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

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