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MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock’s Most Revolutionary Band
Revolutionary Band, music journalists Brad Tolinski and Jaan Uhelszki invite readers to reconsider this legendary group. Centered around a series of interviews with MC5, their manager, and their inner circle--many of whom are no longer with us--that Tolinski and Uhelszki inherited from CREEM Magazine founding staffer and Mojo's US editor Ben Edmonds prior to his death, this book presents a genuinely candid, funny, and moving portrait of rock's most uncompromising and articulate band. MC5 also features a virtual "who's who" of 1960s rockers, including Iggy and the Stooges, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, promoter Bill Graham, John Lennon, the Jefferson Airplane, and political firebrands like Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, and Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver.
As innovative, insightful, and inspiring as the band itself, MC5 is a fitting testament to the legacy of these iconic rock pioneers--told in their very own words.
As innovative, insightful, and inspiring as the band itself, MC5 is a fitting testament to the legacy of these iconic rock pioneers--told in their very own words.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2024
17 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Brad Tolinski
177 books6 followersBrad Tolinski (born 1958) was the editor-in-chief of Guitar World Magazine for 25 years (1989–2015). He also served as editorial director of NewBay Media's music division, which also includes Guitar Aficionado and Revolver magazines. He then moved to Harris Publications as the editorial director of special projects, and then became editorial director of special projects for AMG Parade in New York City.
Currently he is a writer and author of several acclaimed books, His most recent release is 'MC5: The Oral Biography of Rock's Most Revolutionary Band,' out October 8, 2024.
Currently he is a writer and author of several acclaimed books, His most recent release is 'MC5: The Oral Biography of Rock's Most Revolutionary Band,' out October 8, 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 16, 2024
Coming on the heels of the long-overdue selection of the MC5 to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this definitive book brings the story of the MC5 back to life. This is not a book about the MC5 – this is a book by the MC5. Based on interviews with the original members as well as many others associated with the band this is the complete story of one of the most influential bands in rock & roll history.
Growing up in Detroit and being too young to see the MC5 before their breakup - the MC5 were that legendary band that people constantly talked about and whose albums could not be found anywhere. Later on I could see Fred “Sonic Smith” in Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, Rob Tyner playing with the Rob Tyner Band and others playing in other bands, but the five would never play again together.
The influence of the MC5 was immeasurable and infinite – virtually every punk band that sprang up a few years later reverently praised them for being a major influence and touring bands from all over the world would interrupt their sets to pay homage to these guys when playing in Detroit. But their story was way more complex and this is why this book is so essential.
Every chapter starts off with an introduction that briefly sets the stage and is then followed by comments from the guys in the band, their manager John Sinclair and many others who were present and participated during their short and tumultuous career. Nothing is held back and people obviously had different recollections about the same events. The mistakes made by the band were many and well-documented but their music came straight from the streets of Detroit and created its own path the directly led to the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Clash. Yeah – those three MC5 albums still hold their own so many years later.
For me the part of the book that captures the essence of the band and their struggle to succeed is when they decide to leave John Sinclair and move away from the White Panther political movement to focus on being a rock & roll band. John Sinclair famously says – “they want be Led Zeppelin”. But the comments from Tyner and Kramer are much more complex and deeper – they do want a different future and believe that Jon Landau and Atlantic Records will take them to that place. This whole section opens a window into the decisions that a bunch of young men (who are admittedly using way too much drugs) are making. Their break from Sinclair is final and brought home when they are denied the opportunity to play at the “Free John” rally in Ann Arbor.
All of the MC5 members are gone now as are many of the principals in this book. However, you can still drive by the old Grande Ballroom on Grand River and almost hear those immortal words – “Kick Out the Jams Motherfuckers!” ringing in your ears. This book catches that spirit perfectly!
Thanks to the authors and everybody else who helped make this a reality!
Growing up in Detroit and being too young to see the MC5 before their breakup - the MC5 were that legendary band that people constantly talked about and whose albums could not be found anywhere. Later on I could see Fred “Sonic Smith” in Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, Rob Tyner playing with the Rob Tyner Band and others playing in other bands, but the five would never play again together.
