Death from Above 1979
Encyclopedia
Death from Above 1979 are a Toronto
-based Canadian dance-punk
/noise rock
duo. Their album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
, was released in late 2004. The band broke up in 2006, but announced a reunion in 2011.
on bass
, synths
, backing vocals and Sebastien Grainger
on vocals, drum
s. Without the help of a lead guitarist they played loud, heavy metal
influenced, dance-punk
on a bass and drums combination. They were signed to Last Gang Records
in Canada, Vice Recordings in the U.S. and 679 Recordings
in the UK.
Although they reportedly met at a Sonic Youth
concert, Keeler and Grainger sometimes jokingly claimed to have met in prison, on a pirate ship, or in a gay bar, leading some journalists and fans to believe these hoaxes. They also claimed to have lived in a funeral home at one time. In 2005, the video for "Blood On Our Hands" won a VideoFACT
award at the MuchMusic Video Awards
. They played "Romantic Rights" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
, with Grainger drumming for the first half of the performance and Late Night's Max Weinberg
on the same drum set for the second.
dance music label DFA Records
, with the members of Death from Above 1979 denouncing LCD Soundsystem
's James Murphy in messages on their website. Death from Above had been a working name of Murphy's for some time prior.
The reason for the seemingly arbitrary date of 1979 comes from Sebastien Grainger's birth date. Sebastian responded to being asked why they chose 1979 by saying "1979 is the year of my birth, 1979 is the year of Off the Wall
, 1979 is the year of The Pleasure Principle
, 1979 is the last year of the last cool decade, 1979 is scratched into my arm, 1979 is scratched into my arm, 1979 is scratched into my fucking arm."
He also stated in an interview given to MTV: "I was born that year, and it's never going to be wrong."
On MuchMusic's television program The New Music, Keeler further explained why the band split. He claimed it was due to disagreements with bandmate Grainger on many levels, including creative differences, music style, and more.
officially announced, on the band's website, that the band was reforming. Along with this blog post, the band's official website was updated.
The band have now confirmed to be playing the following dates:
is Jesse F. Keeler's electronic band along with producer Al-P. MSTRKRFT is currently signed to Dim Mak Records, and works out of Toronto. Their debut album was released on July 18, 2006. Two of their remixes can be found on Death from Above's 2005 release Romance Bloody Romance.
released an EP with The Mountains titled American Names and later a self-titled LP, in 2008. The band toured for a year and a half, opening for such bands as Metric
, Albert Hammond Jr
& Bloc Party
in North America and Europe. They were signed with Saddle Creek Records
in the USA, Outside Music
in Canada and JVC
in Japan.
remix album Silent Alarm Remixed
.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based Canadian dance-punk
Dance-punk
Dance-punk is a music genre that emerged in the late 1970s, and is closely associated with the post-punk and No Wave movements.-Predecessors:...
/noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
duo. Their album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
You're a Woman, I'm a Machine is an album by Canadian band Death from Above 1979, released on October 26, 2004 by Vice Records in the United States, Last Gang Records in Canada, Ache Records on vinyl, and Victor Entertainment in Japan...
, was released in late 2004. The band broke up in 2006, but announced a reunion in 2011.
History
Death from Above 1979 members are Jesse F. KeelerJesse F. Keeler
Jesse Frederick Keeler is a Canadian musician. He is known as the bassist of Canadian dance punk duo Death from Above 1979, and for being one half of the electronic music duo MSTRKRFT....
on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, synths
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, backing vocals and Sebastien Grainger
Sebastien Grainger
Sebastien Alexandre Grainger from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada is a Canadian singer and musician, best known as drummer and singer of the dance-punk duo Death from Above 1979 and the singer and guitarist for his current band, Sebastien Grainger and The Mountains...
on vocals, drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s. Without the help of a lead guitarist they played loud, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
influenced, dance-punk
Dance-punk
Dance-punk is a music genre that emerged in the late 1970s, and is closely associated with the post-punk and No Wave movements.-Predecessors:...
on a bass and drums combination. They were signed to Last Gang Records
Last Gang Records
Last Gang Records is a record label that was formed by Canadian music industry lawyer Chris Taylor and concert promoter Donald Tarlton in the Fall of 2003 at the Pop Montreal Music Festival....
in Canada, Vice Recordings in the U.S. and 679 Recordings
679 Recordings
679 Artists is a Warner Music Group-owned record label based in London, England....
in the UK.
