#MC5

A secret look into the early MC5 at the infamous Belle Isle Love-In!
"This happened a lot when we played at big, highly charged public events," recalls Wayne Kramer, noting the notorious Belle Isle police riot of April 30, 1967, a free concert that Detroit media cast as "Love-In Turns to Hate".
The MC5's original photographer and first tour manager Emil Bacilla shot this rare footage of the band on Wayne Kramer's 19th birthday, April 30th, 1967.
With commentary recorded in 2004 by Wayne Kramer, Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson , and Michael Davis.
Footage remastered by Margaret Saadi Kramer and William Olivas, 2019.

[@brötzmannsax]

RIP Brother Wayne, you were a stand up man and musician to the very end.

[@mad_cobraaa]

Michael Davis was my uncle! Great seeing these videos and hearing his voice. Yesterday was the anniversary of his death and he is so missed but him and you guys music will live forever brothers!

[@dougsmith7083]

I really loved Michael. Hilarious guy. I ended up a bassist too...he was a real inspiration Cheers

[@mad_cobraaa]

thanks for the mention of uncle Mike brother. Just saying he was hilarious gives me a different view of Uncle Mike. I'm pretty fucking hilarious myself lol must run in the family! Cheers Brother

[@iamthelazerviking23]

Your uncle is a legend. I was fortunate enough to have seen him perform a handful of times over the years. Rest in power, MD.

[@mad_cobraaa]

@@iamthelazerviking23 appreciate hearing this man. We rock on!!

[@jordimateubartroli951]

I knew your uncle only by his music, but I just wanted to let you know he was meaningful for me.

[@chieffunker9717]

RIP Wayne, what a loss!

[@bezzarguy]

The MC5 were so far ahead of their time.The government they were singing, talking about exists today. I was lucky enough as a teen to witness this band. They shaped my politics in many ways. Rest easy Wayne Kramer, you did good brother.

[@keithbernard1272]

❤ Motor City 5 KICK(S) OUT THE JAMS ! MOTHERFUKERS...R.I.P. Wayne and Johnny rest with the best. Motor cities, fineCHINA\ROCKS...They sure were the s*** I grew up in Detroit in the 60s. I remember the mc5. I also hung out with Wayne and Johnny thunders in late 79 through early eighties had a band called GANG WAR they were bad as s***. I miss those old days. Those were crazy times 60s 70s and 80s in Detroit much better than what they're giving kids today.

[@TT64NOVASS]

I'll always love Detroit, grew up on Grand River /Schoolcraft .

[@gostrum1]

I’ve been reading Wayne’s book ‘The Hard Stuff’ which is so goode… So it hurt extra bad to hear of his passing

[@supermamamaxi]

MC5's Recordings and interviews are extremely important documents in American History. They were the sound along with Blue Cheer that really brought the high energy, raw element that was the background music for those of us who were hard core in the people's movement. Then the money crept in and everyone went home and got married-The End.

[@carolwolf9614]

MC5 just the best ever. love you always. thank you for waking me up. Love from the UK

[@DevZant]

Really hard to believe we lost Wayne & Dennis both this year. The last of the originals are gone but MC5 will live on forever!!!

[@byou148]

We lost Big Chief John Sinclair April of 2024 Rest in Heaven my sweet kind Love ...

[@antonhaq3503]

Historic stuff. I could listen to you guys reminisce all day long.

[@richardjohnson4372]

Was down there. Turned 19 the day before. Had a great time. Must have left before the riot started.

[@billcroner2613]

Love my dads story’s when him and his buddies would ride down from Flint. MC 5, Amboy Dukes, Segar

[@Rock-iw7ov]

How's it going Wayne? I'm the only Mc5 fan at my whole high school, but I think the American Education System should make it mandatory for every kid to hear KICK OUT THE JAMS!!! Nothing cooler than listening to you old cats talkin about the old times... Wish I would've been there!

[@outis439-A]

Oh i know you, you do music reviews (mostly)

[@Rock-iw7ov]

hornswoggle lover39 Ya, that's me. Nice to get some attention from a fellow Mc5 fan

[@Garrysullivanjones]

Mc5 are cool and always relevant. Thanks for all the jams fellas✌🏻🍻🥁🎤🎸🎺🎧🎸

[@michaeljenkins7595]

MC5. the Stooges rock too, and F what everybody is listening to in high school. Not everybody's smart as you. And I was born in 77 so I missed it too. Wish I could have been there as well. KICK OUT THE JAMS!!!!!

