MC 5
Formed in 1964 in Detroit, Michigan, USA, and originally known as the Motor City Five, the group was sundered the following year when its rhythm section left in protest over a new original song Back To Comm. Michael Davis (bass) and Dennis Thompson (drums) joined founder members Rob Tyner (b. Robert Derminer, 12 December 1944, Detroit, Michigan, USA, d. 18 September 1991; vocals), Wayne Kramer (guitar) and Fred "Sonic" Smith (b. 1949, d. 4 November 1994; guitar) to pursue the radical direction this experimental composition offered. By 1967, their repertoire contained material drawn from R&B, soul and avant garde jazz, as well as a series of powerful original songs. Two singles, One Of The Guys/I Can Only Give You Everything (1967) and Borderline/Looking At You (1968), capture their nascent, ‘high-energy’ sound as the group embraced the ‘street’ politics proselytized by mentor/manager John Sinclair. Now linked to this former disc jockey's Trans Love Commune and White Panther party, the MC5 became Detroit's leading ‘underground’ act, and a recording deal with the Elektra label resulted in the seminal KICK OUT THE JAMS. Recorded live at the city's Grande Ballroom, this turbulent set captured the quintet's extraordinary sound which, although loud, was never reckless. However, the Five were then dropped from their label's roster following several disagreements, but later emerged anew on Atlantic. Rock journalist Jon Landau, later manager of Bruce Springsteen, was invited to produce BACK IN THE U.S.A. which, if lacking the dissolute thrill of its predecessor, showed a group able to adapt to studio discipline. Tonight, Shakin' Street and a remade Lookin' At You are among the highlights of this excellent set. A third collection, HIGH TIME, reasserted a desire to experiment, and several local jazz musicians added punch to what nonetheless remains a curiously ill-focused album on which each member, bar Davis, contributed material. A move to Europe, where the group performed and recorded under the aegis of Rohan O'Rahilly, failed to halt dwindling commercial prospects, while the departure of Davis, then Tyner, in 1972 brought the MC5 to an end. Their reputation flourished during the punk phenomenon, during which time each former member enjoyed brief notoriety. Davis later surfaced in Destroy All Monsters, Sonic Smith married Patti Smith and is heavily featured on the singer/poet's ‘comeback’ album DREAM OF LIFE (1988), while both Kramer and Tyner attempted to use the MC5 name for several unrelated projects. They wisely abandoned such practices, leaving intact the legend of one of rock's most uncompromising and exciting acts. In September 1991, Rob Tyner died of heart attack at the seat of his parked car in his home town of Ferndale, Michigan.