Detroit’s MC5 are now considered as one of the original garage punks, with their single “Kick Out The Jams” becoming a rock classic. The last time the band released something new was back in 1971, and it was their album High Time.
In October 2024, the MC5 will finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after decades of eligibility, albeit as a recipient of the “Musical Excellence Award.”
Sadly, though, Wayne Kramer, the band’s guitarist and songwriter passed away in February 2024. Two years before his death Kramer announced that the band is preparing a new album and shared a track titled “Heavy Lifting.”
Now set for release on October 18, 2024, comes the result of those sessions, a new album of MC5 material that bears the same title as the track Kramer shared – Heavy Lifting.
Kramer, who co-wrote 12 of the record’s 13 songs with Oakland rocker Brad Brooks, handles most of the guitar and lead vocal duties. But he’s also joined by a prolific array of guests that include To, Morello, Slash, William DuVall of Alice in Chains, Vernon Reid of Living Colour and MC5 drummer Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson, who also passed away this year at age 75 as well. Other players on the album include Vicki Randle (Aretha Franklin), Stevie Salas (Parliament Funkadelic, Rod Stewart), Abe Laboriel Jr. (Paul McCartney), Winston Watson Jr. (Bob Dylan), and Joe Berry (M83).
In addition to the 13-track album, a 2CD + 2LP bonus disc will be released including previously unreleased live recordings from the MC50 tour in 2018 celebrating the 50th anniversary of MC5’s revered 1969 debut LP, Kick Out the Jams, which features classic anthems like “Kick Out the Jams” and “Ramblin’ Rose.” Alongside Kramer, the MC50 live band features Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, Fugazi/Messthetics drummer Brendan Canty, Faith No More’s bassist Billy Gould, and frontman Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla), with a special guest appearance by Mark Arm (Mudhoney).