Although they reportedly met at a Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
concert, Keeler and Grainger sometimes jokingly claimed to have met in prison, on a pirate ship, or in a gay bar, leading some journalists and fans to believe these hoaxes. They also claimed to have lived in a funeral home at one time. In 2005, the video for "Blood On Our Hands" won a VideoFACT
VideoFACT
MuchFACT is a Canadian fund that provides grants to Canadian recording artists to help them produce music videos. FACT stands for Foundation To Assist Canadian Talent...
award at the MuchMusic Video Awards
MuchMusic Video Awards
The MuchMusic Video Awards are annual awards presented by the Canadian music video channel MuchMusic to honour the year's best music videos....
. They played "Romantic Rights" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
, with Grainger drumming for the first half of the performance and Late Night's Max Weinberg
Max Weinberg
Max Weinberg is an American drummer and television personality, most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and as the bandleader for Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.Weinberg grew up in suburban New Jersey...
on the same drum set for the second.
Name change controversy
The band was originally named "Death from Above," a name which appears on their first released recording, a self titled EP. The duo changed their name after a legal dispute with New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
dance music label DFA Records
DFA Records
DFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
, with the members of Death from Above 1979 denouncing LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
's James Murphy in messages on their website. Death from Above had been a working name of Murphy's for some time prior.
The reason for the seemingly arbitrary date of 1979 comes from Sebastien Grainger's birth date. Sebastian responded to being asked why they chose 1979 by saying "1979 is the year of my birth, 1979 is the year of Off the Wall
Off the Wall (album)
Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American recording artist Michael Jackson, released August 10, 1979 on Epic Records, after Jackson's critically well received film performance in The Wiz. While working on that project, Jackson and Quincy Jones had become friends, and Jones agreed to...
, 1979 is the year of The Pleasure Principle
The Pleasure Principle (Gary Numan album)
The Pleasure Principle is the third studio album, and debut album under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1979...
, 1979 is the last year of the last cool decade, 1979 is scratched into my arm, 1979 is scratched into my arm, 1979 is scratched into my fucking arm."
He also stated in an interview given to MTV: "I was born that year, and it's never going to be wrong."
Breakup
As of August 3, 2006 the band officially disbanded. Jesse F. Keeler posted the following message on the official Death from Above 1979 forum:On MuchMusic's television program The New Music, Keeler further explained why the band split. He claimed it was due to disagreements with bandmate Grainger on many levels, including creative differences, music style, and more.
2011 reunion
On 4 February 2011, Sebastien GraingerSebastien Grainger
Sebastien Alexandre Grainger from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada is a Canadian singer and musician, best known as drummer and singer of the dance-punk duo Death from Above 1979 and the singer and guitarist for his current band, Sebastien Grainger and The Mountains...
officially announced, on the band's website, that the band was reforming. Along with this blog post, the band's official website was updated.
The band have now confirmed to be playing the following dates:
- March 19, 2011 - SXSW - Austin, TX, USA
- April 17, 2011 - Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival – Indio, CA, USA
- May 4, 2011 - London HMV ForumLondon ForumThe London Forum, or sometimes Kentish Town Forum is a well-known venue for concerts in Kentish Town, London, United Kingdom owned by the MAMA Group. The venue was built in 1934 and was originally used as an art deco cinema. After the closure of the cinema, The Town & Country Club was established...
- London, England - May 5, 2011 - London HMV ForumLondon ForumThe London Forum, or sometimes Kentish Town Forum is a well-known venue for concerts in Kentish Town, London, United Kingdom owned by the MAMA Group. The venue was built in 1934 and was originally used as an art deco cinema. After the closure of the cinema, The Town & Country Club was established...
– London, England - May 6, 2011 - DonaufestivalDonaufestivalThe Donaufestival is an annual festival of music and performance that takes place each April in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. In the early years of the festival, two towns were used as locations - Krems and Korneuburg...
– Krems, Austria - May 27, 2011 - Sasquatch Festival – George, WA, USA
- July 7, 2011 - Camp Bisco X - Indian Lookout Country Club, Mariaville, NY, USA
- July 16, 2011 – Ottawa BluesfestOttawa BluesfestThe Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest is an annual outdoor music festival that takes place each July in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. While ostensibly focused on blues, the festival has increasingly showcased mainstream pop and rock acts in recent years...
– Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - July 17, 2011 - Festival d'été de Québec - Québec, Québec, Canada
- July 30, 2011 - Osheaga FestivalOsheaga FestivalThe Osheaga Music and Arts Festival is a multi-day rock festival in Montreal, Quebec, that is held annually at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène every summer. The 2006 festival attracted a crowd of around 25,000 people. The second edition was held on September 8 and 9, 2007...
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada - August 4, 2011 - MetroMetro ChicagoThis page is about the concert hall; for the metro region surrounding Chicago, see Chicago metropolitan area.Metro is a concert hall at 3730 N. Clark Street in Chicago, Illinois that plays host to a variety of local, regional and national emerging bands and musicians. The Metro was first opened in...
