Heralded as both a seminal ’60s rock band and some of rock and roll’s original bad boys, the lineup was Rob Tyner (vocals), Wayne Kramer (lead guitar), Fred “Sonic” Smith (rhythm), Michael Davis (bass), and Dennis Thompson (drums). The MC5, originally formed as the Motor City Five in 1964, became Detroit’s major act by 1967 in a scene crammed with talent including Iggy and the Stooges, Ted Nugent, and Bob Seger. “I ain’t into no grunge,” came the reply. Later, as he jumped confidently onstage, announcing he was ready to play, he was sporting a shocking pink tuxedo. When I saw Wayne before the show, he was fashionably dressed in black. I was the MC for the music that followed a couple dozen barnburning speeches by national and local union leaders.
Kramer answered the call for entertainers. His band was the headliner at a massive labor march in Detroit sponsored by the national AFL/CIO to support the city’s striking newspaper workers. I hadn’t seen Wayne Kramer, lead guitar for Detroit’s legendary MC5, in 25 years, yet there we were shaking hands and hugging each other, trying to get in as much reminiscences of the old days in the Motor City before he went onstage.
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