I watched a bunch of MC5 stuff tonight, and it felt good. Because ten years ago, I would have never imagined ever having the opportunity to see any footage of them at all. I wasn't about to take this one for granted. After watching a few videos, it's easy to see why their live shows have been written about so much.
The two guitar attack of Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, was like having two Ron Ashtons, two Townshends, or two Leslie Wests, in the same group; and this was in the era of single guitar players in hard rock bands. (Along with the Stooges, the Who and Mountain, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple come to mind...there's lots more.) You either leaned more towards rock (like the Stones) and had two guitars, or you were more hard rock, with one guitarist. Few bands, with two guitars, straddled the line. A little later, the Flamin' Groovies sorta did (closer to the Stones end), and the Dolls. But the MC5 were all the way in the hard rock category, with two guitar players. Two very active guitar players. Watching it live is captivating.
The two guitar attack of Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, was like having two Ron Ashtons, two Townshends, or two Leslie Wests, in the same group; and this was in the era of single guitar players in hard rock bands. (Along with the Stooges, the Who and Mountain, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple come to mind...there's lots more.) You either leaned more towards rock (like the Stones) and had two guitars, or you were more hard rock, with one guitarist. Few bands, with two guitars, straddled the line. A little later, the Flamin' Groovies sorta did (closer to the Stones end), and the Dolls. But the MC5 were all the way in the hard rock category, with two guitar players. Two very active guitar players. Watching it live is captivating.
~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Music:MC5 - Kick Out the Jams mp3 at One Sweet Song
MC5 - I Just Don't Know mp3 at Beware of the Blog
MC5 - Rocket Reducer No. 62 mp3 at Merry Swankster
MC5 - Looking At You mp3 at The Rising Storm
MC5 - Ramblin' Rose mp3 at Probe is Turning-On the People
MC5 - The American Ruse mp3 at Favorite 10
MC5 - One of the Guys (early cut) mp3 at Beware of the Blog
MC5 and the Stooges: 40 Years Later (audio documentary) mp3 at WDET
Video:
MC5 - Ramblin' Rose (live 1970, at Wayne State University's Tartar Field, Detroit)
MC5 - Lookin' At You (live, same show as above)
MC5 - Kick Out the Jams (TV appearance) at YouTube
Read:
The Rise and Fall of the MC5 at Perfect Sound Forever
MC5 Gateway - Extensive fan site
Excellent review of a MC5/Johnny Winter/Led Zeppelin show in 1969, (The author attended when he was 14!)
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