MC5 A True Testimonial to open in Hollywood
If you know who the MC5 were, no explanation is needed. MC5 The True Testimonial, the movie about them, is finally done. It opened in NYC recently to rave reviews and an opening night audience that went absolutely fucking nuts. Yes, the movie is that good, this from friends at the Bomp /Alive-Total Energy family of labels. They should know – they’ve released much excellent MC5 stuff over the years.
If you don’t know who they were, well they came out of Detroit in the late 60’s, mixing revolutionary politics and stupendously high levels of rock and roll energy. Their first LP, Kick Out The Jams, remains one of the most ferocious, ass-kicking albums ever, rendered even more amazing by it being recorded live.
The movie opens in Hollywood, Fri Aug 15 7 pm at The ArcLight. Yes, I’ve already got tickets, they will go very fast, and I expect we’ll blow the roof off the place.
From guitarist Wayne Kramer‘s mailing list: “Then come on over to the Knitting Factory. Wayne’s been invited to play the Opening night party with sets from Mike Watt & Nels Cline and Saccharine Trust. Plus some surprise guests…”
Remaining members Wayne Kramer, Dennis Thompson, and Michael Davis recently played together in London, for the first time since ’72. You better believe they still got it. Also, Kramer has released a series of excellent CDs over the past few years, “rock and roll for adults”, he once called it.
I just realized that, although I followed the MC5 since Day One, I never considered them rock stars, but more like compatriots. They were hounded by the FBI. Their manager John Sinclair got a long prison term for a tiny amount of pot (he didn”t serve the full term thankfully). They were the only band to attempt to play the ’68 Democratic Convention in Chicago when the “police riot” happened.
During that time I was going to protests, getting tear-gassed, getting arrested. Kick Out The Jams was usually in the background somewhere. So no, I didn’t see them as rock stars. Fellow travelers was more like it.