Wayne Kramer has revived MC5 for a new album of original material, marking the Detroit proto-punk outfit's first full-length release in over 50 years.
Kramer, the group's co-founding guitarist, revealed that a new album of original MC5 songs will be released in October via Ear Music. Alongside the news, he's previewed a new song dubbed "Heavy Lifting," which features Tom Morello, Don Was, singer Brad Brooks and Abe Laboriel Jr.
The yet-to-be-detailed album will be helmed by Canadian producer Bob Ezrin, and will feature percussion from original MC5 drummer Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson on two songs. Additional contributions will come from Kesha, Alejandro Escovedo, Jill Sobule and Rise Against's Tim McIlrath.
MC5 will also return to the road, with eight dates in the United States set for this May. The band's current touring lineup features Kramer, Brooks, drummer Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction), bassist Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples) and guitarist Stevie Salas (David Bowie).
Kramer previously toured with MC5 in 2018, marking the 50th anniversary of the group's debut album Kick Out the Jams. That trek saw him line up alongside Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Brendan Canty (Fugazi), Dug Pinnick (King's X) and Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla), with original drummer Thompson appearing on select dates.
Kramer and Thompson are MC5's last surviving members. Vocalist Rob Tyner and guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith passed away in 1991 and 1994, respectively, while bass player Michael Davis died in 2012.
"We've just barely survived four catastrophic years of a failed presidency and a devastating pandemic," Kramer shared in a statement. "[Brooks] and I started writing new music with the express purpose of pushing back against the cruelty of it all."
Both MC5 and Morello's Rage Against the Machine were recently nominated for 2022 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
MC5 2022 Tour Dates:
05/05 Detroit, MI - El Club
05/06 Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird
05/07 Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
05/08 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
05/12 Sacramento, CA - Harlow's
05/13 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
05/14 Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Theatre
05/15 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
Kramer, the group's co-founding guitarist, revealed that a new album of original MC5 songs will be released in October via Ear Music. Alongside the news, he's previewed a new song dubbed "Heavy Lifting," which features Tom Morello, Don Was, singer Brad Brooks and Abe Laboriel Jr.
The yet-to-be-detailed album will be helmed by Canadian producer Bob Ezrin, and will feature percussion from original MC5 drummer Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson on two songs. Additional contributions will come from Kesha, Alejandro Escovedo, Jill Sobule and Rise Against's Tim McIlrath.
MC5 will also return to the road, with eight dates in the United States set for this May. The band's current touring lineup features Kramer, Brooks, drummer Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction), bassist Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples) and guitarist Stevie Salas (David Bowie).
Kramer previously toured with MC5 in 2018, marking the 50th anniversary of the group's debut album Kick Out the Jams. That trek saw him line up alongside Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Brendan Canty (Fugazi), Dug Pinnick (King's X) and Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla), with original drummer Thompson appearing on select dates.
Kramer and Thompson are MC5's last surviving members. Vocalist Rob Tyner and guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith passed away in 1991 and 1994, respectively, while bass player Michael Davis died in 2012.
"We've just barely survived four catastrophic years of a failed presidency and a devastating pandemic," Kramer shared in a statement. "[Brooks] and I started writing new music with the express purpose of pushing back against the cruelty of it all."
Both MC5 and Morello's Rage Against the Machine were recently nominated for 2022 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
MC5 2022 Tour Dates:
05/05 Detroit, MI - El Club
05/06 Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird
05/07 Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
05/08 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
05/12 Sacramento, CA - Harlow's
05/13 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
05/14 Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Theatre
05/15 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
