A Band Called Death poster

Movie

A Band Called Death

2013NR1h 36m7.2 / 10

This Band was Punk, before Punk was Punk

Before Bad Brains, the Sex Pistols or even the Ramones, there was Death. Formed in the early '70s by three teenage brothers from Detroit, Death is credited as being the first black punk band, and the Hackney brothers, David, Bobby, and Dannis, are now considered pioneers in their field. But it wasn’t until recently — when a dusty 1974 demo tape made its way out of Bobby’s attic nearly 30 years after Death’s heyday — that anyone outside a small group of punk enthusiasts had even heard of them.

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Checked Jul 22, 2026

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Synopsis

Before Bad Brains, the Sex Pistols or even the Ramones, there was Death. Formed in the early '70s by three teenage brothers from Detroit, Death is credited as being the first black punk band, and the Hackney brothers, David, Bobby, and Dannis, are now considered pioneers in their field. But it wasn’t until recently — when a dusty 1974 demo tape made its way out of Bobby’s attic nearly 30 years after Death’s heyday — that anyone outside a small group of punk enthusiasts had even heard of them.

More about A Band Called Death

Cast

Dannis HackneySelf
Bobby HackneySelf
David HackneySelf (archive footage)
Henry RollinsSelf
Elijah WoodSelf
Kid RockSelf
Alice CooperSelf
Mick CollinsSelf

Credits

Directed by
Mark Christopher Covino, Jeff Howlett

Production details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Box office
$125

Production

  • Picture Machine
  • Haven EntertainmentUnited States

Themes

punk bandpunk rockrock bandrockumentary