Machine Gun Thompson's Blog: December 2009

at 12/31/2009

MGT

at 12/30/2009

DKT MC5 live at Musiques En Stock Festival. Cluses. July 6th 2007 .

THANK YOU CHRISTIAN!

at 12/21/2009

Hello Friends,

We just wanted to thank each and every one of you for helping to make the Machinegun Blog so successful in 2009!!! It is heart warming to realize how many of you still feel the same emotions we felt when we first began as the Motor City 5.

We want to wish each and every family MERRY CHRISTMAS, and let's not forget what Christmas is really all about!!!

Say a prayer for all the less fortunate people in this very rough and tough world that have it a lot harder than all of us!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

Spend this precious time with your families

Dennis, Patrice, Joonie and Keisha

at 12/20/2009

Guest Post by Georgie Hirezola

The MC5 had a promising beginning which earned them a cover appearance on Rolling Stone magazine in 1969 even before their debut album was released. They developed a reputation for energetic and polemical live performances, one of which was recorded as their 1968 debut album "Kick Out The Jams".

Their initial run was ultimately short-lived, though within just a few years of their dissolution in 1972, the MC5 are cited as one of the most important American hard rock groups of their era. Their three albums are regarded by many as classics, and their song "Kick Out the Jams" is widely covered.

While lacking the monumental impact of "Kick Out the Jams", the MC5's second album is in many regards their best and most influential, its lean, edgy sound anticipating the emergence of both the punk and power pop movements to follow later in the decade. Bookended by a pair of telling covers -- Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and Chuck Berry's "Back in the U.S.A." -- the disc is as much a look back at rock & roll's origins as it is a push forward into the music's future; given the Five's vaunted revolutionary leanings, for instance, it's both surprising and refreshing to discover the record's emotional centerpiece is a doo wop-inspired ballad, "Let Me Try," that's the most lovely and gentle song in their catalog.

The recurring theme which drives Back in the USA is adolescence, its reminiscences alternately fond and embittered -- while cuts like "Tonight," "Teenage Lust," "High School," and "Shakin' Street" celebrate youth in all its rebellious glory, others like "The American Ruse" and "The Human Being Lawnmower" condemn a system which eats its young, filling their heads with lies before sending them off to war.

Equally gripping is the record's singular sound -- produced by Jon Landau with an almost complete disregard for the bottom end, Back in the USA captures a live-wire intensity 180 degrees removed from the group's live sound yet perfectly suited to the material at hand, resulting in music which not only salutes the power of rock & roll but also reaffirms it.

at 12/20/2009

High Time was the third and final album released by the protopunk band MC5; it was released in 1971. After losing money on this and the group's previous album, Atlantic Records dropped the group.

MC5 were nearing the end of their long and bumpy trail when they cut High Time in 1971, and it was widely ignored upon initial release. While it lacks the flame-thrower energy and "off the man!" politics of Kick Out the Jams or the frantic pace and "AM Radio of the People" sound of Back in the USA, High Time sounds like MC5's relative equivalent to the Velvet Underground's Loaded, their last and most accessible album, but still highly idiosyncratic and full of well-written, solidly played tunes. Fred Smith's "Sister Anne" and "Skunk (Sonically Speaking)" bookend the album with a pair of smart, solidly performed hard rockers (bolstered by fine horn charts), and Wayne Kramer's "Poison" ranks with the best songs he brought to the band (he later revived it for his solo album The Hard Stuff).

For a group that was apparently on the verge of collapse, MC5 approach this material with no small amount of skill and enthusiasm, and Geoffrey Haslam's production gives the band a big, punchy sound that suits them better than the lean, trebly tone of Back in the USA. It's interesting to imagine what MC5's history might have been like if High Time had been their first or second album rather than their last; while less stridently political than their other work, musically it's as uncompromising as anything they ever put to wax and would have given them much greater opportunities to subvert America's youth if the kids had ever had the chance to hear it.

