Sep 09 2009
Lost Rock’nRoll Shoulda Been Legends Category: Death
Earlier in their lives, the young Hackney bros. were sat down by their father to watch The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan show. A very cool Dad to have in the early ’60’s for sure. A week later, one of the brothers came across a discarded guitar in a trash bin. From there, they were off and running.
A big break almost came via Columbia Records. However, then president Clive Davis demanded they change their name to something a bit more, um, uplifting. In true rock’n'roll fashion, they flat-out refused. They ended up releasing some indie 7 inch singles. In 2009 Drag City records released all of Death’s singles under an album entitled For The Whole World to See. Death is just another sad example of an incredible band being a bit too ahead of their time to enjoy the fruits of their labors. The music is very much in the working-class Detroit garage tradition of early Alice Cooper and The Stooges with a unique twist, but they had two marks against them: 1) They really didn’t sound like anyone else (besides Iggy and the Stooges—who wouldn’t be truly lauded until the late ’70’s, and Uncle Alice, who as he himself says, drove the wooden stake through the heart of “flower power”) and 2) Let’s face it, they were black. Blacks were supposed to sing soul and funk, and not rock out like lunatics. Never mind Chuck Berry, never mind Little Richard. But Death laid down the rawk most certainly. Even the drum solos are pretty swell. In a world of justice and taste, “Politicians In My Eyes” should be a staple of classic rock radio right along with “Freebird” and anything Led Zeppelin has on cue from moment to moment. Never mind the punkiness, check out the musical transistions of the song. These guys were on top of their craft and damn well knew how to play their instruments. The early Beatles influence shows.
3 Responses to “Lost Rock’nRoll Shoulda Been Legends Category: Death”
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Ladies and Gentlemen I give you ….” The Bromanones…..
I ment tne Bromones…..
And the wild thing is that these guys had the Ramone’s sound a few years before the Ramones even formed. Amazing stuff. I need to get to Radio K.A.O.S (Central Wisconsin’s most excellent indie record store! In Stevens Point, WI! Stop in and buy stuff! Randy is the man! And no, I’m not getting paid to type this. RK is an example of the last place music buffs can gather and shuffle through wonderful stuff in the flesh and not have to dwell on f***ing line. They have stupid amounts of vinyl! Plus, the place is named after a mostly forgotten Roger Water’s solo album. What more do you hipster douchebags want? Just stop in and thank me later!) and get a copy of the CD.