MC5

MC5, 1960s-era politically conscious rock band who later inspired the British punk movement. membership: Rob Tyner (real name, Robert Derminer), voc. (b. Detroit, Dec. 12, 1944; d. Royal Oak, Mich., Sept. 17, 1991); Wayne Kramer, gtr. (b. Detroit, April 30, 1948); Fred “Sonic” Smith, gtr. (b. W.Va., Aug. 14, 1949; d. Detroit, Nov. 4, 1994); Michael Davis, bs.; Dennis Thompson, drm.

In 1964, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith formed the Bounty Hunters in Lincoln Park, Mich. The two recruited vocalist Rob Tyner, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson, and changed the group’s name to the Motor City Five, moving to Detroit in 1966. Recording two local singles, MC5 became Detroit’s leading underground group by 1967. They came under the management of John Sinclair, founder of the revolutionary White Panther Party and leader of the Trans Love Energies commune. Becoming the “house band” for the Party, MC5 performed in Lincoln Park during the 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention, which featured one of the most vicious police riots in the history of American politics.

Signed to Elektra Records, MC5 recorded their debut album live at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit in October. Yielding a minor hit with the title song, Kick Out the Jams also included “I Want You Right Now,” “Come Together,” and “Motor City Is Burning.” However, the title song featured prominent use of the word “motherfucker,” which led to difficulties with Elektra and their eventual dismissal from the label. Sinclair, arrested three times for marijuana possession, began a 10-year sentence for possession of two “joints” in 1969 (the conviction was overturned in 1972 after John Lennon took up his cause). Sinclair later became a poet and blues and jazz scholar and, since the 1980s, has performed poetry with his Blues Scholars band.

MC5 moved to Atlantic Records, where rock critic (and later Bruce Springsteen associate) Jon Landau produced their second album, a studio effort that drew praise but sold poorly. Following 1970’s High Time, comprising entirely original compositions, Atlantic dropped the band. They moved to England for a while, but broke up in 1972.

Mike Davis resurfaced in the late 1970s with the Detroit-based band Destroy All Monsters with ex-Stooge Ron Asheton. Asheton later joined Dennis Thompson in the group New Race. Wayne Kramer, imprisoned for two years for dealing cocaine in the mid-1970s, returned to music around 1980, forming a short-term partnership with Johnny Thunders, one-time member of The New York Dolls, in Gang War. Kramer later led his own band, Air Raid, and eventually released a solo album on the independent label Epitaph in 1995, followed by 1996’s Dangerous Madness. Fred “Sonic” Smith formed the band Sonic Rendezvous in the late 1970s and married Patti Smith in 1980. He played a major role in writing, playing, and recording her 1988 comeback album, Dream of Life. Rob Tyner died of a heart attack on Sept. 17, 1991, in Royal Oak, Mich., and Fred “Sonic” Smith died from heart failure in Detroit on Nov. 4, 1994.

Discography

Babes in Arms (ree. 1966–70; rei. 1983); Kick Out the lams (1969); Back in the U.S.A. (1970); High Time (1971); Thunder Express: One Day Live in Studio (ree. 1972; rei. 1994). Wayne Kramer And Johnny Thunders:Gang War (1990); Street Fighting (1994); Live at the Channel Club (ree. 1980; rei. 1995). Wayne Kramer:The Hard Stuff (1995); Dangerous Madness (1996); Citizen Wayne (1997); LLMF (1998). Patti Smith With Fred “SONIC” smith:Dream of Life (1988). scots pirates (with fred “sonic” smith):Revolutionary Means (1995).