Wayne Kramer, who has died aged 75, was the guitarist and co-founder of MC5, the Detroit band who fused ear-shredding garage rock and revolutionary politics, inspiring the likes of the Clash and a whole legion of bands who enlisted in the 1970s punk movement; with lines like “I’m sick and tired of paying these dues/ And I’m sick to my guts of the American ruse” they attacked the establishment against a backdrop of crunching riffs.
The original band line-up comprised vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. Early success in and around Detroit led to the band name, MC5 being short for "Motor City Five".
2023 saw the passing of many musicians / singers including:
Tina Turner, Jeff Beck, Burt Bacharach, Denny Laine, Shane MacGowan, Sinead O’Connor, Tony Bennett and Jane Birkin.
RIP.
