As many fans of the the late ’70’s-and-on punk scene that swept through the United States during said period of time might know about a band called DEATH (for those who get the joke here shift previous phrase to proper MLA italics): one of the genre’s most underrated groups from the era, and in essence precursors to the then still-developing voices tagged as leaders in the US punk movement to follow.
The original trio hailing from Detroit, Michigan saw only small glimmers of their potential success all the way back in 1975, when they went into the studio to record under the guise and funding of Columbia Records. But, Columbia’s president, Clive Davis, couldn’t quite find the marketing potential for a band named, you guessed it, DEATH. After the group’s refusal to change their name was made clear, Davis and Co. pulled out of the band’s remaining studio time, and left DEATH with only seven of the planned twelve tracks done, and additionally, without any major label backing. DEATH witnessed their rise and demise before they had the chance to blink. The following year, the band attempted to self-release two of the singles taken from the earlier recording time with little to no avail.
But, finally in 2009, DEATH got a second chance at their rightfully deserved shot at commercial(ish) success when original band-member Bobby Hackney’s three sons started the band Rough Francis and covered their dad’s early recordings from the DEATH days.
As one may have guessed, the revival of these thirty-plus year-old tracks inspired the original group to re-unite, which well, in 2012 led to the well-received independent documentary A Band Called Death, directed by Jeff Howlett and Mark Covino…and then of course, a string of national tours to follow, all of which was praised by concert-goers across the board.
Fans in the South East now have the chance to show the snowed-out punk band some southern hospitality, and sunshine, with a host of tour dates in early 2017. Find the schedule below!
DEATH— South East, 2017 Tour Dates
February 9 2017 @ Gramps, Miami, FL*
February 10 2017 @ Local 662, Tampa, FL*
February 11 2017 @ The Wilbury, Tallahassee, FL*
February 13 2017 @ Will’s Pub, Orlando, FL
February 17 2017 @ Siberia, New Orleans, LA
February 18 2017 @ Saturn, Birmingham, AL
February 19 2017 @ Exit/In, Nashville, TN
February 20 2017 @ The Earl, Atlanta, GA
*w/ Jacuzzi Boys
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