[@Garrysullivanjones]

Michael Jenkins these modern youngsters playing all that produced pop shit like Katy perry music 🗑. I found Taman shud music only recently thanks to you tube and late night music shows. Damn the radio stations who ignore the classics!!

[@divinesoul75]

oh how we need love in’s again!! hearing them reminisce made me cry.. rest in peace Michael, Fred, & Robin 🌹 the music lasts forever 💫

[@baronsaturday2103]

And now Wayne too.. Very sudden. 🕊🕊🕊

[@PJRII]

Great footage, thank you. My pal Herbie W. from Detroit at that time (now Hawaii..."3 monkeys in the camera case") turned me on to the MC5 and JC back in the 1960s. Thank you Herbie and RIP Wayne Kramer.

[@zti1366]

I love MC5!

[@prpluv]

I remember being there at the beginning..I believe Steve Miller of the Grandee Ballroom rode up on a motorcycle.... two years later made it to Woodstock....great to see your home films of the era..thanks!!

[@Gentlem1]

2:40 FINALLY. "It was taped". My friend and former Editor at Bad Trip magazine asked Wayne about those pins. "Right thru the flesh , buddy." was his response. I thought it was possible they had surgical piercings done thru their chests .

[@Gentlem1]

BTW , I mentioned elsewhere seeing the Chicago footage in a "Big Chill" type CD commercial. I remember , now , it was the same footage at the end of this film (Which it was very cool of you to share, Wayne.).

[@caesarydi]

Very cool stuff. RIP Michael Davis- thank U

[@brötzmannsax]

What great historic footage and the commentary is hilarious, cops had it in for you right from the start, MC5 4 ever brothers and sisters!

[@stuntmanmike8198]

Thanks for this (and everything you've brought to this world) ! MC5 -forever!

[@PaulNewport]

A really fascinating bit of history. Thanks for sharing.

[@Muz710]

I’m a 20 year old from cali. Respect to the pioneers of LSD culture.

[@jordimateubartroli951]

These antique films always fascinate me. They remind me the streets here in Spain, in the 70s. Less cars, more people hanging out in the street. Not just walking, from place to place, but making life in the street, talking, kids playing. It's a world long gone. I don't think I like so much today's world. It has its good things, true. But I remember when we left home then, we were untraceable, you really were on your own., disconnected from other things and connected to where you were and to what you were doing. Shakin streets.

[@rdually]

Great video, thanks for the memories. My high school daze. Best times of my life. I was doing what I wanted with who I wanted. Had to listen to that first album in the basement out of range of the parents, LOL.

[@keithbernard1272]

Radical days back then in detroit. I remember seeing Ted Nugent in the Amboy dukes all over town even practicing in garages. Did my first microdose of yellow Sunshine microdot add an Amboy Duke Show 1969 1st. Junior high School dance. I saw the music dancing out of the PA while I was peeking they were playing journey to the center of the mind. ❤ Motor City 5 KICK(S) OUT THE JAMS ! MOTHERFUKERS...R.I.P. Wayne and Johnny rest with the best. Motor cities, fineCHINA\ROCKS...They sure were the s*** I grew up in Detroit in the 60s. I remember the mc5. I also hung out with Wayne and Johnny thunders in late 79 through early eighties had a band called GANG WAR they were bad as s***. I miss those old days. Those were crazy times 60s 70s and 80s in Detroit much better than what they're giving kids today.❤Frederick Dewey Smith, known professionally as Fred "Sonic" Smith, was an American guitarist and member of the rock band MC5. He married and raised two children with poet and fellow rock musician Patti Smith. The couple also collaborated musically. 1979 Met them in Ann arbor Michigan, Patty was a cont stuck up b****.

[@baronsaturday2103]

I love all you mentioned MC5, Gangwar, Thunders, Stooges, Patti Smith, they and many others made music exciting again..!

[@lulsouthside6669]

I fuccin love you wayne kramer ! 🖤 kicc out da fuccin jams

[@sonicjet7759]

WOW IS THAT WAYNE KRAMER OR FRED SONIC SMITH PLAYING WITH A FENDER JAZZMASTER GUITAR? 4:30 :) COOL, ROCK ON THE MC5

[@keithbernard1272]

❤ Motor City 5 KICK(S) OUT THE JAMS ! MOTHERFUKERS...R.I.P. Wayne and Johnny rest with the best. Motor cities, fineCHINA\ROCKS...They sure were the s*** I grew up in Detroit in the 60s. I remember the mc5. I also hung out with Wayne and Johnny thunders in late 79 through early eighties had a band called GANG WAR they were bad as s***. I miss those old days. Those were crazy times 60s 70s and 80s in Detroit much better than what they're giving kids today.

