A Band Called Death

Filmmakers Jeff Howlett and Mark Covino effectively make the argument here that in the 1970s a close-knit Detroit band of brothers-who-were-actual-brothers synthesized the punk sound, even before the Ramones. Sons of a heroic Baptist-minister father who turned them on to the Beatles, siblings Dannis, David, and Bobby Hackney were more attracted to the stylings of The Who and Hendrix than the prevailing Motown R&B sound. David was the uncompromising visionary-mystic genius who composed most of Death's songs—and coined the band's name, which soured many A&R reps. After Death failed to land a contract, David formed a short-lived Christian rock trio (also ahead of its time), and then went solo while the other Hackneys embraced reggae. Recently, Death's rare 45s were rediscovered on eBay and hyped anew by music archivists and opinion-leaders such as Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra. Now the Hackneys (and their grown sons) are performing Death sets again—sadly minus the remarkable David, who succumbed to cancer in 2000. A Band Called Death overturns rock and racial stereotypes, celebrating a rare early example of Afro-Punk, while also being free of booze-soaked decadence and bad-behavior anecdotes, instead emphasizing the love and solidarity of the Hackney family across generations—even if mom always found her sons' music pretty loud. Extras include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, film festival Q&As, and a music video. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)