01."Sister Anne" (Fred "Sonic" Smith) - (7:23)
02."Baby Won't Ya" (Fred "Sonic" Smith) - (5:32)
03."Miss X" (Wayne Kramer) - (5:08)
04."Gotta Keep Movin'" (Dennis Thompson) - (3:24)
05."Future/Now" (Rob Tyner) - (6:21)
06."Poison" (Wayne Kramer) - (3:24)
07."Over and Over" (Fred "Sonic" Smith) - (5:13)
08."Skunk (Sonicly Speaking)" (Fred "Sonic" Smith) - (5:31)

at 12/10/2009

Found this really GREAT post and t hought we'd share it you MGT readers today....

From the dETROITFUNK BLOG

This thread will be delving deeper into the local history of one of the greatest bands in rock-n-roll, the MC5. These guys all grew up together in Lincoln Park, Michigan – a downriver suburban Detroit city.

Wayne Kramer (Wayne Kambes) Rob Tyner (Robert Derminer)
Frederick Dewey Smith (Fred “Sonic” Smith), Dennis “Machinegun” Thompson and Michael Davis

The leader of the band who started as lead guitarist, Wayne Kramer, changed his name to disassociate from his estraged father. Singer Rob Tyner took his name from McCoy Tyner, jazz genius John Coltrane’s piano player.

Fred “Sonic” Smith was originally from West Virginia, and moved north in his early teens. The name “sonic” came after he purchased a Fender Duo-Sonic guitar. Fred didnt care for the guitar, which was a short scale “student” model of the Fender Mustang, and returned it. The name stayed.

Fred would later become most known for playing a Mosrite guitar, and later the Rickenbacker 450. The impact of his genius ripples through rock history to this day: you will notice that Johnny Ramone happened to choose the Mosrite guitar, as did Kurt Cobain. This wasnt because they listened to the Ventures.

The concept that the work of Sonic Smith spawned a whole new generation of punk and grunge and alternative rock is crystallized in the name of the band “Sonic Youth” who named themselves in deference to the source.

In his post MC5 days, Fred had a band called Sonics Rendezvous which is known now as “the best band you’ve never heard of”.

This is the 1959 Fender Duo-Sonic that I grew up playing.

Rob Tyner was always the most domestic and grounded member of the band. He ended up moving with his wife and kids to the sleepy bedroom community of Berkley, Michigan. He formed bands and worked with local Viet Nam vets on various charity projects. He stayed very close to the arts community in Detroits Cultural Center around WSU, CCS and the DIA.

On September 17, 1991 Rob went to a Berkley grocery to do some shopping. When he arrived home he had a massive heart attack and crashed his car into his sons car in the driveway of his home. He was found slumped over the wheel and was pronounced dead at Royal Oaks William Beaumont Hospital shortly after. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Rob Tyner was laid to rest wearing an MC5 tshirt at Roseland Cemetery in Berkley.

The man who created all the MC5's Grande Ballroom poster art, Gary Grimshaw, grew up with the 5 in Lincoln Park. He designed this monument for Robs gravesite.

On the flipside of the monument we see the name of the persona that is known to history, Robin Tyner. “Let Me Be Who I Am” is taken from the themesong Kick out the Jams, – its says all that can be said about this wonderful guy. By all accounts a peaceful and friendly person who was well read, spiritual and a very good artist who drew all sorts of hilarious cartoons. Robs “spirit guide” was the Buffalo. The inscripted buffalo on his tombstone is from his own drawing.

Rest in peace Brother.

Fred Sonic Smith went on to form Sonics Rendezvous. New York poet and musician Patti Smith happened to be introduced to Fred right here at Detroits famous Lafayette Coney Island. She never heard of him or the 5, but liked him instantly and invited his band to open for hers. After Fred left the Coney, Patti asked a friend who he actually was. “The best” was the answer.

This is the Old Mariners Church along Jefferson on the river. This church became the stuff of local legend after the Edmund Fitzgerald was lost in Michigans Lake Superior near Whitefish Bay. Gordon Lightfoot recalls the tale in the song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”.

“In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
At the Maritime Sailors Catherdal
The churchbell chimed, unitil it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald”

Every year to the day they still hold the service and ring that bell.

Fred “Sonic” Smith and Patti Smith were married here at the Old Mariners Church.