- Chicago, IL, USA - August 5–7, 2011 - LollapaloozaLollapaloozaLollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
- Chicago, IL, USA - August 13 - Summer Sonic - Tokyo, Japan
- August 14 - Summer Sonic - Osaka, Japan
- August 19, 2011 - Pstereo Festival - Trondheim, Norway
- August 20, 2011 - Festival Paredes de Coura - Paredes de Coura, Minho, Portugal
- August 26, 2011 - Leeds FestivalReading and Leeds FestivalsThe Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
- Leeds, West Yorkshire, England - August 28, 2011 - Reading FestivalReading and Leeds FestivalsThe Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
- Reading, Berkshire, England - September 3, 2011 - FYF Fest Los Angeles, CA, USA
- September 18, 2011 - Austin City LimitsAustin City Limits Music FestivalThe Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
- Austin, TX, USA - September 24 - October 3, 2011 - Parklife Festival - Australia
- October 6, 2011 - Academy 1 - Manchester, England
- October 7, 2011 - O2 Brixton Academy - London, England
- October 8, 2011 - Nalen - Stockholm, Sweden
- October 15, 2011 - Treasure Island Music Festival - San Francisco, California, USA
- October 27, 2011 - Sound Academy - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- October 28, 2011 - Sound Academy - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- November 18, 2011 - One Weekend Only - Banff, Alberta, Canada
- November 19, 2011 - Edmonton Events Centre - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada *Official after party with a DJ set by Mstrkrft.
- November 21, 2011 - The Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Studio album
- You're a Woman, I'm a MachineYou're a Woman, I'm a MachineYou're a Woman, I'm a Machine is an album by Canadian band Death from Above 1979, released on October 26, 2004 by Vice Records in the United States, Last Gang Records in Canada, Ache Records on vinyl, and Victor Entertainment in Japan...
(October 26, 2004) (UK #84)
EPs
- Heads Up (December 15, 2002)
- Romantic Rights EP (April 13, 2004)
- Live Session (iTunes Exclusive) (July 12, 2005)
Singles
- "Romantic Rights" (November 4, 2004) (UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#57) - "Blood on Our HandsBlood on Our Hands"Blood on Our Hands" was the second single from Death from Above 1979's album You're a Woman, I'm a Machine. It reached number 33 on the UK singles chart....
" (February 17, 2005) (UK #33) - "Black History MonthBlack History Month (song)"Black History Month" is the third single from Death from Above 1979's album You're a Woman, I'm a Machine. The song was given this title because it was written in February. It reached number 48 on the UK single chart. This song is also featured on the in-game soundtrack for Project Gotham Racing 3...
" (June 13, 2005) (UK #48)
Videography
- "Romantic Rights"
- "Blood on Our Hands"
- "Black History Month"
- "Pull Out"
- "Sexy Results" (MSTRKRFT Edition)
MSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFTMSTRKRFT
MSTRKRFT is a Canadian electronic music duo from Toronto, Ontario. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P formerly of the Mississauga, Ontario electropop group Girlsareshort...
is Jesse F. Keeler's electronic band along with producer Al-P. MSTRKRFT is currently signed to Dim Mak Records, and works out of Toronto. Their debut album was released on July 18, 2006. Two of their remixes can be found on Death from Above's 2005 release Romance Bloody Romance.
Bad Tits
Bad Tits is Sebastien Grainger's band with Joshua Reichmann, formerly of Jewish Legend and Tangiers. The duo began playing shows in early 2010, with Grainger on drums and samplers, Reichmann on guitar and keyboards, and both singing. They released a debut vinyl 7” and digital EP titled Garbage Night on the label Hand Drawn Dracula.Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains
Sebastien GraingerSebastien Grainger
Sebastien Alexandre Grainger from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada is a Canadian singer and musician, best known as drummer and singer of the dance-punk duo Death from Above 1979 and the singer and guitarist for his current band, Sebastien Grainger and The Mountains...
released an EP with The Mountains titled American Names and later a self-titled LP, in 2008. The band toured for a year and a half, opening for such bands as Metric
Metric (band)
Metric is a Canadian indie rock and New Wave band founded in 1998 in Toronto. The band has also at various times been based in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles...
, Albert Hammond Jr
Albert Hammond Jr
Albert Louis Hammond, Jr. is an American musician and member of the garage rock band The Strokes, in which he primarily plays rhythm guitar and occasionally lead guitar, while playing keyboards sometimes live. He is also a solo musician...
& Bloc Party
Bloc Party
Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
in North America and Europe. They were signed with Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
in the USA, Outside Music
Outside Music
Outside Music is a Canadian record label and distributor, founded by Lloyd Nishimura in 1995. In 2007, it expanded to include an artist management division which counts Jill Barber, Matthew Barber, One Hundred Dollars and Sunparlour Players as management clients.Outside has released countless...
in Canada and JVC
JVC
, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
in Japan.
