Review of A Band Called Death (2013) by Cameron H — 25 Nov 2013

When I think of "punk-before-punk" bands rooted in Motor City, my mind immediately goes to MC5 and The Stooges, two innovative bands in their own right. Death, a band of black brothers (David, Bobby , and Dennis Hackney), combined the threatening tone of Stooges hits and the fast, wild pace of MC5 to forge singles even more raw in both sound and spirit. Particularly, the song "Freakin' Out" highly impressed me upon first listen. This documentary about the band Death serves well in advertising for this once-long forgotten band, but that is not the film's purpose.

A Band Called Death focuses less on the innovation of the band, and instead on the vision of one of the founding members, David. The documentary is kind enough to enlighten the viewers on why such a thunderously rocking band did not make it big, while MC5 and The Stooges are recognizable to any record collector. While the music could have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, David would not change the name of the group, which was conceived in tribute to his dead father. When Death finally became recognized (35 years after the fact), Bobby and Dennis too realized that family was far more important than a record deal.

The film has much cries and laughs to offer, as the only living members Bobby and Dennis relive each of their lives for the camera. Viewers will find little trouble in empathizing with the brothers because the story of Death is far more realistic. Rather than going from rags to riches, the Hackney brothers went from old rags to new rags. Sometimes, your dream is not realized (right away). But as long as you have love in your life, be it from your family, friends, or higher beings, that's okay. Admittedly, it's not the most original message, but to hear it from these guys makes sense.