The influence of the MC5 was immeasurable and infinite – virtually every punk band that sprang up a few years later reverently praised them for being a major influence and touring bands from all over the world would interrupt their sets to pay homage to these guys when playing in Detroit. But their story was way more complex and this is why this book is so essential.
Every chapter starts off with an introduction that briefly sets the stage and is then followed by comments from the guys in the band, their manager John Sinclair and many others who were present and participated during their short and tumultuous career. Nothing is held back and people obviously had different recollections about the same events. The mistakes made by the band were many and well-documented but their music came straight from the streets of Detroit and created its own path the directly led to the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Clash. Yeah – those three MC5 albums still hold their own so many years later.
For me the part of the book that captures the essence of the band and their struggle to succeed is when they decide to leave John Sinclair and move away from the White Panther political movement to focus on being a rock & roll band. John Sinclair famously says – “they want be Led Zeppelin”. But the comments from Tyner and Kramer are much more complex and deeper – they do want a different future and believe that Jon Landau and Atlantic Records will take them to that place. This whole section opens a window into the decisions that a bunch of young men (who are admittedly using way too much drugs) are making. Their break from Sinclair is final and brought home when they are denied the opportunity to play at the “Free John” rally in Ann Arbor.
All of the MC5 members are gone now as are many of the principals in this book. However, you can still drive by the old Grande Ballroom on Grand River and almost hear those immortal words – “Kick Out the Jams Motherfuckers!” ringing in your ears. This book catches that spirit perfectly!
Thanks to the authors and everybody else who helped make this a reality!
November 22, 2025
Nothing new here, but it's good to have it all in one place from "the horse's mouth", so to speak. John Sinclair comes off better here than in some other accounts. Also, I forget who said it, but the idea that the 5 could have essentially become a working class Zeppelin if they had made it past the third album is an interesting thought.
January 9, 2025
MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock’s Most Revolutionary Band was easier to read than for me to write a review. The amazing City of Ann Arbor, where the political atmosphere that fueled the pages of this book, was my home for four years.
American politics started early for me while campaigning with my dad for JFK for president; for RFK for N.Y. Senate and for himself when he ran for N.Y. State Assembly. Pop played jazz and “would have loved to tour with Benny Goodman” until kids and responsibilities came along. Because of his experience with Group Health Insurance (GHI), the first HMO in the U.S., he was sought by business leaders to run Blue Shield of MICHIGAN that handled healthcare for the United Auto Workers (UAW) global membership. Life moved along. The civil rights movement was in full swing. We lost President Kennedy. The British Invasion took the U.S. by storm. Dad relocated to Detroit. A few months before riots broke out, I remember attending a 'Be-In' at Sheep's Meadow in Central Park. I wondered, “How could the Motor City be Burning when 600 miles away it was the incredible Summer of Love?” The anti-war movement and fight for womens’ liberation was strong. Times were turbulent. Youth was excited because we’d loved rock ’n’ roll for years and were motivated for CHANGE. Woodstock had been a major success. It was ‘our’ turn.
In 1970, on my older brother's advice, I scheduled a visit to Michigan to see dad and go to a Blues Festival in Ann Arbor. A friend became part of the crew and gifted my friend and I with 3-Day backstage passes. It changed my life. All the other colleges where I’d been accepted fell to the wayside. I chose the University of Michigan because of Ann Arbor’s vitality.
While reading excerpts from Elektra Records Danny Fields’ interview, I realized that I had the same reaction to Ann Arbor that he had when he came to stay at the house on Hill Street to sign the MC5 and Stooges to the label. Politically, Ann Arbor (A2) was way more advanced than New York. My dorm was a few blocks down Hill Street from the Rainbow People's commune buildings at 1510 & 1520. I only visited to socialize. My brother and his girlfriend lived at 1520.
Tribal Stomp and Rainbow Peoples Ballroom flyers flooded the city. A vibrant counter culture was thriving but political leader John Sinclair was sitting in jail, sentenced to 10 years for giving two joints to a female undercover narc.
