The return of Death From Above 1979: A modern day rock story of knowing when to quit, and when to have another go
In 2006, a post on DeathFromAbove 1979.com confirmed what most had already assumed: Jesse F. Keeler and Sebastien Grainger had gone their separate ways. But it wasn’t the result of a live-show implosion, media manipulation, or even a reaction to a failed album; just the harsh, honest admittance that things, and people, change. “I know it’s been forever since I wrote anything on here…” Keeler posted. “I’m sure by now most of you assume the band isn’t happening anymore since there are no shows, no work on a new album, etc. Well I wanted to let you know that your assumptions are correct. We decided to stop doing the band... actually we decided that almost a year ago. We started as a punk band with pop aspirations and we met every goal we set for ourselves. A few weeks ago, the album finally went gold in Canada and that was the final mark I really wanted to reach. Over the last 3 years of touring, Sebastien and I had grown apart to such an extent that the only real time we spoke was just before we would play and during interviews. We both changed so much that the people we were by the end of it probably wouldn’t have been friends if they were to meet for the first time again. It’s a totally normal function of growing up.” Put against the unyielding primal intensity of their music – a brutal overload of pounding drums, filthy bass, and bruising bravado – it was a double disappointment. That announcement should have been wracked with all of the anger, selfdestruction and adrenaline-purging momentum that made their 2004 debut, ‘You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine’, such a glorious emotional wreckage of an LP. It was a break-up album for boys; a blazing, raging cyclone of twisted love, carnal lust and angry confusion that worked its sweaty, sleazy magic on indie disco floors, drove workout playlists, and gave those University dorm room Dawson’s Creek moments a barracking kick in the bollocks. But as a statement, it was so grown up; so cynically balanced; so
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