Documentary Charts The Struggles of Black Punk Band ‘Death’

[StevieB]

A Band Called Death
Documentary Competition
(USA, 2012, 98 mins)
World Premiere
Directed By: Jeff Howlett,
Mark Covino
Producers: Matthew Perniciaro, Scott Mosier, Kevin Mann, Jerry Ferrara
Cinematographer: Mark Covino
Editor: Rich Fox
Music: Sam Retzer, Tim Boland
Featuring: David Hackney, Bobby Hackney, Sr., Dannis Hackney
Before Bad Brains, the Sex Pistols or even the Ramones, there was Death. Formed in the early '70s by three teenage brothers from Detroit, Death is credited as being the first black punk band, and the Hackney brothers, David, Bobby, and Dannis, are now considered pioneers in their field. But it wasn’t until recently — when a dusty 1974 demo tape made its way out of Bobby’s attic nearly 30 years after Death’s heyday — that anyone outside a small group of punk enthusiasts had even heard of them.

Equal parts electrifying rockumentary and epic family chronicle, the story of Death is one of brotherly love and fierce, divinely inspired expression.

A Band Called Death screens at the Los Angeles Film Festival in the Documentary Competition.

[Adam Rebelius]

It's about time this band's story got told! I mean, it already has a few times in blogs, fan appreciation, music lovers and wiki. But now a film? ThIs band i feel may NEVER get their just dues. I remember the first time I heard them a year or two back and my jaw dropped to the floor. I was so shocked that this kind of punk was being put out in 1973 and what might the world of music been like had it been released then! They were of their time as well as ahead of their time. Of their time, as you listen to this you will most certainly hear influences of early Alice Cooper, Iggy and The Stooges and David Bowie, and a head of it's time because you'll also hear a style of rock and roll which most people believe to this day was forged by the likes of The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, et al! GREAT STUFF! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH! You can bet the whole property acrage that if this film comes to Chicago, I'm going to camp out overnight for tickets! AS for you, the average member of punk rockers dot com I ENCOURAGE you, no I INSIST, no, I DEMAND that you go out and get yourself a copy of their album "FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE"! If there is ONE downside to this album, (And it's the ONLY downside) it's that this album ISN'T LONG ENOUGH! (It only clocks in at twenty five minutes, but it's the BEST 25 minutes you ever wasted. Kind of like the same 25 minute when you first heard the first RAMONES album) Oh, and did I mention that singing style of the lead vocalist of Death sounds uncannily a lot like a very young H.R. of The Bad Brains?

[Taylor]

I think I can soley have a good day just from this. I could have every customer walk in while at work today and start screaming at me and I'll still have a grin all because there finally is something showing more recognition for them. Ah super happy

[applesnonions]

Yeah, I heard about these guys and was all like wait...death? Like Chuck Schuldiner? They were back in the day! Yeah, this'll be interesting to watch!

[prior2janeofficial]

Had never heard of them til now, but from what I've heard in the clips above, they sound amazing! Think it'll be my next purchase!