Saturday, April 5, 2014

Before There Was Punk!!!



Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock. Punk bands created fast, hard-edged music, typically with short songs, stripped-down instrumentation, and often political, anti-establishment lyrics. Punk embraces a DIY ethic; many bands self-produced recordings and distributed them through informal channels.

The term "punk" was first used in relation to rock music by some American critics in the early 1970s, to describe garage bands and their devotees. By late 1976, bands such as the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned in London, and Television, the Dead Boys, and the Ramones in New York City were recognized as the vanguard of a new musical movement

Before there was PUNK!!! 


DEATH  Established in Detroit in 1974. Death is one of Rock-N-Roll's most unique and inspiring bands.  Three brothers who played some of the hardest-driving Rock-N-Roll and recorded a now classic album in 1975. Rejected for their sound, their name, and their color, 34 years later the band Death began receiving what is now world-wide recognition for the Rock-N-Roll music they created in Detroit throughout the seventies. Their music and message is universal, and the sound of Death is unique and tight! The new Death album tracks have just been completed for an exciting array of new Death music to be presented in the upcoming 2013/14 season.

In February I had the pleasure to sit down with A Band Called Death and take a listen to the First Black Punk band and take them back to the beginning with their own music.  The interview was breath taking as this was the first time I have ever encountered such talent from an era in which I was blessed to have been born in.  

The interview was with none other than Dannis Hackney, Bobby Hackney,  Bobby Duncan.

David Hackney who passed in 2000 came up with the name of Death in 1973 and established the band in 1974.



We spoke a lot about their brother David Hackney and how he was a lover of life and always making space for the band to get their music out. He created the dream for the band.  He made their room into a Rock & Roll world just for them. A dreamer and lover of all things natural and pure.

The Hackney’s taught themselves to play the music. They would make sounds to what they wanted their music to sound. It was a marriage made in heaven between these guys.  David and Bobby did the majority of the writing. It was as if there was architecture of a skyscraper being built.



With Bobby Duncan on Guitar, he put a lot of inspiration into much of the music as well. His gift arranging music was exactly the ticket to what the band needed. Rock & Roll was the business and he put it down. 
We took a listen to "Relief and Rock & Roll Victim and omg!!! I imagine jumping up and down in a concert. The music set a tone of rhythm and excitement. 

So what made these guys choose Rock & Roll ? 

Their mother taking them to Motown Parties where they rubbed elbows with the great musicians of Motown. 
At a concert away from the party, Alex Cooper was on stage, and Dannis Hackney was inspired totally. The fun of the music and entertainment just made him realize it. This was it! This was what he wanted to do he stated. But the icing on the cake was David Hackney seeing The Who and came up with a new concepts of playing like them and learning how to play the cords being played. Pure inspiration. 

At this moment, the seed was officially planted and Detroit had there first black Rock & Roll Band. 

Rock and Roll gave them another feeling past what others were doing at that time. They decided to play the music they loved and were gravitated to instantly. 

Bottom line, where is music there is always togetherness and being in this generation was what kept things together. Regardless of what genre you were in, this is what held everything together. Love is music and music is love 

Death Forever!!!

Rest in peace David Hackney!!!!


For more more information:
http://abandcalleddeath.com

 
Check out A Band Called Death on the Arsenio Hall Show April 21. check your local listing for time. 

 

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