Promoter Pete Andrews was booking the best music in the country. Gary Grimshaw was designing flyers and posters that will go down in history. Ben Edmonds must have been a great interviewer, because Gary Grimshaw was quiet, not much of a talker. Despite that, there are several excerpts from Gary in the book.
Youth were upset about the absurd sentence and the war cry was,“Free John Sinclair!!” John and Yoko saw Gerry Rubin on TV discussing Sinclair’s 10 year sentence and decided to try to help. 15,000 strong attended a rally at Crisler Arena to Free John. It was by far the most powerful countercultural event of my life. Sinclair had been managing the MC5 years before I moved to the city. The MC5 were the legendary Grande Ballroom house band. The Grande closed 6 months after I moved to Ann Arbor. The MC5 had stopped playing but The Up and others continued the mighty music that reinforced the great energy in Ann Arbor. The crowd at the TEN FOR TWO rally was so riled up when John spoke from prison over the loud speakers, they were ready to take the rally to the streets. There were way more of us than there were of THEM! Three days later John was released. The first HASH BASH honoring John’s release was held April 1, 1972 on the University of Michigan Diag.
I noticed right away how easy this book was to read. It’s beautifully written in a conversational clear, professional journalistic style. The editors are life long rock journalists. The book captures the controversial “Kick Out The Jams Motherfuckers!” spirit of the times. I’m very grateful to have lived during these years in Ann Arbor. It’s added a dimension to my life and my brother’s life, that not many other people we know have had. I’m grateful to have had these exciting times of the MC5 and John Sinclair in my life. Friends from high school, even family members, don’t appreciate the influence of John Sinclair and the Motor City 5. I didn’t like MC5 or the Stooges at first. Iggy still weirds me out, but inevitably their music has grown on me. I’m grateful for the excitement of those Crisler Arena days. Ben Edmonds’ hundreds of interviews made this an authentic telling of a very powerful rock and roll group and exciting time in rock history.
In early 2024 it was announced that The MC5 were to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while drummer Dennis Thompson was still alive. In April 2024 I joined an impressive gathering of lawyers, poets, artists, musicians and political activists to attend the former MC5’s manager, John Sinclair’s Memorial. The size and quality of the crowd proved what an important leader Sinclair was. As the everyone dispersed, one of the guests needed to jumpstart his car. He and a friend were blasting the MC5 and ran the battery down. We exchanged numbers at the reception. He thought, “If she went to John Sinclair’s funeral, she can’t be that bad…” we met up at Dennis Thompson's funeral. Our first authentic date was an MC5 Tribute fundraiser for Wayne Kramer’s Jail Guitar Doors. Ten Bands, two songs each at The Blind Pig.
October 12th is officially MC5 Day in Lincoln Park. I treasure this autographed, hardcover first-edition given to me a man who saw the MC5 at the Grande many times. His car needed a jumpstart. Today is our 9 month anniversary.
American politics started early for me while campaigning with my dad for JFK for president; for RFK for N.Y. Senate and for himself when he ran for N.Y. State Assembly. Pop played jazz and “would have loved to tour with Benny Goodman” until kids and responsibilities came along. Because of his experience with Group Health Insurance (GHI), the first HMO in the U.S., he was sought by business leaders to run Blue Shield of MICHIGAN that handled healthcare for the United Auto Workers (UAW) global membership. Life moved along. The civil rights movement was in full swing. We lost President Kennedy. The British Invasion took the U.S. by storm. Dad relocated to Detroit. A few months before riots broke out, I remember attending a 'Be-In' at Sheep's Meadow in Central Park. I wondered, “How could the Motor City be Burning when 600 miles away it was the incredible Summer of Love?” The anti-war movement and fight for womens’ liberation was strong. Times were turbulent. Youth was excited because we’d loved rock ’n’ roll for years and were motivated for CHANGE. Woodstock had been a major success. It was ‘our’ turn.
