Who Are MC5, the First Punk Band?
They influenced everyone from the Ramones to the White Stripes to Rage Against the Machine, and we wouldn’t have punk or modern garage rock without them. But despite their massive impact, MC5 are far less known than many of the bands that formed in their wake. A hard rock band who played noisy guitar solos at a time when public tastes were more focused on softer folk or psychedelic sounds, MC5 is today considered the first punk or proto punk band. Though many rock fans may have heard of MC5, odds are high that they know more about bands who were influenced by them than the band itself.
Considering their influence, why does MC5 have a relatively low profile? Their early breakup kept the band from participating in the punk explosion they helped create, and personal problems kept many members relatively inactive for periods of time. The early deaths of two key members also prevented them from receiving the recognition that similar musicians, like their fellow Detroiter Iggy Pop, achieved later in their careers. But on Oct. 19, 2024, the band will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, formally cementing their place as one of the most important bands in rock music history — even though every original member of the band has now passed away.
So read on to learn everything about the most important rock band you don’t know about.
Hard Rockin’ in the ’60s
The MC5 first formed in Detroit in 1964 (the “MC” stands for Motor City). Guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith were high school friends united in their love of classic R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll. They both had separate bands, but when several members left each, they decided to merge their musical acts. Singer Rob Tyner originally came into the picture because he wanted to manage the band; they decided his charisma could be put to better use as a frontman rather than on the business end of things. The addition of bassist Michael Davis and drummer Dennis Thompson in 1965 solidified the band’s classic lineup.
Combining their passions for more traditional rock sounds with an emerging interest in free jazz, MC5 became a wildly popular local act who played large shows around the Detroit area frequently. By 1968, they were a national opening act, whose high-energy stage shows were said to often make the headliners (like their one-time tourmates Cream) seem sleepy in comparison. They — along with fellow Michigan band the Stooges — became the first hard-rock bands signed to Elektra Record that year.
Kicking Out the Jams
During this time period, MC5 were almost as well known for their politics and in-your-face attitude as they were for their sound; they were heavily allied with 1960s countercultural political groups like the Black Panthers, and activist/writer John Sinclair served as their manager. Their shows sometimes included mock assassinations. They were the only band to play as part of the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago — though folk singer Phil Ochs played a set, other scheduled musicians were not able to make it or to set up during the chaos of the protests, leading MC5 to jam for a mind-boggling eight hours straight.
All of this together created a powerful legend for a band that had not even released a full-length album yet, and got them a Rolling Stone cover in January 1969. In that same month, they released Kick Out the Jams, a live album and their full-length debut. Controversial due to its political liner notes and the lyrics “Kick out the jams, mother****” (softened to “Kick out the jams, brothers and sisters” for the radio edit), the album hit No. 30 on the Billboard charts, and stayed on the charts for almost six months.
Leni Sinclair/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
When major Detroit department store chain Hudson’s refused to stock the album, the band took an ad out in the local paper proclaiming “F*** Hudson’s!” In retaliation, the chain stopped carrying all Elektra releases, and as a result, the label dropped the band.
The band then signed to Atlantic, releasing Back in the USA in 1970. The album’s sound leaned more toward shorter, faster songs, in what would soon be recognized as the classic punk style. Sales faltered and the band, exhausted by overwork and increasing drug use, were not considered the live act they once were. They had also fallen out with Sinclair, their former manager. A third album, High Time, was released in 1971, to great reviews but poor sales. In late 1972, the band broke up, with their hometown final show attended only by a few dozen fans.
Life After MC5
Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images
Every member of MC5 pursued different paths after the band’s dissolution. Fred “Sonic” Smith formed a few other bands; he also married musician Patti Smith and became her collaborator, cowriting songs like “The People Have the Power.” Wayne Kramer spent a few years in prison for drug possession, but returned to the music industry after he got out. After first playing with musicians MC5 had influenced, like Johnny Thunders, he eventually released a string of well-received solo albums in the ’90s. Tyner played with other bands and eventually became a successful producer and promoter in Detroit live music. Davis and Thompson both played with other Detroit-area bands.
Tyner passed away in 1991; at his musical memorial, the four surviving band members shared the stage for the first time in over 20 years. A prolonged reunion was not to be, however; Smith died in 1994. In 2003, the three surviving members began touring again with guest musicians filling in for Tyner and Smith; this was the first time the band was able to play to crowds who had grown up with and felt the influence of their music. The group toured until Davis died in 2012.
In 2018, Kramer toured behind the 50th anniversary of Kick Out the Jams, with a rotating cast of guest musicians; Thompson sat that tour out. Kramer began planning an MC5 album in 2022, announcing that it would come out in 2024. However, neither he nor Thompson made it to release day: Kramer passed on Feb. 2, with Thompson following on May 8. The album will be released on Oct. 18, one day before their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
MC5 have a thin catalog and a short career compared to many of their fellow inductees. But as Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello said, “The reason why they deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is not because of the depth or breadth of their catalog. It’s because of their influence. Without them, there is no punk-rock music. They’re on the Mount Rushmore of founders of this particular brand of music.”
Remind 
Birth of Rock 'n' Roll
February 2024
"Long live rock," we like to say, but how did it come to life? Revisit the memorable moments, music and movies that made teens go beat crazy back in the 1950s.
Buy This Issue