MC5 - Sonic Revolution: A Celebration Of The MC5 DVD

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Anyone who has seriously studied American rock and roll knows that the MC5 is perhaps the greatest rock band this country has ever produced. There would be no punk, garage rock, metal, or rock/jazz fusion without bands like this that paved the way more than a decade before the Ramones and other copycats. The band was composed of five rebellious, smart-mouthed, cocky punks from Lincoln Park, and they were influenced by Motown, blues, and early rock. However, they gave their music the rough and rowdy edge of Detroit and they created some of the rawest, untamed sounds ever made. The film lets us see the three surviving members reuniting more than 30 years after their self-destruction (drugs, poor management, etc.) and one thing is clear: these guys can still kick out the jam. If you are a rock historian and do not know this band or its music, you need to get on the ball and educate yourself. If you were alive when they rocked the Grande Ballroom in Detroit with Jimi, Janis, and Cream, this will take you back to the good old days of no-nonsense rock. KOTJMF
Submitted by Johnny Motown (Detroit) 
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 And then there were three...
...but they still knew how to kick out the jams! This excellent disc features the entire performance by the three remaining members of Detroit's legendary, reformed (in more ways than one) MC5 at London's 100 Club in 2003. In lieu of the sadly departed Rob Tyner vocal duties were carried out by guitarist Wayne Kramer and a handful of guest singers, namely Lemmy (Motorhead/Hawkwind), Dave Vanian (The Damned), Ian Astbury (The Cult/The 20th Century Doors) and, best of all in that he comes closest to capturing the range and power of Tyner's voice, Nicke Royale of Scandinavian rockers The Hellacopters, who also stands in on second guitar throughout the show. The line-up is completed by two of the original horn players from the Five's High Time album sessions back in 1972. All of the classics are here, with tracks being lifted from all three of the band's official releases: Skunk, Looking At You, Poison, Shakin' Street, Sister Anne, Rocket Reducer No.62 and, of course, Kick Out The Jams. The ensemble plays with real power and passion throughout - a true testimonial - and all the more incredible when one remembers that it's over thirty years since the group disbanded. A line from Patti Smith's poem Babelogue sprung immediately to mind upon viewing this performance: "My guitar weighs less than a machine gun and it never runs out of ammunition". If this gig was an experiment to test the waters I'm glad to say that it was successful as the MC5 are finally back on the road, playing to fans both old and new (many of them alerted to the band through its legion of more recent musical admirers, such as Jeff Buckley, Primal Scream, Rage Against The Machine and The Rollins Band). The disc also features a number of fascinating archival extras including film of the band performing at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit and on a couple of US TV shows, as well as surveillance footage of the band's appearance at the 1968 Democratic Convention discovered in the Department of Defence's National Archives.
Submitted by hamipai00 (Scotland) 
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 Excellent
Awesome. Brilliant. The great balance that offers old footage with new commentary and performance, and the perfect TV doc I saw on U.K. tee-vee last year. A great surprise.
Submitted by Chris E. (San Fran)
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 MC5 DVD is low fi heaven
This DVD is a must. It is a bit low fi but that fits MC5 fine. This has a lot of cool guests like Dave Vanian and Lemmy.
Submitted by beb (ft lauderdale, fl usa)
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Have you seen this movie?