Detroit’s Seminal Hard Rock Band MC5 Nominated 6th Time For Rock Hall
Wayne Kramer, MC5 co-founder and guitarist, now jokes the band is the "Susan Lucci" of rock and roll groups. Wednesday morning came news that Detroit's seminal hard rock band, the MC5, was once again on the ballot for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's not really about validation, as VH-1 describes the MC5 as one of the most influential hard rock bands of all time. But as Kramer told Billboard, "I’d be happy to see it happen...I think (induction) would be a sweet token of appreciation.”
MC5 was formed almost 60 years ago, in 1963. Five guys from Detroit who rocked. They only made three albums and broke up fifty years ago. But as influential Billboard writer Gary Graff points out, they were the forerunners and influence for Hall inductees The Stooges, the Ramones, Judas Priest, New York Dolls, and fellow 2022 nominees Rage Against the Machine. Others refer to MC5 as "proto-punk".
From Detroit suburb Lincoln Park, the original five were Rob Tyner on vocals, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. Tyner and Smith both died young at 46, Davis died ten years ago at 68. Kramer now tours with what is essentially an all-star team, billing itself as MC50.
(Wayne Kramer via YouTube)
Given the acts the Rock Hall has welcomed, especially in the past few years, it seems the MC5 would be a slam-dunk. They were one of the first to do what they did, and others followed.