A Band Called Death

A Band Called Death is a 2012 American documentary film directed by Mark Christopher Covino and Jeff Howlett. The documentary is about the 1970s rock band Death and their newfound popularity decades after the group recorded their music.

A Band Called Death is the story of three musician brothers, born to a Baptist preacher and his wife in 1950s Detroit. In their teenage years, the three brothers to five other siblings emerge as, first, a budding rockfunk band, ultimately evolving into punk band Death. Influenced by music by Alice Cooper and The Who, the group was heavilysteered by the guidance and decisions of visionary eldest brother and guitarist, David Hackney. The story follows the brothers unsuccessful attempts to get radio airplay and a record deal, largely due to Davids adamant refusal to change the name from Death. An eventual trek east finds the boys in Burlington, Vermont, living with relatives and reflecting on the failure of Davids vision. We begin to explore postDeath projects in The 4th Movement, a gospelrock band with the same lineup. However, after two years of being homesick, David returns to Detroit, leaving Dannis and Bobby to form a lively reggae band called Lambsbread. The film also focuses on the intense brotherly bond between the group members, and their personal lives, including David Hackneys battle with alcoholism, his death in 2000 and his family members reactions to these events. The film follows the rediscovery of the group through record collectors leading to an eventual release of Deaths album ...For the Whole World to See by the Drag City record label and the groups eventual reunion and touring with a new guitarist.Director Jeff Howlett met Bobby Hackney Sr. and Dannis Hackney in the 1990s at a local music festival where his band and their band, Lambsbread, were playing. Bobby Hackney Jr. had formed his own band Rough Francis with his brothers to honor his fathers band Death. After Howlett saw the show he was impressed with the music and with Bobby Jr. and his father they began working on the documentary. In 2008, Mark Covino met Howlett while working on a video that Howlett was directing. The next year Howlett approached Covino to work on the film with him

Source: Wikipedia