[@PsyVen]

Fascinating footage. One associates these sorts of scenes in Spring 1967 with SF, LA, NYC, and maybe London and Amsterdam; good to see evidence that the counterculture was sprouting in Detroit as well at that time. Thanks for posting it; the Five will live forever!

[@SqualeProductions]

Wow, thanks for sharing this piece of history! Fun to see images that goes along with your biography!

[@myultimatemixedtape]

Most BADASS band of ALL time! Yay I just found your channel @WayneKramer - Respect!!! Hope you are doin awesome - much Love from Australia East Coast

[@johnallen2771]

I lived on Belle Isle that year! I was 16 and oh, man, did we love the MC5, and Ted Nugent and Iggy Pop and the Stooges. We were all so f ing radical in those days. We gave the finger to cops and hated the "establishment." I went on to go to Kent State University and I was there when the National Guard killed 4 of my friends and wounded 9. I also went to the Democratic Convention in Chicago in '68 where the cops went insane and started beating us all. I used to hitchhike everywhere and the people I met were so cool, sharing with me and even taking me home to have dinner. We really had a feeling that we were all in it together and the music was what kept us going. I'm not trying to glorify it all, just remembering.

[@skidart9063]

Thanks for sharing. I love when people who lived during those times tell what they were up to. Makes it more real

[@evanabbott2737]

That’s so cool to hear...I’m 33, and I’m from Royal Oak, and I’ve always tried to find older people who were around during this time, and ask them if they ever saw the MC5, the STOOGES, etc...because to me, those bands are the greatest, straight up, rock and roll bands of all time. There’s just something about Detroit that produced music like this. Oh, and to me, Iggy Pop is the LIVING, King of all Rock and Roll.👍😁

[@johnallen2771]

@@evanabbott2737 You'd probably like listening to my YT playlist. More than 1600 songs including a heck of a lot of Detroit, including Motown which was huge in Detroit. Type in the search bar: 1960's Music. Supersonic. Mind Blowing. It's All Too Much.

[@jimiplayscobo5877]

@@evanabbott2737 Hey Evan the Stooges played my High School in Windsor in 71 and they wondered why I turned out like I did. Lol :-) Peace

[@maxsno]

Hey 👋, focused on your experience those years, I grew up Clark NJ , went to first stop the war demo 1967 me 14 , music my life political thought began to grow , as freshman 68 got together with Seniors in school band laughing lee formed SDS , we occupied the office of Township Shade Tree Commission for a few hours inside " the Cop Shop " we left to get hamburgers at Gino's. When we returned bathroom was locked so we went home . Laughing wasn't a rare thing then . God bless you sir and hope u r well. MC 5 had a famous gig in WESTFIELD NJ high school republican town wealthy folks , mostly , I was ready to go , no ticket we were going to crash it hold court in gym for war supporters , my dad refused to let me go .Very bummer but I spoke with Wayne about that gig he dug it! I blew my sax all night long that night in my cellar , freedom, MC Coy Tyner , Coltrane, Muskrat Ramble etc 😼😼 MERCY MERCY MERCY .

[@3340steve]

I LOVE THIS film BRILLIANT

[@patsyasmrlondon7162]

THANK YOU so much for posting these videos!

[@vincesarmento4854]

Love you guys, thanks the Ramones! I was 5 in 69 when it seems most of you great bands were really hitting your high point and by the time I was in 4th grade it was gone! If all goes well I will see you in Philly, Pennsylvania in May 2022 ! I miss those no longer with us but what a chance to touch yesterday in a great way!

[@RResidentAlienNN]

Touch yesterday in a great way. Cool

[@polydimensionalsphilosophy3456]

Thank you for sharing this

[@thewaxmuseum]

This was a great trip down memory lane! Thanks for this ! =)

[@hallson2917]

R.IP Wayne!

[@kathy2trips]

Thank you for posting this, Brother Wayne! I was 9 years old, but had your first 45s. A little radical. ha ha. The commentary is priceless. Love to you and Dennis. Peace!

[@nasticanasta]

I went to the Cleveland House of Blues show for the MC50 tour, saw the last tour before that @ Beachland and your band in Columbus....we need more of this here hurry back Brother Wayne!

[@billh4121]

RIP Rob. Peace forever bro!! We must always shake it up!

