MC5

"Brothers and sisters, the time has come for each and every one of you to decide whether you are going to be the problem, or whether you are gonna be the solution! You must choose, brothers, you must choose. It takes five seconds, five seconds of decision. Five seconds to realize your purpose here on the planet. It takes five seconds to realize that it's time to move. It's time to get down with it! Brothers, it's time to testify and I want to know, are you ready to testify? I give you a testimonial: THE MC5!" -Brother J. C. Crawford The MC5 (Motor City Five) was an American hard rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan in 1964 and was active until 1972. Their music also included blues-rock, psychedelic rock, rock and roll and garage rock. "Crystallizing the counterculture movement at its most volatile and threatening," their far left political ties and anti-establishment lyrics and music would serve as a prototype for later punk rock musicians. The band consisted of Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitars) Michael Davis (bass), Rob Tyner (vocals), and Dennis Thompson (drums). The MC5 had a promising beginning which earned them a cover appearance on Rolling Stone magazine in 1968 even before their debut album was recorded. They developed a reputation for energetic live performances, one of which was recorded as the critically acclaimed Kick Out The Jams. Their career was ultimately short-lived, though within just a few years of their dissolution, the MC5 were often cited as one of the most important American hard rock groups of their era: their three albums are regarded as classics. Their song "Kick Out the Jams" is widely covered. Machinegun Thompson has a new blog Http://machinegunthompson.com go see all the news! MC5 Formed: 1963, Detroit, MI, United States Disbanded: 1972 Members: Wayne Kramer (guitar), Michael Davis (bass), Rob Tyner (vocals), Dennis Thompson (drums), Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar) Related Artists: Ascension, Dodge Main, Gang War, Mad for the Racket, New Race, Patti Smith, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Was (Not Was) Also Known As: The Motor City 5 Genres: Proto-Punk, Garage Rock, Hard Rock, Rock Album: 1969 Kick Out the Jams [Gatefold], [Live] Vinyl LP Elektra EKS 74042 1970 Back in the USA Vinyl LP Atlantic SD 8247 1971 High Time Vinyl LP Atlantic SD 8285 2004 A Tribute to Jet CD 2007 Live at the Grande Ballroom 1968 CD Get Back GET139 2007 Live at the Saginaw Civic Centre 1st Jan 1970 CD Get Back GET140 2007 I Can Only Give You Everything [Archival], [CD Sized Album Replica] CD Get Back GET161 EP: 1995 Ice Pick Slim 10" Vinyl 1995 Looking at You / Borderline [Bonus Tracks], [Reissue] 10" Vinyl NER3005/10 1995 The American Ruse 10" Vinyl Power Trip [33 rpm] 10" Vinyl Alive Alive 0005/10 Single: 1966 I Can Only Give You Everything / I Just Don't Know 7" Vinyl AMG AMG 1001 1968 Looking at You / Borderline 1969 Looking at You / Tonight 1977 Borderline / Looking at You 7" Vinyl Skydog M 0011998 Looking at You / Borderline 7" Vinyl NER 3012 1969 Tonight / Looking at You 7" Vinyl Atlantic ATL 70.407 1969 Kick Out the Jams / Motor City Is Burning 7" Vinyl Elektra EKSN 45056 1969 Kick Out the Jams / Motor City Is Burning 7" Vinyl Elektra INT.80175 1969 Kick Out the Jams / Motor City Is Burning 7" Vinyl Vedette VRN 34103 1969 Kick Out the Jams / Motor City Is Burning 7" Vinyl Metronome J 27019 1969 Kick Out the Jams / Motor City Is Burning 7" Vinyl Elektra 45648 2009 Kick Out the Jams / Motor City Is Burning [45 rpm], [Exclusive], [Limited Edition], [Reissue], [Remastered] 7" Vinyl Elektra EK7 45648 1970 Shakin' Street / The American Ruse