Death

Death is an American rock band formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1971 by brothers Bobby (bass, vocals), David (March 19, 1952-October 9, 2000) (guitar), and Dannis Hackney (drums, percussion). The trio initially started as a funk group but quickly switched their style to rock after seeing concerts by the Who and Alice Cooper. Music critic Peter Margasak retrospectively wrote that David "pushed the group in a hard-rock direction that presaged punk, and while this certainly didn't help them find a following in the mid-70s, today it makes them look like visionaries" – David himself having been called "the visionary of the group". Many people often recognize them as one of the first punk rock bands. The band broke up in 1977, but unexpected interest in their music resulted in independent record label Drag City releasing their unreleased recordings from 1975 in 2009, and the band reforming. History Formation (1964-1975) In 1964, the three young Hackney brothers (David, Bobby and Dannis) watched the Beatles' first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show with their father. The following day, David found a discarded guitar in an alley and used it to start learning to play. Brothers Bobby and Dannis soon followed suit and they began playing music together. Later, the young trio purchased the best instruments that they could afford with the money that their mother won in a settlement.