Mc5

[ComfortablyNumb]

MC5
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The MC5 is a proto-punk/rock band that formed Michigan. Alongside the Stooges, MC5 essentially laid the foundations for punk rock. They extremely loud and very intense. Their politics were as crucial as their music. "The counterculture movement at its most volatile and threatening"- All Music. They were managed by John Sinclair (the infamous founder of the radical White Panther Party). They always had legal troubles and hard times getting air play which kept them from becoming a huge act, but their sound and stage presence was extremely influential to artists.

They were originally active from 1964 until 1972. They reformed in 2003 with punk singer Handsome Dick Manitoba, of The Dictators.
The original band line-up was vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson.

They had a very promising beginning. One that earned them a cover appearance on Rolling Stone magazine in 1969. This is even before their debut album was released.
They developed a reputation for energetic live performances. That was captured their 1968 debut album Kick Out The Jams. Their initial run was short-lived, but the MC5 are often cited as one of the most important American hard rock groups of all time. Their three albums are regarded as classics, and their song "Kick Out the Jams" is widely covered. (Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Silverchair, Rage Against The Machine etc)

Probably in my top 5 favorite bands of all time. Very intense, very loud, and very fun to listen to.

 

[LG]

I have one of MC5's ablums, their live one which is considered their best. Definitely one of the Most important bands to the punk rock movement, beyond question.

 

[flipflop]

I've got the first two albums and their classics, no question about it. Davies I've seen live a number of times with Rich Hopkins. They always played Kick out the Jams when he was with them before he left to be part of the MC5 reunion. He'd always sing it.

 

[rtbuck]

Awesome band! I'll never forget the day I got their live album. I had just found out that they originally did "Kick Out the Jams" (this was the late 70's & I fell in love with the tune on BOC's 'Some Enchanted Evening'). Anyway, I put the MC5 record on & was thrown off by the intro but then the beginning of "Ramblin' Rose" was unbelievable...and then Wayne Kramer's vocals started & I didn't know whether to laugh or turn the record player off!!! I left it on & then got through the embarassing vocals which led to "...And Now,And Now it's time toooo...KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHER F@##ER!!!! I hadn't been so pumped by an intro since Ted Nugent told anyone that wants to get mellow to "get the F@#$ Out of here". I was hooked...& Kramer's vocals didn't bother me at all anymore & "Ramblin Rose" is probably my favorite MC5 tune because of all of it's energy & guitar by Kramer.

I have the live debut & 'Back in the USA'. The song "High School" was featured in the movie 'Rock & Roll High School' but for some reason wasn't included on the soundtrack(Michael Monroe covered it on his debut solo album & he also did a great cover of Kick Out the Jams on Peace of Mind).

It seems like a lot of time I reference the NY Dolls in my posts & this time will be no different! Watching the MC5 videos it's easy to tell where NY Doll's lead guitarist got a lot of his influence from(along w/ Keith Richard,Jimmy Page, & Marc Bolan). In 1975 Kramer was busted by an undercover cop for drugs & was sent to prison.After his release he moved to NYC.A promoter from Ann Arbor,MI had the idea to kind of put together a dream band featuring Johnny Thunders,Wayne Kramer,Ron Cooke(formerly of Mitch Ryder's band Detroit) & John Morgan. The plan was to clean Johnny up & get few gigs in & some recording. The band got an initial gig at a bar in Ann Arobor that never had a live band. The owner told them he couldn't pay them anything but they could play there if they wished. They took him up on it to gain exposure & when word went out the place was packed with a line going around the corner(it never seen so much business). At one point during all the chaos of the show Johnny reached up & his guitar got caught under a ceiling tile so he ripped it loose & down came the tile. Johnny then grabbed a hold of the ceiling support beam & decided to do a Tarzan swing. Boom! the 40 ft ceiling came crashing down & the owner was pissed but with his insurance money he was able to tear the place down & build a new club with an actual full permanent stage & it was called the Star Bar which became the place to play for the next 25 years. Anyway, they weren't able to keep Johnny clean at all & the band was a bit of disaster. They only lasted about a year & a half & did record some demos but unless your a huge Thunders or Kramer fan they're not that great. There is a couple of CD's out there & if I had to recommend one it would be Gang war 'Live in Toronto & Boston' which features a great version of "Ramblin' Rose" & a wild cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots are made for Walking". There is a lot of great stuff on the cd & although Johnny's vocals may be tough on the ears but you can feel the rock & roll it's trying to produce.