that Death is rediscovered and they finally become household names in the world of punk rock.
The film is told
boldly and gets more intriguing as more people’s stories
intermingle and add more depth to the film. Kid Rock and Elijah Wood are
among the famous faces who praise Death and their music. As you listen and watch the film unfold, you quickly realize that Death's story is a one-of-a-kind type thing. David Hackney says it best when he tells his brothers to keep the original tapes of Death's music safe because "the world's gonna come looking for these someday."
A Band Called
Death is much more than just a documentary about three brothers who play punk
rock music. The film is very much an emotional journey. It will make your
heartstrings tug a bit as Dannis and Bobby tell their tale and pay their love
and respect to their brother David. They’re all about family and the film very
much makes it a point to never stray far from that message. The irony is
that Death is resurrected and thrust into fame long after they thought they would never hear or play their music again. A great untold story.