Death (proto-punk band)

Death

Company type	Musical ensemble
Industry	Music
Founded	1971 in Detroit, Michigan, United States
Founder	Bobby Hackney, David Hackney, Dannis Hackney
Defunct	1977 (initial breakup)
Fate	Reunited in 2009
Headquarters	Detroit , United States
Products	Punk rock music, albums, singles
Number of employees	3 (original lineup)

Death is a musical ensemble from the United States, originating in Detroit, Michigan, in 1971. The group was founded by the Hackney siblings: Bobby (bass and vocals), David (guitar), and Dannis (drums and percussion).

Initially, the trio performed as a funk band but soon transitioned to rock after experiencing live shows by the Who and Alice Cooper. Music journalist Peter Margasak observed that David steered the band toward a hard-rock style that anticipated punk, which, although it did not secure them a following during the mid-1970s, now positions them as pioneers. David was regarded as "the visionary of the group." Media outlets like Gawker have identified Death as one of the earliest punk rock acts. The band disbanded in 1977; however, renewed interest led the independent label Drag City to release their previously unreleased 1975 recordings in 2009, prompting the group to reunite.

Origins and Early Years (1964–1975)

The Hackney brothers—David, Bobby, and Dannis—began their musical journey in 1964, inspired by the Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. They acquired instruments using funds from their mother’s settlement following a car accident. Practicing and recording demos at home, they initially performed from their garage. The band was first called Rock Fire Funk Express in 1971 but changed its name to Death in 1973 after their father died accidentally. David sought to transform the meaning of "death" into something positive, distinguishing the group as one of the first all-black punk bands with a unique sound influenced by Detroit’s music scene.

Recording Sessions and Breakup (1975–1977)

On February 18, 1975, Death recorded seven tracks at Detroit's United Sound Systems studio with engineer Jim Vitti. Although Columbia Records president Clive Davis initially supported these sessions financially, he withdrew backing when the band refused to alter their name for broader marketability. Choosing family unity over commercial demands, the group limited itself to recording seven songs. In 1976, they independently released the single "Politicians in My Eyes" backed with "Keep On Knocking" on their own Tryangle Records label, pressing only 500 copies.

The band ceased activity in 1977. The brothers moved to Burlington, Vermont, where they produced two gospel rock albums under the name The 4th Movement during the early 1980s. David returned to Detroit in 1982 and died of lung cancer in 2000. Meanwhile, Bobby and Dannis continue performing in Vermont, leading the reggae band Lambsbread; Dannis also plays drums for the rock/funk ensemble The Aerolites.

Revival and Reunion (2009–present)

Collectors circulated rare copies of the "Politicians in My Eyes" single alongside Death’s history; some copies fetched prices up to $800. Don Schwenk—a friend of the Hackneys who had received a box of singles while commissioned for album artwork—was among those who preserved these records. Around 2008, MP3 versions of two songs emerged online, catching the attention of Bobby Hackney’s son Julian, who recognized his father’s voice. This discovery reached Drag City Records, which obtained the original master tapes and issued all seven tracks from the 1975 United Sound sessions on CD and vinyl in 2009 under the title ...For the Whole World to See.

Simultaneously, Bobby Hackney’s sons—Julian, Urian, and Bobby Jr.—formed Rough Francis, performing Death’s material after uncovering their recordings online. A March 2009 article in The New York Times expanded public awareness of both bands. This resurgence attracted Mickey Leigh’s attention, who invited them to perform at Joey Ramone’s birthday celebration. In September 2009, Death reunited for three concerts featuring original members Bobby and Dannis Hackney; guitarist Bobbie Duncan from Lambsbread stepped in for the late David Hackney. At the 2010 Boomslang (music festival), they announced Drag City would release an album containing earlier demos predating their 1975 recordings. The album Spiritual • Mental • Physical was released in January 2011. Later works included their third studio album III (2014) and N.E.W. (2015), further cementing Death’s influence within punk rock history.

Artistic Vision

David Hackney played a pivotal role in shaping the band's unique sound, which was deeply infused with themes of mysticism and unconventional spirituality.

Present Lineup

• Bobby Hackney Sr. – bass guitar, vocals (1964–1977, 2009–present)
• Dannis Hackney – drums (1964–1977, 2009–present)
• Julian Hackney – guitar (2023–present)
• Urian Hackney – guitar (2023–present)

Past Members

• David Hackney – guitar (1964–1977; deceased 2000)
• Bobbie Duncan – guitar (2009–2023)

Under the Name the 4th Movement

• The 4th Movement LP (1980, Tryangle Records)
• Totally LP (1982, Tryangle Records)

As RockFire Funk Express

• "People Save the World" / "RockFire Funk Express" 7" single (recorded 1973; released 2013, Third Man Records)

As Death

• "Politicians in My Eyes" / "Keep On Knocking" 7" single (recorded 1975; issued 1976, Tryangle Records; reissued 2013, Drafthouse Films)
• "Where Do We Go From Here" 7" single (recorded 1976; released 1980, Tryangle Records)
• ...For the Whole World to See (recorded 1975; released 2009, Drag City)
• Spiritual • Mental • Physical (recorded between 1974 and 1976; released 2011, Drag City)
• "Relief" digital single (2012, CD Baby)
• Raw demo of "Politicians in My Eyes" (recorded 1974; released online in 2013, Drafthouse Films)
• III (recorded from 1975 to 1992; released in 2014, Drag City)
• N.E.W. (2015, TryAngle Records)
• "Cease Fire" (2017, TryAngle Records)
• "Give It Back" (2018, TryAngle Records)
• "Death / Rough Francis" split release (2023, Drag City)

Visual Media

• A Band Called Death DVD/Blu-ray release (2013, Drafthouse Films)

Cultural Impact

• The track "Freakin' Out" was featured in the TV series How I Met Your Mother (season 6, episode 12) and also appeared in Ash vs. Evil Dead episode titled "The Killer of Killers" (season 1, episode 6) in 2010.
• HBO's Entourage included "Politicians in My Eyes" during season 7, episode 5 in the same year.
• In the film Kill the Irishman released in 2011, the song "You're a Prisoner" was part of the soundtrack.
• The independent documentary film A Band Called Death, directed by Jeff Howlett and Mark Covino, premiered in 2012.
• Both tracks "Politicians in My Eyes" and "Keep On Knocking" were used in season 4, episode 13 of the series Childrens Hospital in 2012.
• The surf documentary Strange Rumblings in Shangri-La featured "Politicians in My Eyes" in its 2014 release.
• An instrumental rendition of "Where Do We Go from Here" serves as bumper music on Wayne Resnick’s Sunday program on KFI AM 640 radio.
• The song "Keep On Knocking" was included on the soundtrack for the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 released in 2015.
• Comedy Central’s show Detroiters used "Politicians in My Eyes" during its pilot episode in 2017.
• Season two of Gimlet Media’s podcast Crimetown adopted this song as its theme music in 2018.
• The film Native Son, released in 2019, prominently featured "Politicians in My Eyes," incorporating it into the storyline.
• In the stop-motion horror comedy Wendell and Wild from 2022, the track "Freakin Out" was included.
• The soundtrack for the movie Jackass Forever (2022) featured "Keep On Knocking."

External links

• Official website
• Article on Death from "The Horn"
• PBS feature on Death, dated March 7, 2025
• https://www.lambsbreadband.com/