The primary album in 53 years from legendary proto-punk band MC5 will arrive in October, sadly after basic members Wayne Kramer and Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson each handed away earlier this 12 months.
The LP, titled Heavy Lifting, was initially introduced again in 2022. It’ll lastly see the sunshine of day on October 18th, at some point earlier than MC5 get inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame through the Musical Excellence Award.
Kramer co-wrote 12 of the album’s 13 songs with Brad Brooks, who served because the band’s singer throughout their last years earlier than Kramer’s passing. First single “Boys Who Play With Matches” might be streamed under.
The album options quite a few outstanding friends, together with Rage In opposition to the Machine’s Tom Morello, Alice in Chains’ William DuVall, Weapons N’ Roses’ Slash, Rise In opposition to’s Tim McIlrath, and Dwelling Color’s Vernon Reid, amongst others.
Thompson, the band’s basic drummer, seems on two of the tracks, marking his last recordings earlier than his loss of life final month.
The album was produced by the legendary Bob Ezrin, who commented, “It’s very heavy. It has a revolutionary message but additionally a very good humorousness. There’s a bit little bit of heavy steel. There’s fairly a little bit of funk. However it’s a heavy report, and it’s a guitar report left, proper and heart. Only a wall of guitars more often than not, and largely pushed by Wayne and his ethos. It’s a snapshot of a guitar man on the peak of his powers. All of us really feel a accountability to guarantee that his work is heard, and he’s celebrated. We poured our hearts into the mission.”
Along with the usual version, a deluxe model of the brand new album will embrace beforehand unreleased reside recordings from 2018’s MC50 tour, that includes classics like “Kick Out the Jams” and “Ramblin’ Rose.” Pre-orders can be found right here.
MC5 solely launched two studio albums prior this LP: 1970’s Again within the USA and 1971’s Excessive Time, whereas their 1969 reside album Kick Out the Jams can also be thought-about a basic.
Take a look at the one “Boys Who Play with Matches” under, together with the album paintings and tracklist.
Heavy Lifting Paintings:
Heavy Lifting Tracklist:
Heavy Lifting (feat. Tom Morello)
Barbarians on the Gate
Change, No Change
The Fringe of the Switchblade (feat. William Duvall + Slash)
Black Boots (feat. Tim McIIrath)
I Am the Enjoyable (The Phoney)
Twenty-5 Miles
Due to Your Automotive
Boys Who Play with Matches
Blind Eye (feat. Dennis Thompson)
Can’t Be Discovered (feat. Vernon Reid + Dennis Thompson)
Blessed Launch
Hit It Laborious (feat. Joe Berry)