Dennis Thompson
I have been working on a book. My book. I would really appreciate some feedback from you, my gracious readers. Would you rather I write my memoirs? Would you prefer I right the story of the MC5 ala roman-a-cleff style? That’s when you change the names to protect the innocent…
Would you rather I give you the whole story of my life, as it has been a rather hellaciously exciting and funny and interesting ride? Or would you rather I write just the musical years?
Scary to write it with the real characters as this has a tendency to attract stupid lawsuits. I’d have to use “to the best of my recollection” a hundred times and “not sure exactly”, you know what I’m getting at here. In the meanwhile I am writing a juicy post from the glory days to grace these pages in the near future. Please write in and help me please? Pretty please with honey on it? MGT
Take a look at this documentary from 2008
10 comments:
Hey Dennis..I'd like to read it as legal as you can write it..Love ya man
Hey Dennis - As a writer, musician and all round broken toy at the age of 52......I would HIGHLY recommend that you write a detailed autobiography with everyone's names and really lay the entire story of your life, with a focus on the FIVE in wherever it fits in the timeline of how things went down. The thing about any other style in your case is that first off, where the MC5 is concerned, as the drummer you had the best seat in the house.....you saw everything from a stationary (though occasionally flailing)position. Also, you have a chance to do what few musician's ever get to do and do it right; you get to give the gift of your vast experience to the generations that will follow. God knows you have had a fun life since coming of age, so the childhood is almost a preface to to what is otherwise "The History of Detroit Rock and Roll" as told by a member of one of the true ground breaking bands of all time.
I have had the honor of being a close friend of Mike Davis and play briefly in a band in the 80's with him, he introduced me to Iggy (who still thinks I am Mike's younger brother as I am a Davis as well) and told me a handful of stories that were amazing. Hanging with Jim Morrison and other luminaries either briefly or for long periods, the scuffles, the troubles, free love, the Panthers, John Sinclair and all those great friends who have unfortunately gotten off the train already and are watching from their perches in the universe. It's just too great a story and too great a point of view (yours) to be wasted on any fiction whatsoever.
I am on your friend list on facebook and I urge you to read the tiny little single tale I tell of my punk bands' one road trip, for us it was the one time we felt IT. You've felt IT so many times your story in all it's bloody and heroic detail is the greatest gift you could give the world. Don't forget to put a 50 page mid section of photos in it too. Be BOLD and let it be told!
I hope this note makes an impression, because I can tell you it's a story I certainly want to hear. The hard part will be the letters of consent from other people to avoid them being angry or taking legal action because they see something differently, although I don't even know if one needs that given we have Freedom of The Press. >Dave Davis
I suggest you do both:
(i) a hard cover book in which ...
(ii) (a) internet blogs in which ... (b) some of which you collect (occasionally) and publish in small print run books.
Dennis,
An autobiography of your life in the Motor City, the MC5, your music career...would be really exciting. Reading your story or one of the MC5 would be great since it is coming from someone who lived it. Tell us like it is.
Hey Dennis, as a fan of you and the MC5, I hope you write a completely detailed account of your time with the "5". Let it all hang out, and include all the pictures possible. It would be great to hear your opinion of the other guys in the band, especially Rob and Sonic, as there is a lot less info regarding their personalities than you, Mike and Wayne. I sure hope you three continue on as DKT/MC5. I'd like to see you do a gig with Alice Cooper-I know he is a big fan of the "5". Anyway, whatever you decide to write, I can't wait to read it! take care, KOTJ, Dan
I'd like to read the whole story of your life! Stories from our youth lead us to who we are as adults.
Dennis - we are fans of what you have to tell us; a true story of the 5 would be valuable as well as getting across to us what it was and is like to be you, we trust we'll get the truth however it shapes out to be - peace
I say write what you wanna write, because whatever you write it is it's gonna be a great read.
Dennis, you and the MC5 were part of the history of rock and roll. Look at Keith Richards' book, where he sucessfully does BOTH an autobiography AND a look at rock history.Man, you have SUCH an opportunity here to share those days, to put it on paper for generations to come. People today just remember the music, if that, and not the whole experience of growing up in the Detroit area during the 60s. Like your second poster, I was a rock musician, a journalist and a (now) fry case. What I wouldn't give, eh? You owe it to the fans, to history, and mostly, YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF, BRO!
I agree with everyone who says you should write about EVERYTHING. You have a unique and invaluable perspective on something great that has been poorly documented (in my opinion). Please let us know how we can help make it happen!
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