For the Whole World to See: The Death Record Behind Our Designs

Most bands get to release their first album. We had to wait 34 years. Here's the story of that record, and what it has to do with the designs in our shop.

What happened in 1975?

The three of us went into United Sound in Detroit and recorded seven songs. The deal behind the session fell apart when we refused to change the band's name, so the album was never finished. Bobby kept the master tape safe for decades, and that tape is what you hear today.

Which songs are on it?

In 2009 Drag City finally released those seven songs as ...For the Whole World to See:

• Keep on Knocking
• Rock-N-Roll Victim
• Let the World Turn
• You're a Prisoner
• Freakin Out
• Where Do We Go from Here???
• Politicians in My Eyes

It runs under half an hour, and it doesn't waste a second. Keep on Knocking was also the B-side of the single we put out ourselves in 1976.

What came next?

The release brought us back. Bobby and Dannis played again from 2009 with guitarist Bobbie Duncan, and more music followed: Spiritual • Mental • Physical (2011), III (2014) and N.E.W. (2015).

And the designs?

Our collection carries two names. Some designs say DEATH, in a striped wordmark where a solid triangle stands in for the A. Others carry the film title, A BAND CALLED DEATH, over photos and drawings of the three brothers. Each product page tells you exactly what's on each design.

Find your favourite: browse the collection