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The MC5 was a rock music band that came out of Detroit, USA in 1966, and was an important precursor of and influence on punk rock (see protopunk).
Their first album was Kick Out The Jams, recorded live on October 30 and 31, 1968. The album caused some controversy due to the title track's rallying cry of "kick out the jams, motherfuckers," and John Sinclair's inflammatory liner notes. The album concluded with "Starship," a cover of a Sun Ra song.
When Hudsons, a then Detroit based, now defunct department store, refused to stock the LP the MC5 responded with a full page advertisement in the Fifth Estate saying "Fuck Hudsons!" Hudsons pulled all records on Elektra, the MC5's label, and Jac Holzman, the head of Elektra, dropped the band.
Their second album Back In The USA virtually provided a prototype for punk rock with its short, fast, hard-edged angry guitar rock. Their third album High Time would also prove influential on 1970s hard rock
bands like Aerosmith and Kiss. The band broke up amidst drug-related problems
in 1972. John Sinclair, the band's manager, was politically active with the White Panthers and Fifth estate.
Singer Robin Tyner died in 1991, as did guitarist Fred 'Sonic' Smith in 1994. Guitarist Wayne Kramer is still active, and has released several solo albums.
2003 saw the three surviving members of the MC5 - Kramer, bassist Michael Davis,
and drummer Dennis Thompson - performing as the MC5 at the 100 Club in London with vocal chores being filled by Dave Vanian of The Damned and Ian Astbury of The Cult
- MC5 discography (incomplete)
Films
MC5 - A True Testimonial 2003
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