Femme Fatale
Femme Fatale was a band that featured Jesse F. Keeler before Death from Above 1979. It is considered to have a more hardcore sound than Death from Above. Sebastien Grainger played drums for Femme Fatale in live shows, as well. Jesse F. Keeler is planning on releasing a new album in the future, but MSTRKRFT is his top priority.Black Cat #13
Black Cat #13 was a band that also featured Jesse F. Keeler, and was started in 1998, lasting until 2000, when the band split due to musical differences. The band released all vinyl releases which are very hard to find and are considered collector's items by DFA1979 fans. Unlike Femme Fatale, Sebastien had no role in Black Cat #13, though Al-P produced many of their releases.Bloc Party
Death From Above 1979 covered the song "Luno" for the Bloc PartyBloc Party
Bloc Party are a British Indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke , Russell Lissack , Gordon Moakes , and Matt Tong...
remix album Silent Alarm Remixed
Silent Alarm Remixed
Silent Alarm Remixed is the remix album to Silent Alarm, the debut album by British indie rock band Bloc Party. It was released on 29 August 2005 in the British Isles on Wichita Recordings, the band's primary label, and on 13 September 2005 in the United States through Vice Records to coincide with...
.
Media
- Brazilian electro-rock band Cansei de Ser Sexy released a single called "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From AboveLet's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above"Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from Above" is the first international single by Brazilian indie/electroclash band CSS, taken from their debut album Cansei de Ser Sexy. Since its use in promotions for the TV series Ugly Betty, it is to be re-released in the UK. Another example of the...
". - "Romantic Rights" was used in the opening credits for the CBC show The Hour, the MTV show Human GiantHuman GiantHuman Giant is a sketch comedy show on MTV, starring writer/performers Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer and directed primarily by Jason Woliner.The show has completed two seasons. The status of a third season is unknown...
and the video game SSX on TourSSX on TourSSX on Tour is a skiing and snowboarding game, the fourth title in the SSX series of video games for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, PSP and Xbox. The game was developed under the working title SSX 4. It was released in North America on October 11, 2005, In the PAL region on October 21, 2005 and in...
. - "Black History Month" is featured in the video game Project Gotham Racing 3Project Gotham Racing 3Project Gotham Racing 3 is an arcade-style racing game that was released with the launch of the Xbox 360 on November 22, 2005 for the US market and December 2, 2005 in Europe, and was released on January 12, 2006 in Japan. Developed by Bizarre Creations, it is the third installment in the Project...
. - "Little Girl" is featured in the video game Major League Baseball 2K7Major League Baseball 2K7Major League Baseball 2K7 is a Major League Baseball licensed baseball simulation video game developed by Kush Games and published by 2K Sports. Released on February 27, 2007, it is the only 2007 MLB licensed game available for the Xbox 360 and Xbox...
and Tony Hawk's American WastelandTony Hawk's American WastelandTony Hawk's American Wasteland, abbreviated to THAW, is a video game that was released for the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube and PC on October 18, 2005. Part of the Tony Hawk series, the game was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision.The PC version of the game was ported and...
. - "Romantic Rights (Marczech Makuziak Remix)" is featured in the video game Tourist TrophyTourist Trophy (video game)is a motorcycle racing game. It was designed by Polyphony Digital, the same team that makes the popular Gran Turismo auto racing series. It was largely created off of Gran Turismo 4's game engine...
. - A remix of "Romantic Rights" is heard in a club on an episode of CSI: NYCSI: NYCSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
. - Their song 'Sexy Results' was featured in the game Saint's Row 2, on K12 FM (in game radio station).
- Various Death from Above 1979 songs were featured in the 2006 run of German television show Die Super Nanny.
- The Bloody BeetrootsThe Bloody BeetrootsThe Bloody Beetroots is an Italian electronica and dance music project. The Bloody Beetroots were formed in late 2006 by producer Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo . In 2008, their EP Cornelius was in the Top 100 International iTunes downloads. This album was a complete art project composed of music, videos,...
released a song called "Fucked From Above 1985" on their album RomboramaRomboramaRomborama is the title of the debut studio album by Italian electronic duo The Bloody Beetroots. It was released on August 21, 2009. Some tracks are taken from earlier Bloody Beetroots releases, for example "Butter" can also be found on the Rombo EP....
.
See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- List of Canadian musicians
- List of bands from Canada
- :Category:Canadian musical groups
External links
- Death from Above 1979 official website
- DFA1979.com - Extensive discography information
- Death from Above 1979 Fansite A fansite with MP3s, information, and pics
- Romantic Rights music video