[@teammonkeyers]

Just watched Metal Evolution. Lots of respect for you guys. Love the sound as i was born in 1966 in the SF area; Wish I found out about this music a long time ago.

[@vincesarmento4854]

I was born in 64 and I found out about the MC5 not that long ago, I was born to late but for us - we will make sure the next generation will know about the MC5!

[@keiko-jb1kb]

Thanks for sharing this Wayne. Brings me right back

[@mattn3594]

Really great vids, what a time

[@Ogma3bandcamp]

Thanks, brother Wayne. Amazing insight into the times. US Stasi in full effect, fucking shameful.

[@FarRite5921]

God what a band!

[@yippierb]

This is so cool.

[@timriley4543]

Passing of a legend

[@petercolpack573]

RIP Brother Wayne

[@rogerfournier3284]

"I thought the Monterey Pop Festival was something, "The Detriot system!"

[@thomasrichmond601]

Thanks brother Wayne 🙏🎶🎸

[@arvidsmith1038]

Great Wayne, Thank You

[@johnwoodard1726]

Rest In Peace Dennis see ya on the Flip Flop.😢

[@tylerthompson1842]

This footage is so fckin cool

[@pabloboris8421]

Soooo Damnnnn gooooddddddd

[@tedmich]

Kick 'em out Wayne!

[@jamesdmehl]

Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson has past away, now I know who MC5 is!

[@baronsaturday2103]

Very sad. R.I.P Dennis & Wayne! 🥁🎸🔊🎶 I hope they're having good times above with the rest of them...

[@thomasminarchickjr.7355]

Hey Wayne, I loved seeing you on the old Funkadelic documentary. Do you have more Eddie Hazel stories?

[@baronoflivonia.3512]

Brother Wayne, I took my son to see you at 2nd Detroit show last October. You were great, My son really got into the show. That Belle Isle footage is a piece of Detroit history. On a side note I found a VIP Pass to DNC the day you played played there. Keep Kicking Out the Jams

[@motowngirl5891]

How it was People created their own world

[@randalgordon1390]

Never heard a thank you for the psychedelic rangers, and the role they played

[@baronsaturday2103]

Wasn't that a 60s band with Robbie Krieger and John Densmore from the Doors?

[@Nikkipicky]

WoW💖💖

[@BenjWarrant]

Christ, how young does Rob Tyner look?

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Cool

[@lastnamefirst4035]

"Funny thing about information"

[@BenjWarrant]

"You grow up thiking the policeman is your friend." _...but when you try to be free they never let ya, they say 'It's easy, nuthin to it', and then the Army's out to get ya..._

[@smokeaguitar3019]

A gods eye and a dreamcatcher are not the same.

[@baronsaturday2103]

For an artist it maybe is (with a little fantasy)

[@DetroitMicroSound]

Have you got any footage from Eastown Wayne?

[@PAULLONDEN]

For a short moment the realization set in that "God's Own Cuntry" had become a one party state, where both allowed parties serve "Our Fine Military" first & foremost. Didn't Tyner once audition to join 'Mountain'.....?

[@randyman8664]

You can see Austin Powers was there at 7:40!

[@stuheydon]

I was there and things were thrown at the mounted police because they were riding right into the crowd swinging billies

[@leighfoulkes7297]

That was great. Wish I lived in those ages!! I'd rather take a baton to the head than have to live in this brainwashed age.

[@jenniferanne4143]

The cops tried to arrest a biker on a bike with his ol' lady on the back, and the other bikers up on the roof started throwing bottles at the cops while chanting "LSD LSD LSD..", thats what started the riot as others joined in. The newspapers, the hippies, and the cops blamed the bikers. We still have the newspaper headlines and clippings at our clubhouse..

[@jenniferanne4143]

As a reaction, the bikers staged the Hate-N 1967 at Rouge Park, which also ended in a riot when the cops tried to arrest a biker who was cat-walking his bike for the large crowd and wiped out. A riot broke out when the cops tried to make everyone leave.

[@jenniferanne4143]

I wanna also add that back then most of the bike clubs members were between 16 and 25 yrs old. (Didn't have the "21yrs" old rule back then). I've known a few of the bikers that were there... Well unfortunately most have died though since.

[@LiuLoki]

1:41 a real long hair for 67

[@hippie564]

You know, I've watched everything I can find MC5.... There's almost nothing on Rob Tyner except what I heard you guys say on here! Were all you guys mad at him etc? I'm not sure what I'm asking...

