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Documentary of the Day -
A Band Called Death
"Before Bad Brains, the Sex Pistols or even the Ramones, there was a band called Death. Punk before punk existed, three teenage brothers in the early '70s formed a band in their spare bedroom, began playing a few local gigs and even pressed a single in the hopes of getting signed. But this was the era of Motown and emerging disco. Record companies found Death’s music— and band name—too intimidating, and the group were never given a fair shot, disbanding before they even completed one album. Equal parts electrifying rockumentary and epic family love story,
A BAND CALLED DEATH chronicles the incredible fairy-tale journey of what happened almost three decades later, when a dusty 1974 demo tape made its way out of the attic and found an audience several generations younger. Playing music impossibly ahead of its time, Death is now being credited as the first black punk band (hell...the first punk band!), and are finally receiving their long overdue recognition as true rock pioneers. "
My comments: First let me say that I immediately knew this blurb was wrong because The Ramones, who I love and adore, were also actively playing in 1974, (as well as other punk bands.)
*From Wikipedia - "The Ramones played before an audience for the first time on March 30, 1974, at Performance Studios. The songs they played were very fast and very short; most clocked in at under two minutes. Around this time, a new music scene was emerging in New York centered on two clubs in downtown Manhattan—Max's Kansas City and, more famously, CBGB (usually referred to as CBGB's). The Ramones made their CBGB debut on August 16, 1974."
Having said that, I still found this documentary to be jaw dropping and amazing, Very entertaining and intimate look at the lives of three brothers that formed a rock band in Detroit, were influenced by The Beatles and The Who, and somehow, due to the genius of David Hackney, formed a punk rock band (though they didn't even call it that). If you are a fan of early punk rock like I am, you too will be astounded at what happened in a small bedroom in Detroit back in the 70's. I still have goose bumps even thinking about this.
See this awesome documentary if the earliest roots of punk rock is a meaningful topic to you.
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ramones rule! there are some other great documentaries about CBGB and similar clubs that you have probably seen already. amazing how little and how much some things have changed...great group of musicians in this documentary; all can make meaningful references in terms of culture, performance, and acceptance in this industry (which I think did interfere with death's ability and opportunities to succeed in a Motown driven surrounding with limited expectation for crossover and new creations).
ReplyDeleteif you like music and movies, I recommend velvet goldmine. great cast. good tunes. british glam rock instead. interesting ride and mystery underlying each person's past and present influence/involvement. also just saw a movie with toni collette affiliated with music industry that is slower paced, darker toned but enjoyable called lucky them. more about characters than music but just happens to be that she is starring in both movies...she does movies and music well.
thanks for rec. on my list.
z.
Thanks Z! And as the surviving band members pointed out, the name was a HUGE hindrance, and Davis, bless his punk heart, refused to change it, even to get a recording deal. I actually went to CBGB in the punk heyday, it was fun at first until the skinheads took over, then I stopped going. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteoh, EA, I bet you have some stories to tell..or write about! glad you kept your head, and wits, about you...skinheads ruin all the good times.
ReplyDeletegreat day back to you too.
z