DEATH.

This has got to be one of the best band stories I've heard in a while. The music is pretty great too.

Boiled down story from Death's MySpace page:

In 1970, three brothers from Detroit started their first band and began playing Funk/R&B at shows around town. In 1973, the brothers went to see a performance of Iggy and the Stooges. From that day forward, the band moved into the direction of Rock n' Roll and named themselves Death.

Clive Davis noticed them, gave them a record deal. They started recording. Davis then insisted they change their name. The brothers (led by Bobby Hackey)refused and the deal was canceled. Death released 500 copies of a 45 on their own that was given away at shows for free. That was that.

Sometime in the 2000's Bobby Hackney's sons heard Death songs being played at parties in California. Bobby shared the 34 year old master tapes with his sons. Drag City came into the picture and finally gave the album a release on February 17th, 2009.


Bobby and Dannis Hackney in the studio

This shit is way ahead of it's time and so good.

Enjoy,
POL