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RIP DFA(79)

Posted Aug 21, 15:44 by Nirmala Basnayake

In light of Jesse and Sebastien's recent break-up, I thought this might be the right time to share some photos from our 2005 North American tour with Death From Above 1979. It was a great experience with a lot of firsts: the first time we played beyond the northeastern United States, not to mention the first time we played the Canadian prairies and west coast; the first time we played South By Southwest, which lived up to its massive hype; and the first time we toured for more than a week-and-a-half (two months, to be sort of exact). That year-and-a-half seems so long ago!

We were a relatively young band at the time - we still are, I suppose - and DFA79 were fine mentors. We had the privilege of playing in larger clubs to larger crowds, as well as the privilege of dressing rooms and riders. It was all new to us and we loved it.

I've been meaning to post these photos for quite some time, but I was worried that the scans might not be of the highest quality. (The pictures were taken before I had the use of a digital camera.) I think black-and-white photos have an inherent beauty, though, so I didn't alter them at all. (This might be obvious given the abundance of dust specks.) There was some posing involved, though it should be noted that it was solely Dizzee Rascal's decision to don a ballcap before having his photo taken. I'm not sure why; he had a pretty nice fade happening. Also, the "Fighting in Phoenix" episode was not staged.

Hopefully these pictures will tell as many stories as we have from that tour. Death From Above (1979), you will be missed.

Great photos, Nirmala. Thanks for sharing them. I’m so glad that you’re as obsessed with pictures as I am. Ha ha.
RIP DFA79 :(

#1.  Laura
Aug 21, 17:11
Misty is in some of those pictures! I remember driving five hours to go see controller.controller and DFA1979 in Halifax in May 2005… and then not getting into the show. Misty came outside to talk to me while you all were playing your set, and I was telling her how much I loved your music. I danced and sang to your set outside the Pavilion and was so sad that I didn’t get in. Later on, Misty got me in to the show to see death from above. That was the first and last time I ever saw them!! It was probably the best night of my life. I am so thankful that Misty got me in—I wish I could thank her again because she was so kind and she stayed outside with me for such a long time!! DFA1979 definitely changed things for me (plus, they had a part in me discovering controller.controller!). It’s so sad that we’ll (probably) never hear any music that will come from the collaboration of Jesse & Seb ever again. :( Those photos are amazing, Nirmala! Thank you so much for putting them up!

(That was lengthy and brutal—sorry! The pictures evoked some nostalgia.)

#2.  Danena
Aug 22, 23:55
Laura – as in Laura Dawe? If so, you’re one of the stars of the black-and-whites! Either way, though, thank you. I love posting photos because I love it when the friends we’ve met find themselves on our site. Kind of like…

...Danena! Good to hear from you again. That’s a great Misty story, and yes, she’s in some of the black-and-whites, like “The Courvoisier” (so photogenic). I had no idea that the Attic show was the first time you heard us! I thought your first c.c show was the one at which I met you, at Stage Nine in Fall 2005. And there's no need to apologize for your post. I’m glad the photos stirred up nostalgia. They always do so for me.

P.S. Say hi to Simon!

#3.  Nirmala
Aug 23, 08:43
Thank you Nirmala for posting these pictures, Death From Above has been my favouite band since 2003, and still is.

It is hard for me to accept that they will never make music together as they have these past years. Photos like these bring emotions I never thought I would have for a band, I have never really loved a band like I love DFA and I never will.

thanks -Allison

#4.  Allison
Aug 23, 12:00
amazing pictures.

brought tears to my eyes… great homage, Nirmala.

RIP DFA1979

long life to controller.controller

#5.  Flavs
Aug 23, 14:03
Haha, the courvoisier picture is my favorite one of Misty! Also, you were correct in thinking that my first c.c show was the Stage Nine one November ‘05! I didn’t attend the Attic show because I had travelled to Halifax with a friend of mine who was 18 at the time, so we couldn’t get in.

I’m heading down to Halifax tomorrow, so if I run into Simon I’ll definitely be sure to tell him you said hi!

Talk to you later. ( :

#6.  Danena
Aug 24, 09:15
Allison and Flavs – thank you. I’m glad the photos brought back fond memories.

Danena – thanks! See you later.

#7.  Nirmala
Aug 30, 11:20
Man…it sucks when a band you love breaks up…I have serious “I-Can’t-Believe-Hot-Snakes-Broke-Up” issues.

And it’s been like a year or so since that happened…

...then again, I STILL listen to Jehu’s “Yank Crime” in my car…yeah, that’s probably worse.

#8.  O from CJLO
Sep 10, 03:28
It was great that you toured with Death From Above 1979. I had never heard of those guys when I saw them at Zaphod’s, a show that I attended to see your opening slot. It ended up being a great concert from both bands; and I was lucky enough to see DFA twice more before they packed it in.

#9.  Jeremy
Sep 13, 12:53
O – WHA? Hot Snakes broke up??

Jeremy – I think you’re the only person who came to Zaphod that night just to see us, but thank you (thank you!), and I’m glad you enjoyed the headliners so much. For those who never had the chance to see DFA79 live, there must be miscellaneous archival footage out there for purchase or piracy, but (I hate to say) it can’t come close to seeing them in person. The break-up of DFA79 is a real loss for anyone who loves a visceral, dynamic, truly exciting show.

#10.  Nirmala
Sep 13, 16:44
Nirmala, your photos are beautiful. You should continue to shoot in old-school black and white.

#11.  Juliann
Sep 13, 21:07
Juliann! Thank you. I really do love shooting B&W, and shooting with my SLR, but the digital camera is seductive! It’s cheaper (no developing costs – and no developing chemicals); it’s easier to use and transport; and I can mess around with the flash. (I’m terrible with the flash on my SLR and thus only take photos using available light…which doesn’t always work. When it does work, though, I LOVE it.)

I’m also a sucker for seeing the photo as soon as I take it, not to mention the ability to shoot as many frames as I like and discard the ones that don’t turn out. It can get expensive to do the same with 35mm film. Plus the digital camera has a B&W setting, though the depth of field can’t compare to the SLR. (My digital camera isn’t top-of-the-line.)

I’ll have to shoot B&W 35mm at some point soon, anyway, as I have four rolls sitting in my fridge and they’ve been there for a while…

#12.  Nirmala
Sep 14, 09:58
Oh man, Nirmala, yeah…it was a sad day, RFTC broke up too…You can feel my pain here: http://www.cjlo.com/magazine/features.php?ID=112

#13.  O from CJLO
Sep 15, 15:06
O – ah, John Reis. What about all those people with RFTC tattoos? Who’s going to let them into shows for free now?

#14.  Nirmala
Sep 18, 23:41

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