Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Punk Soul Brothers

A Band Called Death (2012) - Covino, Howlett
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What a great story. The Hackney Bros from Detroit was the proto-punk band that predates The Ramones by a couple of years. In the leadership of David (Guitar, songwriter), his younger brothers Bobby Sr.(Singer, Bass) and Dannis (Drums) spent most of their teen years practices rock music. David was one of those super talented kid who was also somewhat of a dreamer - we all know a couple of friends who are like that. He had the whole concept set up in his mind. Death and triangle logo and everything. But it was their band name, Death, was a real killer from ever getting a record deal in Motown heavy recording industry at that time. The two brothers relocated to New England and pursued other things (forming some lame , christian rock, reggae band), and David perished without getting the taste of success that his talent deserved. In 2000s, Bobby's three sons, also amateur punk musicians, with the help of some punk collector aficionados (including Jello Biafra) discovered their Dad and uncle's music, which they deemed awesome and started promoting their music by covering Death. I mean, it must've been the greatest feeling for a teen to discover that his dad and uncles were a cool punk rock musicians (and not some lame-os who played in a reggae band called Lamb's Bread) by way of some hot girl playing their music at some hipster party. Even cooler, David the dreamer, shortly before his passing, handed Death's master tape to his brothers, saying, "Keep it, because one day, people will come looking for this."

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