[@arthurshink8825]

This band inspired bands across the world! The New York Dolls, The Damned,The Sex Pistols,Blue Oyster Cult,The Clash! MC5 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

[@blackkoganinja5093]

Awesome

[@rogerfournier3284]

"Wayne Kramer"

[@rogerfournier3284]

"The Detriot system"

[@Frisbieinstein]

I didn't know John Sinclair had a space between his teeth. Rob Tyner had a huge one. So does Condoleeza Rice. Dig Rob Tyner's Austin Powers style. I don't think that is Steve MacKay.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

So does Flea

[@MidnightStorm4990]

Love the MC5 but man just watching this clip just makes me think how delusional some of the 60s hippies were back then. Dream catcher? Like damn they defiantly tripping lmao.

[@Frisbieinstein]

The current age is a lot more deluded.

[@BGNOLA]

@@Frisbieinstein our current delusions are in large part due to the hippies.

[@Frisbieinstein]

@@BGNOLA Such is their awesome long-term delusion power!

[@carollockhart5553]

Rama Lama.....FA FA FA!!!!!!!!!!

[@johnricco5366]

BELLE ISLE WHERE????

[@kayaker4132]

I'm only a few years younger than Wayne. Grew up near 8 Mile and the Southfield ramp. Regardless of what anyone thinks, MC5 was NOT a huge band in our area at the time. They were WAY bigger outside of Detroit and really grew in popularity during the late 80's early 90's yuppie nostalgic movement. Nostalgia made them bigger than they were. Wayne was a great libertarian dude till Covid. He was all in and completely sided with the Gov't masking and vax crowd. Never understood why a guy like that would fall for and side with the BS gov't, suppressive line.

[@wpl8275]

Real chasm between 67 and 68. The Love In shows that. The riots in 67 was the start of the change. The summer was filled with riots. Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati. Buffalo, Tampa were all in June. Then in July you had riots in 11 cities including Detroit. Then in 68 you had the assassinations of MLK and RFK. The DNC convention in late August. Nixon gets elected using the southern strategy. Then comes even more disillusionment. What was once there in the late 50's and early to mid 60's is gone. Optimism. 2.2 million people living in Detroit in the early 50's. By 1970 it was 1.5 million. The white population in Detroit was cut in half in 20 years from 1950 to 1970. A shift in population to the suburbs to escape the city. To live a more comfortable and quiet life. But the loss of optimism hindered that. The oil embargo of the 70's increased the cost of gas and in a town and area built on car production and driving/cruising it ate into people's pocket books. A stagnant economy. Inflation. High interest rates.

[@BGNOLA]

How many 60s documentary clichés can we cram in a single post? You might as play "For What it's Worth" over it.

[@maxsno]

​@@BGNOLATrini Lopez " Lemon Tree " would be better fit to above ramble. Venting is ok , where else can you do it.

[@BGNOLA]

@@maxsno "Nixon gets elected using the southern strategy." Nixon won in a landslide; he didn't need the South.

[@Radchannel100]

Hahahha

[@aaronvincent194]

It would be better if we knew who the fuck was talking! Is Kramer even there?

[@bikerdrummer]

In those days, rock'n'roll was greeted by police brutality....probably why bands were so fucking much better than today's crap! :-)

[@BebeRebozo-]

Love the MC5 but too bad the entire "Hippy Movement" & LSD was a CIA op.

[@Garrysullivanjones]

Bebe Rebozo no way say it ain’t so man

[@BebeRebozo-]

@@Garrysullivanjones Check out Dave Mcgowan's work and numerous podcasts on the Logos Media channel. The Merry Pranksters, Timothy Leary, Terence Mckenna....Govt Agents. The Music Biz is weaponised against us.

[@Garrysullivanjones]

Bebe Rebozo that info could destroy your soul friend. I’m thinking of going off the radar damn this corrupt world. Peace ✌🏻

[@outis439-A]

I thought it was later. But initially, it was a threat.

[@mollyp.sasser223]

Hey is that a very young Dan Carlisle at 4:58, shorter hair?

[@mollyp.sasser223]

Hey , anybody know if Chuck Miller or Winslow Pope or Larry Carsman were at that fest?

[@mollyp.sasser223]

Dave Dixon. Larry Miller. Art Penhallow. Who else?

[@mollyp.sasser223]

That's not a Dream Catcher. it was called a God'sEye.

[@mollyp.sasser223]

WABX. WXYZ. WKNR. Not to mention WCAR, WJBK, CKLW. What else? Anyone?