NC Filmmaker Explores Punk Rock's African American Origins

GREENSBORO, NC – Before the Ramones or the Sex Pistols, there was Death, a punk rock band comprised of three African American brothers from Detroit.

Charlotte filmmaker Jeff Howlett chronicles the forgotten roots of punk rock music in the new documentary “A Band Called Death,” which will have its North Carolina theatrical premiere at Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema on July 19. Howlett will host two special Q&A events at the cinema at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on July 20.

The film’s story begins in Detroit during the early 70s. Teenagers David, Bobby, and Dennis Hackney sidestepped the Mowtown R&B and funk music that were popular during the time to form a bold, new rock trio. Boasting the confrontational band name Death, the band’s sound was a mix of David’s favorite acts like The Who, Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones.

“A Band Called Death” features interviews from such rock and roll stalwarts as Alice Cooper and Henry Rollins, who describe Death’s music as being some of the earliest punk rock recordings ever made. In fact, the band was so cutting edge that they languished in obscurity until their recordings began to surface online three decades later. By 2008, Death’s 1975 self-released album started selling for nearly $1,000 on eBay. This unlikely resurgence culminated in the wide re-release of Death’s album “For the Whole World to See” from Drag City Records.

Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema will present “A Band Called Death” daily July 20 through July 26 at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for matinee shows before 5 p.m. and $8 for evening shows, with discounts for seniors, students and military.

Advanced tickets are available at Geeksboro’s box-office at 2134 Lawndale Drive in Greensboro, via voicemail at (336) 355-7180 or email at GeeksbroTickets@gmail.com.

Bio for Jeff Howlett – Born in Waynesboro, Virginia, Howlett moved to Vermont to attend Burlington College to study film production. It was when he was living in Vermont that Howlett met the Hackneys, the family who would be the subject of his debut feature length documentary “A Band Called Death.” Howlett now lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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RESULTANT MEDIA COVERAGE:

News & Record: “‘A Band Called Death’ brought back to life”

88.5 WFDD: “Before There Was Punk, There Was A Band Called Death”

WGHP FOX 8: “Punk rock’s ‘first’ band to make Greensboro debut”

Yes Weekly!: “Jeff Howlett, A Band Called Death and a bag of chips”