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THE BATTLE OF CHICAGO MC5 1968
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
Read more HERE and HERE
24 comments:
Man would I love to see video footage of this...you know the FBI has to have it somewhere...
The MC-5....the only band in the country with the stones to show up!!!! Just another reason I will always love this band!!!!!
"In a way im a little suprised the FBI didnt destroy that film...It mainly shows a crowd of people out to have a nice day not out to knock a pig on his ass........."
"I did see it (FBI film) some time ago...just was wondering if there was any sound and more of it..."
"Tom..it's on youtube somewhere...I know ive seen it...There isnt any sound but its a trip to see...."
Guys it is at the bottom of the blog story go to the MGT blog and off facebook....
"aug 68 its amazing how small really the youth movement was at that time...42 years ago....now we have lolla palooza big deal jesus how depressing..."
"I heard of people gettin tough situations but because they were from detroit were not really affected by it, the MC5 were bad ass"
"The city is very pretty and is alive still i was there last saturday ,as aposed to Detroit ,I think you should set up a reunion concert there Dennis ! ill come and be your drum tech roady dude .ok :-)"
"Wasn't some of the police riot film footage used in Medium Cool, Haskell Wexler's auto docu ography?"
"Name those bands that wouldn't show up!"
We were plugged into a hot dog stand for power! That didn't last long one we saw the police and horses coming from the back of the crowd...
There were 10 national bands booked and only 1 had the cojones to show up. The bands were from all over the country that is all I will say....
"i saw this video on the HISTORY channel and on PBS, a lot of times!!"
" i have this picture, i will post it, i cut it out of life magazine,when i saw it it scared me."
"I hope this doesnt seem like a stupid question but were your guys able to load your gear out or did you loose your stuff to the mayhem?"
No we loaded into our van and were gone
"Awesome, Dennis! Thanks for posting that. "
"I went with a friend, but we booked after being picked up by Chicago's Finest, then dropped off in a Blackstone Ranger neighborhood. I guess they figured two white boys would be violated there. Bad trip, though, and we ended up going to Saugatuck and getting pharmaceutically blasted. Sorry we missed the band. Sorry the band followed suit, later! Now, I'm going to listen to Shakin' Street and think what might have been..."
"It was fear of change........."
I SAW the MC5 in Chicago in 68! Got there just in time to see the Chicago cops bust up a perfectly good time....
Country Joe and the Fish were supposed to play with the 5 at Grant Park that day, but they got mugged by Vietnam Vets at their Chicago Hotel, so they couldn't play.
"I think I was still playing with my Tonka trucks in 1968. Sorry I wasn't able to lend more support for the cause."
"Believe it or not, I saw the CPD pulling people off the statue in Grant Park, I swear."
I was in the crowd, fringe area when the CPD charged the crowd in a flying V formation. dick gregory had just invited everyone to walk to his house because there was no permit for mass march that day. I was 20-30 feet from the attack.
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