CHICAGO MC5 PLAY THE 1968 DEMOCRAT CONVENTION
Picture this setting:
A flat bed 18 wheeler for a stage. Our amps and PA power cords all running to a hot dog vendor's generator. About 3500 people in the crowd. There were supposed to be around eight big name bands that promised to show up and perform. None of them did. I won’t embarrass them by mentioning their names. We were the only band that showed that fateful afternoon.
About 5 songs into our set, I could see mounted police storming through the far back of the crowd. They were swinging three foot batons at everyone. Some people were throwing rocks and bottles. There were maybe two to three helicopters overhead, and the entire crowd was suddenly surrounded by cop cars and paddy wagons.
We did not stick around to see what happened because along with the Chicago Seven, we were going to be arrested for inciting a riot. Pure unadulterated establishment hogwash.
Nobody came to riot. If they did maybe they would’ve armed themselves a bit better, hah!
So, once again we were forced to flee in our van. The US Signal Corps took many photos of the crowd and our band that day and the paper FBI file on us probably grew a couple more inches worth.
God Bless America.
Actual Department of Defense Surveillance Footage of the Revolutionary MC5. Detroit Rock and Roll Legends play Festival of Life. From National Archives
4 comments:
"They only wanna shake it up, baby
Dance to the rockin' bands
They only want a little excitement
They like to get a little outta hand . . ."
Hey, how's it goin?
I just wanna say, I got a bootleg of A True Testimonial (hope this doesn't upset you!)! It's one of my fave films!!! Up there with Ferbush and the Penguins and The Shout!!
Hope your doin ok with the passing of your father.
Your in our thoughts, as is your music!
P.S: I wanna hear Secrets!!! How can I????
Leo
"Dennis, i got to Lincoln Park that day as the cops were clearing the place out, when i got to the Zoo Parking Lot, Cops were all around my '63 ford and all 4 tires were slashed, Being only 17, they never did get a hold of me..."
It's a delicious irony, that all that surveillance footage is now appreciated by none but MC5 fans.
The Chicago Democrat political machine that set the force on the kids in 1968 is known worldwide as a byword for corruption - six Illinois governors convicted. And that machine has now gotten a man into the White House.
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