Death from Above (formerly known as Death from Above 1979) is a Canadian Alternative Dance and Noise Rock duo, consisting of bassist Jesse F. Keeler and drummer and vocalist Sebastien Grainger.
While the two have told numerous stories regarding the circumstances of how they met (at a Sonic Youth concert, in prison, on a pirate ship, in a gay bar, etc.), Keeler and Grainger did officially come together in 2001, releasing their debut EP Heads Up the following year.
The original band name was Death from Above, but in 2004 they were forced to change to Death from Above 1979 after the record label of the same name caught notice and sent a cease-and-desist letter. To say they were upset about this was quite the understatement.
Shortly after, their first album You're a Woman, I'm a Machine was released and gained a following for its seamless blend of noise rock and dance grooves, as well as its sexual lyrics. Creative Differences saw the split of the duo in 2006, but they eventually reunited in 2011, mainly sticking to live shows for several years before releasing their second album, The Physical World. Their third album, Outrage! Is Now, followed three years later.
Their song "Romantic Rights" was also used as the theme song to Human Giant.
Band Members:
- Sebastien Grainger - vocals, drums
- Jesse F. Keeler - bass, synth, backing vocals
Full discography:
- Heads Up EP (2002)
- Romantic Rights EP (2004)
- You're a Woman, I'm a Machine (2004)
- Romance Bloody Romance: Remixes & B-Sides (2005)
- The Physical World (2014)
- Outrage! Is Now (2017)
- Is 4 Lovers (2021)
You're A Woman, I'm A Trope:
- All Women Are Prudes: Discussed and defied on "Romantic Rights".
Push them down, son, it's more than just lip
C'mon, girls, I know you know what you want
C'mon, c'mon now and give them all shh
- Animal Motifs: Elephants, as shown by their logo which is a drawing of their faces but with elephant trunks on them.
- Dance-Punk: The Trope Codifier alongside LCD Soundsystem.
- Face on the Cover: Illustrations of Grainger and Keeler are featured on the covers of all their releases, albeit with elephant trunks.
- Intercourse with You: A common lyrical preoccupation of the band; matter of fact, about half of You're a Woman, I'm a Machine has lyrics with strong sexual undertones.
- Lead Drummer: Grainger plays drums and provides the lead vocals.
- Surreal Music Video: "Caught Up" features the duo performing in a mysterious room before being shocked by lightning and transformed into geometrical figures.
- These Hands Have Killed: Their song has the trope in the title: "Blood on Our Hands".
