Although he turned 70 this year, MC5 co-founder (and major trailblazer of the style we all know and love as punk rock) Wayne Kramer continues to rock with a ferocity and intensity of a gentleman one-third his age.
Just take a gander at his workload in 2018 — the release of an impossible-to-put-down autobiography, The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities (via Da Capo Press).
There’s a vinyl box set of the MC5’s three albums issued during their career, Total Assault (via Rhino Records).
Also, he’s going on a worldwide tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the recording of Kick Out The Jams, as part of the star-studded MC50 — which sees Kramer joined by the likes of Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty, Faith No More bassist Bill Gould, and Zen Guerrilla frontman Marcus Durant.
And…then there’s MC5 being named as one of the nominees for possible inclusion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Kramer was kind enough to chat via phone about all these projects — and other topics — before a stop in San Francisco on the US leg of the MC50 tour.
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How has the MC50 tour been thus far for you?
It’s been a spectacular experience. The band performs marvelously every night, the response has been overwhelming, and attendance has been very good. I’m having the time of my life.
How would you compare playing with MC50 to the original MC5?
The only thing that is the same is the songs. And even they have taken on a new life of their own. I was 18/19/20 years old, and it couldn’t be more different. Today, all the musicians are playing at the peak of their skills, and this is really important to them – and me. It was important 50 years ago, too, but in a lot of different kinds of ways. Then, we were trying to prove something. We’re not necessarily trying to prove anything now — we’re just doing what we do.
How would you compare touring today to touring back in the late 60s and early 70s?
It’s like two different planets! (Laughs) Touring in those days was rough. You traveled in a station wagon or a rented car, and you drove hundreds and hundreds of miles every day, and you stayed in crappy hotels. The sound was usually terrible, and often times, there would be trouble getting paid. And then there were all the self-imposed bad behavior that I partook in. So today, the venues are wonderfully appointed, the dressing rooms are comfortable, the crowds are great, the sound is perfect, the people you work with — the technicians and everybody — are professional and very accomplished. It’s a much more enjoyable experience. And of course, there is no drugs or alcohol or promiscuity or anything like that.
Would you want to see this line-up remain together beyond these shows?
Don’t know. We haven’t really discussed it as of yet. We’re just consumed with meeting our responsibilities every day and putting in good shows, and getting our bodies to the next venue. So, I have an open mind about it, and I’d like to think that it’s in the realm of possibility.
I would be curious to hear what this particular line-up would come up with as far as writing and recording new material.
Yeah, me too.
I have to admit I was not that familiar with Marcus before the MC50 show I saw in New York, but he really does an amazing job.
Me too — he’s our secret weapon. An amazingly talented and powerful vocalist. Just sings naturally and beautifully. He’s terrific.
How did you find him?
Through friends. Once it was clear what I wanted to do, I started asking my friends to make me lists of people they think might fit in a band like this, and his name came up. When I did some research on him, he looked better and better. And then I called him up, we had some talks on the phone that sounded good, and it’s just gotten better.
Your memoir, The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities, has been out for almost two months. What has the feedback been?
What I get is all incredibly positive. People enjoy it, and maybe they see it as more than just a rock n’ roll book, but a bigger, more human story. At least that’s my goal.
I really enjoyed the book, but one thing I kept thinking while reading it is that you’re very lucky to still be alive after everything you’ve experienced.
I’m exceedingly lucky. Yes. Even in my darkest days, I never wanted to destroy myself. Even though much of my behavior was self-destructive. But I never intentionally wanted to end it all. And I think that makes a difference at some point in the darkness of the soul. And, I was lucky. Other people made the same mistakes I made and woke up dead. So, I was just lucky. I mean, Jimi Hendrix didn’t mean to die that night – he just took some sleeping pills after drinking too much. I know exactly what he did. I did exactly that same thing. I didn’t choke on my puke and die – he did. That’s sheer luck.
Something I’ve always questioned since I never got into drugs — when people start doing hard drugs like shooting heroin, isn’t it pretty clear that nothing good is going to come out of it, and how dangerous it is?
That’s the furthest thing from your mind. People who use narcotics and drink alcohol do it because they like the effect that it has on them when they take it. You’re not really considering consequences. You’re only considering that you don’t like the way you feel right now, and as soon as you take this substance, you will feel different. Consequences don’t enter the picture for a long, long time. If ever. Some people, they are able to deny the consequences forever, and die a terrible death.
On a happier note, there is a new MC5 box set, Total Assault.
Very happy to see that. I think they did a nice job putting the records all together on vinyl in red, white, and blue, with new pictures and great liner notes from Jaan Uhelski. For somebody who may just be discovering the MC5, they can get the whole picture in one package. One stop shopping!
Any other projects coming up?
I wrote some music with Mike Doughty, and we have a band idea that we’re calling By Rocket, and we want to see where that might go in the new year. I’m talking with some people about some scoring work, and the jury is still out on what the future might hold for this band. So, at the moment, my concern is that we play tonight in San Francisco, we do a great show, we rock everybody’s asses off, and then we’ll try and do it again tomorrow night.
