One of the pioneers of hard rock and legendary rock form, Wayne Kramer has released two new songs under the banner of “We Are All MC5”, in view of the tour “The Heavy Lifting Tour”, which starts in May. Note that this will be the first release of new material for MC5 since… 1971 !!!
Says Kramer: “We’ve just barely survived four catastrophic years of a failed presidency and a devastating pandemic. Brad and I started writing new music with the express purpose of pushing back against the cruelty of it all. It had become so polarized and depressing that bringing in other writers was like a hope injection. Tom Morello, Jill Sobule, Tim McIlrath, Kesha, and Alejandro Escovedo helped me expand the work using the most powerful weapon in existence: our creativity. Of course, Dennis ‘Machine Gun’ Thompson is playing strong now and driving the beat on two songs, so I’m thrilled about that, too. Bob Ezrin produces because he is not only the titan of rock but also the most natural choice to deliver this music to fans in search of songs that capture an ultra-amplified soul. The results are earth-shaking rock and roll.”
Adds Ezrin: “Aside from being a dear friend and a personal hero of mine, Wayne Kramer is a rock and roll treasure because he is keeping the spirit of the MC5 and Detroit’s unique and hugely important blend of punk and funk alive and well in all that he does, I’m excited and honored to be working on this project with him and the supremely talented group of lunatics we have assembled for it. We are all MC5!”
“Nonstop touring, especially the last decade, I’ve come to understand that the music of the MC5 is as necessary as ever. It’s definitely high time to write and record new songs and to carry a message of uncompromising hard rock to fans around the world.”
The two singles, “Heavy Lifting” and “Edge Of The Switchblade” will be released shortly before the tour starts, while a full length album by earMUSIC will be released in October, produced by Bob Ezrin and 4 times Grammy winner, Dave Way .
“Heavy Lifting” features Tom Morello (guitar), Don Was (bass), Abe Laboriel Jr. (drums), while the vocals are taken over by Brad Brooks. In addition to Was and Laboriel Jr., “Edge Of The Switchblade” – which debuted on Kramer’s solo album “The Hard Stuff” (1995), features Alice In Chains singer William Duvall, who shares vocals with the iconic guitarist.
It is no coincidence that the tour starts from Detroit…
