While this movie was called A Band Called Death, a more apt title might have been A Man Called David. This 2012 documentary chronicles the history of the “unknown soldiers of rock,” the band Death. In a nutshell, Death was a proto-punk band was formed by three black brothers in the early 70s. They self-released a single but couldn’t get a record deal, broke up, and were rediscovered 35 years later. But, as the movie reveals, Death was more than a band — it was a spiritual vehicle of David, the leader and youngest brother. A Band Called Death chronicles the story of a man who came face-to-face with the old adage: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul??
Death is based in family, and shaped by a family tragedy. The Hackney brothers grew up in Detroit, sons of a Baptist minister. Their parents fostered a strong sense of spirituality and instilled the brothers with a “back up your brother” mentality. They also fostered a love of music in their children, and encouraged them to play instruments. Brothers David, Bobby, and Dannis, led by charismatic jokester David, started their band in their home to the chagrin of their neighbors, who preferred the Motown sound to the The-Who-Alice-Cooper-Hendrix inspired “white boy music” the Hackneys played.
The turning point in the band’s development was the sudden death of their father. It was the brothers’ first experience with death and had a particularly profound effect on David. He came up with the name Death and the band’s triangular symbol, which was based on a “vision” he saw of a triangle in the clouds. His brothers thought he was crazy, but they backed him up. By 1974–75, the band was in the studio recording, but they couldn’t get a record deal. Nobody wanted to take a chance on a black rock band with a name like Death. The bands pivotal moment came when Clive Davis offered them a deal — IF they changed the band’s name. Bobby and Dannis were willing, but David was not. He believed in the music and the concept of Death, and wasn’t willing to make concessions. They turned down the deal, but were at least able to get all their master recordings. They self-released a run of 500 45s, but in the end, Death couldn’t make a go of it, and the concept was abandoned in 1977.
Fast forward through marriages, kids, and other bands to the year 2000. Bobby and Dannis’ sons only know their fathers as members of a reggae band, and Uncle Dave as the funny, crazy uncle. David turns over the Death master tapes to his brothers with the admonition that the world will someday coming looking for the tapes, but he’ll be gone by that time. A few months later, David was dead, a victim of lung cancer. Then in 2008, due to a series of events, the Death 45s began to be recirculated among collectors, and enthusiasts began asking “where are these guys? And is there more?” With help from the remaining Hackney brothers’ musician sons, the Death album was finally released in 2009, 35 years after the fact, and the band reunited with a new guitarist.
The Hackney family seems like a great gang, folks you’d like to hang out with. Though I’m glad the brothers are being recognized after all this time, I have to say, none of the modern live performances featured in the film were as impressive as the original recordings. The band just didn’t seem right without David. David was obviously the spiritual rudder for the band; “a visionary, unable to fully express his plan musically.” David was a heavy drinker; as his nephew noted, “he was a genius, and when you’re a genius, the demons get to you.” I would’ve liked to seen more about what had happened to him from 1982 to 2000, but by that point in the film the remaining brothers are the focus.
As a film, A Band Called Death succeeds as a nice documentary that introduces you to a piece of music history. Since David is no longer with us, he was represented in the movie through photos, audio recordings, and the reminisces of his family. The “famous faces” cameos were blessedly short — only a few minutes at the beginning and the end. The family is the heart of the film, and focusing on belated praise from celebs would’ve been too much distraction and affectation. I would’ve liked to have heard more actual Death recordings in the film, but what I did hear was enough to make me want to buy the album. A Band Called Death is a fun and informative film, well done but not wildly outstanding.
So, back to the central question: what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?? With Death, and with David, we’ll never know the answer, because David refused his deal with the devil — his songs were his children, his music was his soul, and his band was called Death, period. As one brother noted, “if you wanted to see the real Dave, you had to catch him while he was playing his guitar.” When faced with temptation, he kept his integrity, at the price of lack of success in his lifetime. I can certainly respect that.
For information on theatrical screenings, visit www.ABandCalledDeath.com. The film is also available online and through video on demand.
