It's been 51 years since MC5 released their last album 'High Time', and now Wayne Kramer is back with a new line-up and a new album. The MC5 guitarist announced the news on his website, along with plans for a world tour. This is great news for fans of MC5 and we look forward to hearing new music.
Launching a campaign called 'We Are All MC5,' the band has posted a teaser for "Heavy Lifting," the first song from the new album. The track was co-written by Wayne Kramer, Brad Brooks and Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave and heaps more. The features Don Was on Bass and Abe Laboriel Jr on drums. It's unknown when the entire song will be released. There will also be a new recorded version of Wayne Kramer's 'Edge of the Switchblade' from 1995 solo album 'The Hard Stuff', it features co-lead vocals by William Duvall of Alice in Chains.
MC5 Merchandise
The new album is set to drop in October. Frontman Wayne Kramer also announced that he’s taking the band on the road in May 2022. Kramer says “With 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.â€
Wayne Krammer said in a recent post on Youtube "It's been a long time since there's been any new MC5 music. I've been busy writing and recording a new album, produced by the great Bob Ezrin, and we'll take it to the streets, 'cause I feel like we are all MC5."
MC5 Heavy Lifting Album & Tour Teaser
He adds "We 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 polarised and depressing that bringing in other writers was like a hope injection. ... The results are earth-shaking rock 'n' roll."
The current MC5 touring lineup includes Kramer, Brooks, Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, guitarist Steve Salas (David Bowie) and bassist Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples). The eight-date spring tour kicks off May 5 in Detroit and wraps May 15 in San Diego. Tickets are on sale now
MC5 2022 Tour Dates
5th May – Detroit, MI @ El Club
6th May – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird
7th May – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
8th May – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
12th May – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s
13th May – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
14th May – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy Theatre
15th May – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar