Death, the pioneering Detroit band, stands as one of the earliest African-American punk rock groups, formed in the early 1970s by the Hackney brothers: Bobby, David, and Dannis. Long before punk exploded as a genre, Death was crafting raw, energetic music that fused elements of proto-punk and garage rock, setting a foundation that would influence countless musicians in years to come. Despite their early start, the band’s story remained largely underground for decades, due in part to their refusal to compromise their sound for commercial success.
Their song “Keep on Knocking,” recorded in 1975 but unreleased until much later, perfectly captures the gritty and rebellious spirit that defined Death’s music. The track’s relentless energy and stripped-down production echoed the urgency and defiance that would later become hallmarks of punk rock. Though the band disbanded before achieving widespread recognition, their work has since been hailed as seminal, with many punk historians crediting Death as a direct precursor to the punk explosion of the late 1970s.
Death’s influences ranged from the raw power of The Stooges and MC5 to the rhythmic intensity of funk and soul artists from Detroit’s rich musical scene. This blend made their sound unique among their contemporaries, standing apart from both the mainstream rock and soul acts around them. Their refusal to conform to industry expectations—exemplified by their rejection of a record deal that sought to change their name and style—only cemented their status as true underground legends.
In recent years, Death’s influence has been cited by modern bands such as The White Stripes and Black Lips, who have acknowledged how the Hackney brothers’ uncompromising approach inspired their own musical journeys. The rediscovery of Death’s recordings in the 2000s sparked renewed interest in proto-punk history and shone a light on the overlooked contributions of African-American musicians to the genre’s development.
One famous anecdote about Death is how they managed to record their early singles with a budget of just $800, a shoestring sum even back then. This DIY ethic not only defined their sound but also anticipated the punk movement’s ethos years ahead of its time. The band’s story was further popularised by the 2012 documentary A Band Called Death, which helped introduce their groundbreaking music to a new generation worldwide.