In 1970, on my older brother's advice, I scheduled a visit to Michigan to see dad and go to a Blues Festival in Ann Arbor. A friend became part of the crew and gifted my friend and I with 3-Day backstage passes. It changed my life. All the other colleges where I’d been accepted fell to the wayside. I chose the University of Michigan because of Ann Arbor’s vitality.
While reading excerpts from Elektra Records Danny Fields’ interview, I realized that I had the same reaction to Ann Arbor that he had when he came to stay at the house on Hill Street to sign the MC5 and Stooges to the label. Politically, Ann Arbor (A2) was way more advanced than New York. My dorm was a few blocks down Hill Street from the Rainbow People's commune buildings at 1510 & 1520. I only visited to socialize. My brother and his girlfriend lived at 1520.
Tribal Stomp and Rainbow Peoples Ballroom flyers flooded the city. A vibrant counter culture was thriving but political leader John Sinclair was sitting in jail, sentenced to 10 years for giving two joints to a female undercover narc.
Promoter Pete Andrews was booking the best music in the country. Gary Grimshaw was designing flyers and posters that will go down in history. Ben Edmonds must have been a great interviewer, because Gary Grimshaw was quiet, not much of a talker. Despite that, there are several excerpts from Gary in the book.
Youth were upset about the absurd sentence and the war cry was,“Free John Sinclair!!” John and Yoko saw Gerry Rubin on TV discussing Sinclair’s 10 year sentence and decided to try to help. 15,000 strong attended a rally at Crisler Arena to Free John. It was by far the most powerful countercultural event of my life. Sinclair had been managing the MC5 years before I moved to the city. The MC5 were the legendary Grande Ballroom house band. The Grande closed 6 months after I moved to Ann Arbor. The MC5 had stopped playing but The Up and others continued the mighty music that reinforced the great energy in Ann Arbor. The crowd at the TEN FOR TWO rally was so riled up when John spoke from prison over the loud speakers, they were ready to take the rally to the streets. There were way more of us than there were of THEM! Three days later John was released. The first HASH BASH honoring John’s release was held April 1, 1972 on the University of Michigan Diag.
I noticed right away how easy this book was to read. It’s beautifully written in a conversational clear, professional journalistic style. The editors are life long rock journalists. The book captures the controversial “Kick Out The Jams Motherfuckers!” spirit of the times. I’m very grateful to have lived during these years in Ann Arbor. It’s added a dimension to my life and my brother’s life, that not many other people we know have had. I’m grateful to have had these exciting times of the MC5 and John Sinclair in my life. Friends from high school, even family members, don’t appreciate the influence of John Sinclair and the Motor City 5. I didn’t like MC5 or the Stooges at first. Iggy still weirds me out, but inevitably their music has grown on me. I’m grateful for the excitement of those Crisler Arena days. Ben Edmonds’ hundreds of interviews made this an authentic telling of a very powerful rock and roll group and exciting time in rock history.
In early 2024 it was announced that The MC5 were to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while drummer Dennis Thompson was still alive. In April 2024 I joined an impressive gathering of lawyers, poets, artists, musicians and political activists to attend the former MC5’s manager, John Sinclair’s Memorial. The size and quality of the crowd proved what an important leader Sinclair was. As the everyone dispersed, one of the guests needed to jumpstart his car. He and a friend were blasting the MC5 and ran the battery down. We exchanged numbers at the reception. He thought, “If she went to John Sinclair’s funeral, she can’t be that bad…” we met up at Dennis Thompson's funeral. Our first authentic date was an MC5 Tribute fundraiser for Wayne Kramer’s Jail Guitar Doors. Ten Bands, two songs each at The Blind Pig.
October 12th is officially MC5 Day in Lincoln Park. I treasure this autographed, hardcover first-edition given to me a man who saw the MC5 at the Grande many times. His car needed a jumpstart. Today is our 9 month anniversary.
January 16, 2025
An electrifying dive into the raw energy of the era that shaped the group. Seamlessly blending cultural history with intimate band stories, this biography captures the revolutionary spirit of MC5 while illuminating the zeitgeist that fueled their influence. A must-read for fans of the music and countercultural history alike.
