Wayne Kramer on the MC5’s Rock Hall Nomination
Could this finally be the year the MC5 kicks out the jams at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
The controversial Detroit group, best known for its seminal anthem “Kick Out The Jams,” is nominated for a third time, having previously been on the ballot in 2003 and 2016. Guitarist Wayne Kramer tells us he’s honored, but after two previous disappointments he’s not getting his hopes up:
“Y’know, I actually hadn’t thought about it since this time 365 days ago…I’ve had my fair share of disappointments in my fine, fine career as an artist, so I have to protect myself against unnecessary pain. So I deal with what’s real and what’s happening and I try not to put any energy into woulda, coulda or shoulda.”
Only Kramer and drummer Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson are still alive from the MC5’s lineup: Frontman Rob Tyler died in 1993, guitarist Fred “Sonic” Smith passed away in 1994 and bassist Michael Davis died in 2012.
Fan voting for the Rock Hall has opened at RockHall.com and will run through December 5. Inductees for the Rock Hall class of 2018 will be announced in December, with the ceremony taking place April 14 at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland and filmed by HBO for subsequent broadcast.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
