Death From Above 1979 are an experimental noise-rock duo from Canada, consisting of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse Keeler. They got their start in 2002 with their debut EP Heads Up which was released under their original name Death From Above.

In 2004, with their popularity growing, record label DFA Records (known for bands like Holy Ghost!, LCD Soundsystem, and Hot Chip) forced the duo to change their name. They added the legal minimum amount of numbers required to keep the first part of the name.

In an interview with Pitchfork Media, James Murphy, co-founder of DFA Records, explained:

We knew about them for a long time, the name thing wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t until they signed to a major label, which wouldn’t release the record until we signed off on the name. That’s how this all came about. […] [Parent company of Death From Above 1979’s label, Vice] Atlantic’s not gonna release a record by a band with the same name as another entity in music. […] And I said, “If they become a totally different name, and it delays their record, that’s something I’m not comfortable with.’ So we just tried to make it work as well as possible.

In 2004, after getting signed to New York label Vice Records, they released their debut album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine. It reached critical acclaim. After years of touring, the band broke up in 2006 due to creative differences.

While Grainger focused on his solo career, Keeler co-founded the electronic project MSTRKRFT with Al-P, producer of You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine.

The band reunited in 2011 and started touring again. In 2013, they confirmed that they started working on their sophomore album The Physical World. It was released in late 2014, ten years after their debut. Their comeback was accompanied by a documentary called Life After Death from Above 1979.

In September 2017, they released their third album Outrage! Is Now. It was also announced that the band would officially change their name back to Death From Above.