Fred and Patti settled down here in the lakeside community of Saint Clair Shores, Michigan – the city where my parents lived when I was born, and just a couple miles from where I live now. Here they lived quietly as “Mr and Mrs Patty Smith” and according to Patti, “did a lot of fishing”.

In the late 1980’s, Fred's health began to decline. Sadly it must be considered that the lifestyle these guys lived may have resulted in their untimely death.

more story HERE

Wayne, Dennis and Michael are all alive and well out there. They have reunited as the 5 on occasion, and they all have played in various band projects. Wayne has released several albums of material and occasionally tours. He is still an incredible guitarist.

In hindsight it now all seems so sad. But theres an old abandoned ballroom out on Grand River where history will echo loudly in our collective memories forever.

KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHERFUCKERS !

at 12/06/2009

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

at 12/06/2009

MC5 – "Gotta Keep Movin' "

"Atom bombs, Vietnam, missiles on the moon And they wonder why their kids are shootin' drugs so soon Young men fightin' for democracy And sacrificed for mediocrity"

Written by drummer Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson,

"Gotta Keep Movin' " is the MC5 throwing its full fist in the air. It came on the the band's third record, High Time, which anybody with a half-decent record collection knows is their best.

Sure, they will be eternally linked to "Kick Out The Jams," but "Gotta Keep Movin' " was thoroughly revolutionary in scope and execution. This was the kind of stuff that'd get your skull split open by angry cop with a huge chip

on his shoulder.

Ah, yes, the "good 'ol days."

Gotta Keep Moving Lyrics:

Dennis Thompson

Teachers, parents and politicians
They ridicule my wild ambitions
They say, "settle down son, live decently,
Or you'll rot in jail before your 23!"
They don't know their stuck in the past
Can't stop me now 'cause I'm movin' too fast

Presidents, priests and old ladies too
They'll swear on the Bible
what's best for you
Atom bombs, Vietnam, missiles on the moon
And they wonder why their kids are shootin'
drugs so soon
Young men fightin' for democracy
And sacrificed for mediocrity

I can't stay in one place for too long a time
I get stone bored, I go outta my mind
I'm here and I'm there and doncha know I'm free
Gotta keep movin' baby, you and me

People wakin' up, but they've just begun
To realize what needs to be done
But as for me I keep movin' on
The future's now, yesterday is gone
I never let nobody tell me what to do
And no matter what I'm gonna see things through

Gotta Keep Movin MP3 HERE

at 12/06/2009

The Secrets:

SECRETS, (THE)(Early 1980's)
*Bob Slap (G, V) The Tidal Waves*Charlie Bell (B)*Dennis Thompson (D) MC5/New Order
Single:"Escape (Cry A Little Harder)" / "Ain't Life A Bitch" (Motor City Records) 1981

This was my favorite band other than the MC5. Bob Slap on guitar, and Charlie Bell on the bass. We were an energetic, and fun band. The tunes were poppy, snappy, and highly danceable. We rehearsed 3-4 times a week and it showed. We had a decent following and our fans would come to see us in a blizzard. Unfortunately, Detroit was virtually dead musically and difficult to get a lot of work.

I got an offer to tour Australia in the one time only New Race band for eight weeks. That band featured Ron Asheton, famous guitar player from the Stooges, and the one and only Dr. Deniz Tek on guitar. Deniz is a fantastic guitar player and we all know Ron was a one of a kind whiz on the strings. The rest of the band were members of Radio Birdman, Deniz’ band in Australia (a great band in their own right). We all had a great time touring. We were treated with the utmost respect and played many fabulous gigs. Come to think of it, the New Race is just as much of a favorite of mine as the Secrets were. Ah, so was The New Order.

The original New Order (more on them later).
Long story short, I came back to The USA and played two shows with the Secrets and it was nothing but a letdown. Not the band, but the way the promoters treated us. We were treated like a band from the third world. I got sorta angry about that, and I quit. That was a mistake I will always regret. As far as I was concerned the Detroit scene was in rigor mortis and it was time to move on...

If any of you MGT readers have any video of The Secrets laying around we'd love to see it!