November 11, 2024
Excellent read for completists. It's like a Please Kill Me based solely on the MC5. Much of the band's story has been told through the lens of Wayne Kramer. This time around, I enjoyed the extensive testimonials from Rob Tyner's perspective. I'll go to my grave wishing things turned differently for the band. Still, they mattered and continue to matter.
August 5, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this history, told in the words of the players involved, about a band, a scene, a revolution, and what came after.
The MC5 is one of the few bands that can say they were at the forefront of revolution, both literally and musically. The band shot from the hip and shot themselves in the foot sometimes at the same time. Bad timing, bad ideas, bad things happening around them also seemed to follow this band, which added to the chaos and power that emerged from their instruments. The band seemed poised to change the world, until the world just gave a shrug and moved on. Precursors to punk, the MC5 were also the precursors to the excess that rock was going to become in the 1970's, with the idea of rebellion being co-opted by the corporations that paid their bills. And yet even with time, and after long periods of being past over and forgotten, the music, the message, the statements they made just be being who they are still resonate for many. Too bad it came so late. MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock’s Most Revolutionary Band by Brad Tolinski, Jaan Uhelszki and Ben Edmonds is a history of a scene, a band and their personal rebellion, told in the words of the people who lived it.
The Detroit area had been the a musical hub for blues and of course the Motown Sound. Detroit was also going through a lot, from people fleeing, riots, and urban decay. All this was in the blood of the men who made up the Motor City 5, the MC5. Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith on guitars, Michael Davis on bass, Dennis Thompson on drums and Rob Tyner on vocals became the classic line-up, after a lot of personal changes. The band was rock n' roll in attitude, working to beat any band they came across, local, British Supergroups, or West Coast Hippie bands, the MC5 shows were legendary. In an effort to grow the band began to work with a local revolutionary John Sinclair, living in a group house, and taking in the ideas of revolution that were filling the air. For every step forward though the band would always find a way to trip. Making local retailers mad, losing record company support, making bad deals, drugs, or just opening their mouths at inopportune times. Just as they were ready for the next step, things began to fall apart.
Success and failure have many fathers, and while some like to take credit for success, no one wants to claim messing things up. That is why I love oral histories when it comes to band stories. Time, drink, drugs, egos, and just misremebering things can make a story change. So it is good to have a few different views on something to try and get to the truth. The book is based on interviews done over a period of years by Ben Edmonds, who sadly, like many people interviewed passed away. Brad Tolinski and Jaan Uhelszki worked from Edmonds notes, and have created a work that is as close to the truth as possible. And what a story. Police raids, riots, bad scenes, excess, fame, being forgotten, and coming around again. The book is very well written, with each chapter starting with a summary of what was happening before going back to the band to tell their story. There are a lot of he said, he said, but mostly one can find the truth in the story. This is not a hagiography in the slightest. When they mess up, they mess up. When they are misogynistic, they are really misogynistic. Even one band member signing away his mother's insurance to buy a Jaguar. He really wanted the Jaguar.
One of the most revealing books about a band that I have read in a long time. At the end one might have some strong feelings about the band, but one will understand quite a lot how things can really roll completely out of control while just trying to rock the people in both mind and body.
The MC5 is one of the few bands that can say they were at the forefront of revolution, both literally and musically. The band shot from the hip and shot themselves in the foot sometimes at the same time. Bad timing, bad ideas, bad things happening around them also seemed to follow this band, which added to the chaos and power that emerged from their instruments. The band seemed poised to change the world, until the world just gave a shrug and moved on. Precursors to punk, the MC5 were also the precursors to the excess that rock was going to become in the 1970's, with the idea of rebellion being co-opted by the corporations that paid their bills. And yet even with time, and after long periods of being past over and forgotten, the music, the message, the statements they made just be being who they are still resonate for many. Too bad it came so late. MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock’s Most Revolutionary Band by Brad Tolinski, Jaan Uhelszki and Ben Edmonds is a history of a scene, a band and their personal rebellion, told in the words of the people who lived it.
