List of MC5 band members - Misplaced Pages

MC5 performing in 1968, 2005, and 2018

MC5 were an American rock band founded in 1963 by guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred Smith. The band's classic line-up included Kramer, Smith, vocalist Rob Tyner, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. At the time of Kramer's death in February 2024, the band consisted of Thompson, vocalist Brad Brooks, rhythm guitarist Stevie Salas, bassist Vicki Randle, and drummer Winston Watson (all since 2022).

History

In the early 60s both Kramer and Smith led garage rock bands, but later joined as one in 1963 under the name Bounty Hunters. Consisting of Billy Vargo on guitar and Leo LeDuc on drums, with Smith playing bass. By 1964, Vargo and LeDuc were replaced by Smith and Bob Gaspar respectively. Rob Derminer auditioned for the bassist position although later became lead singer, adopting the name Rob Tyner. The bass postioned was filled by Patrick Burrows before Michael Davis and Dennis Thompson filled the bass and drum postions respectively.

This line-up stayed together until 1972, when Davis left. He was replaced by a quick succession of bassists (Steve Moorhouse, Derek Hughes, and Ray Craig) before disbanding in late 1972, after a disastrous New Years Eve show, by which point Ritchie Dharma had replaced Thompson who departed alongside Tyner.

Kramer reformed MC5 in 1974 with Mark Manko on rhythm guitar, Tim Schafe on bass, Bob Schultz on organ, and Frank Lowenberg on drums. This version with Kramer singing lead vocals continued until 1975, when Kramer was incarcerated until 1978.

The classic line-up of MC5 reformed in November 1992, in tribute to Rob Tyner who died on September 18, 1991. This reunion included Kramer, Smith, Davis and Thompson. In 2004, Davis, Kramer and Thompson toured under the name DKT/MC5. By 2005, the trio were joined by singer Handsome Dick Manitoba (ex-The Dictators), and rhythm guitarist Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns and Roses). This version of the band disbanded in February 2012, following the death of Davis.

Kramer reformed the band in May 2018, under the Name MC50. He was joined by Kim Thayil (guitar) and Matt Cameron (drums) of Soundgarden, Brendan Canty (drums) of Fugazi, and Doug Pinnick (bass) of King's X, as well as Marcus Durant (vocals) and Don Was (bass). By August, the line-up included Kramer, Thayil, Canty, Durant and bassist Billy Gould (of Faith No More).

MC5 returned in 2022, now consisting of Kramer, singer Brad Brooks, drummer Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), bassist Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples), and guitarist Stevie Salas (David Bowie). Perkins was soon replaced by Winston Watson. Kramer also announced a new album, which would feature many guests, including Thompson.

Kramer died in February 2024, no announcement was made on the continuation of the band. Thompson also died in May 2024, which signalled the end of MC5. The new album, Heavy Lifting, was released on October 18, 2024.

Members

Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
Wayne Kramer	1963–1972 1974–1975 1992 2003–2012 2018 2022–2024 (until his death)	lead guitar lead and backing vocals	all releases
Fred "Sonic" Smith	1964–1972 1992 (died 1994)	bass guitar (1963–1964) rhythm guitar backing and lead vocals	all releases, except Heavy Lifting (2024)
Billy Vargo	1963–1964	rhythm guitar	none
Leo LeDuc	1963–1964	drums
Bob Gaspar	1964–1965	drums
Rob Tyner	1964 1965–1972 (died 1991)	bass guitar (1964) lead vocals (1965–1972)	all releases, except Heavy Lifting (2024)
Patrick Burrows	1964–1965	bass guitar	none
Dennis Thompson	1965–1972 1992 2003–2012 2022–2024 (died 2024)	drums	all releases
Michael Davis	1965–1972 1992 2003–2012 (until his death)	bass guitar backing vocals	all releases, except Heavy Lifting (2024)
Steve "Annapurna" Moorhouse	1972	bass guitar	none
Derek Hughes
Ray Craig
Ritchie Dharma		drums
Frank Lowenberg	1974–1975	drums
Bob Schultz		keyboards
Tim Schafe		bass guitar
Mark Manko		rhythm guitar
Gilby Clarke	2005–2012	rhythm guitar backing vocals
Richard Manitoba	2005–2012	lead vocals
Marcus Durant	2018	lead vocals	Heavy Lifting (2024) bonus edition
Kim Thayil		rhythm guitar
Brendan Canty		drums
Matt Cameron		drums
Doug Pinnick		bass guitar backing vocals
Don Was
Billy Gould
Vicki Randle	2022–2024		Heavy Lifting (2024)
Brad Brooks		lead vocals
Stevie Salas		rhythm guitar
Stephen Perkins	2022	drums	none
Winston Watson	2022–2024	drums	Heavy Lifting (2024)

