A Band Called Death

A warm, bittersweet documentary that uncovers a lost musical legacy, blending frustration and joy into an uplifting rediscovery.

Directed by

Jeff Howlett, Mark Christopher Covino

Genres

Documentary, Music

Starring

Dannis Hackney, Bobby Hackney, David Hackney

Tagline

This Band was Punk, before Punk was Punk

Overview

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.

How it feels

Warm, melancholic, uplifting and earnest. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Music, family, identity, grief

Content

Mild language. No violence, gore or sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)