Legendary and revolutionary (in more ways then technique) MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer sat down with our fellow Detroit native, Jim Kerr, for an expansive and personal discussion about Kramer's remarkable life in and out of Rock N' Roll. The lasting vitality of the MC5's music, as well as the ups, downs and very hard rock bottoms are all laid out in his very raw but ultimately triumphant story. It's all detailed 'The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, The MC5 & My Life of Impossibilities' (Da Capo Press).
Kramer was the working leader and founder of quite possibly first true punk rock band- Detroit's The MC5. The 3x Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee talks about how the band openly embraced and expressed the concerns of their audience during the turbulent late '60s and early '70s. This type of activism and outspokenness would brand them as targets not only of local police but all the way up to the FBI.
Jim shares the first time he heard (the then shocking) unedited album version of the incendiary 'Kick out the Jams' title track. They proceed to discuss the evolution of the band over the course of their 3 groundbreaking albums.
Kramer is open about his time in prison on drug charges- but he turned that dark period into something positive with his Jail Guitar Doors program.
Best of all, Kramer will be touring next month with The MC50, a group consisting of Soundgarden's Kim Thayil, Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty, King’s X bassist Dug Pinnick, and Zen Guerrilla frontman Marcus Durant. In celebration of the album's 50th anniversary, they'll be playing the entire classic 'Kick Out the Jams' and more.
Don't miss them:
September 14th, Huntington NY- The Paramount
September 15th Philadelphia- Union Transfer