A replay of our interview with Wayne Kramer (1948-2024) discussing the MC5, the recording, censorship and legacy of “Kick Out The Jams”, making “Back In The USA” and “High Time”, various controversies, “Jail Guitar Doors” and more.
- Which came first – the guitar or politics?
- Starting to play in local bands
- His mother’s warning for going into music
- Forming the MC5
- Original lineup of MC5
- The ethos and radicalization of MC5
- The music and message of MC5
- The story of AMG records and early records of MC5
- Reissue of music on AMG
- A-Square records “Borderline / Looking At You”
- Memories of the Chicago Democratic National Convention – 1968
- Getting signed to Elektra records by Danny Fields
- The Stooges got signed as their “Little Brother Band”
- Recording “Kick Out The Jams”
- Recollections of the live sets for “Kick Out The Jams”
- The guitar went immediately out of tune
- Wayne singing “Ramblin’ Rose”
- Rob Tyner and being censored for “Kick Out The Jams”
- The MC5 strategy for changing “brothers and sisters” to “Mother f*ckers”
- Reaction to being censored by their record label
- Calling out the “Hudson’s Record Store”
- Getting dropped from Elektra while record is still in the charts
- Danny Fields got slapped and fired
- Wayne’s reaction to the album “Kick Out The Jams”
- Album cover of “Kick Out The Jams” – art director put himself on cover
- Transitioning to Atlantic Records was painful
- Hard to record “Back In The USA”
- Jon Landau’s wisdom and Wayne playing bass himself
- Critics disliked the spontaneity of MC5
- Highlights of “Back in the USA”
- How did hard bop influence the MC5?
- Memories of “High Time”
- The fight with Bill Graham
- The end of the MC5
- Last gasp of the MC5 in Europe
- The longevity and influence of MC5
- The genesis of “Jail Guitar Doors”
- Playing for inmates with Chuck D
- The rehabilitation and other musicians
- Voyage Air Guitars donating to “Jail Guitar Doors”
- End of interview
Help support our podcast: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide
Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8