Timeline

Line-ups

Period	Members	Releases
1963	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Billy Vargo – rhythm guitar Fred Smith – bass, vocals Leo LeDuc – drums	none – rehearsals only
1964	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Rob Tyner – bass Bob Gaspar – drums	none – rehearsals only
1964	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Bob Gaspar – drums Patrick Burrows – bass	none – live performances only
Early – December 1965	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Bob Gaspar – drums Patrick Burrows – bass Rob Tyner – vocals
December 1965	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Bob Gaspar – drums Rob Tyner – vocals Michael Davis – bass, backing vocals
December 1965 – February 1972	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Rob Tyner – vocals Michael Davis – bass, backing vocals Dennis Thompson – drums	Kick Out the Jams (1969) Back in the USA (1970) High Time (1971) Do It (1987) Teen Age Lust (1996) Phun City, UK (recorded 1970, released 1996) Live at the Sturgis Armoury (recorded 1968, released 1998) Are You Ready to Testify?: The Live Bootleg Anthology (2005) Live at the Grande Ballroom 68 (2006)
February – March 1972	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Rob Tyner – vocals Dennis Thompson – drums Steve Moorhouse – bass	none – live performances only
March 1972	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Rob Tyner – vocals Dennis Thompson – drums Derek Hughes – bass
April – May 1972	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Rob Tyner – vocals Dennis Thompson – drums Ray Craig – bass
June – November 1972	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Rob Tyner – vocals Dennis Thompson – drums Derek Hughes – bass
November – December 1972	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Derek Hughes – bass Ritchie Dharma – drums
Disbanded 1972 to 1974
1974 – 1975	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Mark Manko – rhythm guitar Tim Schafe – bass Frank Lowenberg – drums Bob Schultz – organ	none – live performances only
Disbanded 1975 to 1992
November 1992	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Fred Smith – rhythm guitar, vocals Michael Davis – bass, backing vocals Dennis Thompson – drums	none – one live performance
Disbanded 1992 to 2004
June 2004 – January 2005	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Michael Davis – bass, backing vocals Dennis Thompson – drums	none – live performances only
January 2005 – February 2012	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Michael Davis – bass, backing vocals Dennis Thompson – drums Gilby Clarke – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Handsome Dick Manitoba – vocals	none – live performances only
Disbanded 2012 – 2018
May – August 2018	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Marcus Durant – vocals Kim Thayil – rhythm guitar Doug Pinnick – bass, backing vocals Don Was – bass, backing vocals Brendan Canty – drums Matt Cameron – drums	none – live performances only
August – December 2018	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Marcus Durant – vocals Kim Thayil – rhythm guitar Brendan Canty – drums Billy Gould – bass, backing vocals	none – live performances only
Hiatus 2018 to 2022
March – April 2022	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Brad Brooks – vocals Stevie Salas – rhythm guitar Vicki Randle – bass, backing vocals Stephen Perkins – drums	none – rehearsals only
April 2022 – February 2024	Wayne Kramer – lead guitar, vocals Brad Brooks – vocals Stevie Salas – rhythm guitar Vicki Randle – bass, backing vocals Winston Watson – drums	Heavy Lifting (2024)

References

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Fines, Ian (November 1998). "MC5- Rise and Fall". www.furious.com. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
Baker, Cary (February 3, 2024). "A tribute to MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer". Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
Williams, Alex; Lamb, William (February 3, 2024). "Wayne Kramer, Guitarist With the Incendiary MC5, Is Dead at 75". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
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J, Liz (August 15, 2018). "Billy Gould (Faith No More) Joins Super-Group MC50 on Tour". Music Talkers - Latest Music News & Artist Exposure. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
Aswad, Jem (March 9, 2022). "Wayne Kramer Unveils 'We Are All MC5' Spring Tour". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
Polack, Lucas (April 5, 2022). "MC5's Wayne Kramer talks punk, politics ahead of new album, tour". Michigan Public. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
"Wayne Kramer Unveils 'We Are All MC5' Spring Tour". Yahoo Entertainment. March 9, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
"Wayne Kramer, co-founder of Detroit rock band MC5, dead at 75 from pancreatic cancer". New York Daily News. February 3, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
McCollum, Brian. "Dennis Thompson, MC5 drummer and 'last man standing,' dies at 75". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 11, 2024.

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