Death From Above 1979
Exhibitions & Theatrical, Music, Exhibitions & Theatrical
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Death from Above 1979 (also known as Death from Above or DFA 1979) is a Canadian rock duo consisting of bassist Jesse F. Keeler and drummer and vocalist Sebastien Grainger from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 2001. Refusing to employ a lead guitarist, they played loud synth infused dance punk on the drum and bass combination alone. Throughout its career, the band has been described as dance-punk, noise punk, and punk rock. In 2004, the band changed their name to "Death from Above 1979" (previously named "Death from Above") due to a cease and desist letter that was filed against the band by James Murphy's label Death From Above Records. However, Grainger says this is simply a coincidence; 1979 was chosen as it was, amongst other reasons, "the year I was born." The band released their debut album, "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine", in 2004 which gained critical acclaim. The duo split in 2006 due to disagreements with bandmate Grainger on many levels, including creative differences and musical style. On February 4, 2011, the band officially reunited, performing live for the first time in more than 5 years at Coachella on April 17, 2011. They released their second album "The Physical World" in 2014 and continued making music through the 2010s and 2020s. Death From Above 1979's minimalist two-piece approach and their aggressive, bass-heavy sound have made them one of the most distinctive rock bands to emerge from Toronto in the 2000s.