The Detroit area had been the a musical hub for blues and of course the Motown Sound. Detroit was also going through a lot, from people fleeing, riots, and urban decay. All this was in the blood of the men who made up the Motor City 5, the MC5. Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith on guitars, Michael Davis on bass, Dennis Thompson on drums and Rob Tyner on vocals became the classic line-up, after a lot of personal changes. The band was rock n' roll in attitude, working to beat any band they came across, local, British Supergroups, or West Coast Hippie bands, the MC5 shows were legendary. In an effort to grow the band began to work with a local revolutionary John Sinclair, living in a group house, and taking in the ideas of revolution that were filling the air. For every step forward though the band would always find a way to trip. Making local retailers mad, losing record company support, making bad deals, drugs, or just opening their mouths at inopportune times. Just as they were ready for the next step, things began to fall apart.
Success and failure have many fathers, and while some like to take credit for success, no one wants to claim messing things up. That is why I love oral histories when it comes to band stories. Time, drink, drugs, egos, and just misremebering things can make a story change. So it is good to have a few different views on something to try and get to the truth. The book is based on interviews done over a period of years by Ben Edmonds, who sadly, like many people interviewed passed away. Brad Tolinski and Jaan Uhelszki worked from Edmonds notes, and have created a work that is as close to the truth as possible. And what a story. Police raids, riots, bad scenes, excess, fame, being forgotten, and coming around again. The book is very well written, with each chapter starting with a summary of what was happening before going back to the band to tell their story. There are a lot of he said, he said, but mostly one can find the truth in the story. This is not a hagiography in the slightest. When they mess up, they mess up. When they are misogynistic, they are really misogynistic. Even one band member signing away his mother's insurance to buy a Jaguar. He really wanted the Jaguar.
One of the most revealing books about a band that I have read in a long time. At the end one might have some strong feelings about the band, but one will understand quite a lot how things can really roll completely out of control while just trying to rock the people in both mind and body.
October 31, 2024
The oral biography approach is well done. It's an easy, fairly engrosssing read, and it gives a good sense of the characters involved. It is very weighted towards the earlier days - from memory, I think I think the book is about two-thirds finished by the time they get dropped by Elektra. The section on the Back In The USA era is about the right length, but there is little time spent on High Time, although most of the contributors agree it is the MC5's best album. If you're a dedicated fan with questions that need answering, you may be disappointed. There is no mention of the Gold soundtrack, the Head Sound sessions, or the tracks recorded in Chateau Herouville in March 1972. At least the Gold soundtrack is discussed in Brett Callwood's book from 2007. You can read both of these books and still be left with a fair few unanswered questions, which is a bit disappointing.
December 16, 2024
Motor city noise and energy unmatched since. Essential. The mc5.
Essential music history and life leap from the oral memories of those who created that most thrilling ensemble of unmatched energy the mc5. A revolutionary testimonial from Detroit and a time when all seemed possible.
Jim linderman.
Essential music history and life leap from the oral memories of those who created that most thrilling ensemble of unmatched energy the mc5. A revolutionary testimonial from Detroit and a time when all seemed possible.
Jim linderman.
August 2, 2025
Much better than I expected, given that nearly all the players involved in this have been dead for years. A warts-and-all oral history that I felt like told an honest accounting of one of the most influential rock bands of all-time.
February 2, 2025
The rating is perfunctory, seeing as I've been obsessed with this band since hearing "Looking at You" for the first time as a youngster. Lots of great info here.
March 13, 2025
I read a fair amount of rock bios - this is one of the better ones. It’s a crazy story of squandered potential.
June 4, 2025
This was very interesting and took me back in time. The language was harsh, but the story was very authentic. Highly recommend if you want to travel back in time and have a love for Rock history.
September 22, 2025
3.5 stars. More interesting than I thought it was going to be because I typically don't like books about famous people in the 70s and 80s
October 14, 2025
The best book of the best rock and roll band in history
December 18, 2025
I appreciated the fact that the opinions of the major characters were all represented. An interesting account of the band, the 1960s movement, and the White Panthers.
January 30, 2026
KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHERFUCKERS!!!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews