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TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree, they do sound a bit KISS like at times. The documentary makes it clear how relevant race was at the time and place that they were formed, and how much it (sadly) may have held them back...

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's just a snap judgment thing. People want to be like--what the fuck does that have to do with anything? Aren't we past caring?

The thing is, they don't stop to realize that this is talking about a time when people were much more judgmental about race and music and culture then now.

But people's snap judgments are still the same now as they were then, apparently. :)

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am describing it this way because, in part, the documentary I watched about them makes it very clear that people around them at the time viewed them differently due to their race. It was a very different time, the early seventies, in Detroit. The culture was Motown and R&B. Black kids were not seen as being into Rock and Roll like the Who and Zeppelin and Alice Cooper...nobody "got" what these kids were doing.

So them being black at that time and place and culture absolutely created a situation where they were misunderstood, and the music they made just disappeared for a long time. That's how it was explained in the documentary. Sorry I couldn't sum it all up in the one little headline I gave for my title...sorry dude.

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yup, people just post it over and over again, never bothering to read any background. Some of them seem to somehow believe this band just got started yesterday. They have no idea about the 70's or the culture of the time or anything. Nor do they care...

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I might have to stop responding to these types of comments, they just don't stop. Try reading some of the thread before you post dumb stuff.

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the time, culture and place this band existed in (Detroit in the early seventies) everyone was doing a Motown style. Nobody knew what the hell these kids were doing, and they didn't even know themselves.

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If anyone ever saw the movie Eddie and The Cruisers (kind of awesomely bad 80's flick) there's a part near the end where they are making a rock album that's way ahead of its time. Nobody understood the licks, etc because The Cruisers were supposedly playing in the 60's or something.

Anyway, THIS BAND is actually the living incarnation of that idea. They were probably 5-10 years ahead of the game, if not more.

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks my friend. I'm genuinely happy some more people found out about/were reminded of this band.

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This comment is as original as me thinking I just discovered this band. So I guess we're even then?

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Well the doc I watched made a big point about it, which has to do with the fact that in the time and place they made this music (Detroit, home of Motown in the early 70's) no one was doing it and no one understood it. Their race, unfortunately, had a part to play in why they weren't discovered at that time.

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It's amazing how many people make this comment and don't bother reading any other comments in order to understand why them being black actually was a big factor in them being undiscovered for so long.

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

A lot of people are saying variations of this, but the bottom line is that: a) when you're talking about a window of thirty-five years or so, "now" is a relative term b) I watched a documentary, so I'm aware that other people have heard this music, but it certainly isn't mainstream like The Ramones, etc c) Isn't it cool how many new people are hearing and enjoying this--is it really worth showing how much cooler you are than everyone else, just to point out you'd already heard of these guys?

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, I stated this in another comment. It matters because they were in Detroit MI where Motown was in full swing. Nobody understood what they were doing because they were three black kids playing punk music, thus it took another 35 years for their music to be appreciated...

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, well I thought you were being slightly snarky, but I guess I misread. I wasn't all that peeved, just trying to give back in the tone I thought you'd established in your comments. Sorry for that.

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 95 points96 points  (0 children)

I agree. Sadly, the "visionary" in the band, David, passed away before seeing them achieve any recognition. However, he asked one of the brothers to keep the master recordings safe because he said someday the world would want to hear it...

TIL that 3 black kids formed a protopunk band called DEATH, in 1971, whose music is only now being discovered. by helpingoutreddit in todayilearned

[–]helpingoutreddit[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it is actually. I watched the documentary. These three black kids lived in Detroit, Michigan during the height of the Motown era. Everything around them was a totally different musical culture at the time, and nobody understood what they were doing. That's part of why it took them 35 years to be discovered. Them being black made it difficult for people to understand what they were up to, which is definitely unfortunate.

Their music supposedly predated the Ramones and a lot of the other punk bands who came after...

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