Remembering Wayne Kramer of the MC5

Wayne Kramer, the driving guitar force behind the revolutionary sound of Detroit’s MC5, passed away on February 2, 2024 at the age of 75. The news was shared via Kramer’s Instagram.

Kramer co-founded MC5 as a teenager alongside fellow guitarist Fred Smith, bonding over their shared love for R&B and garage rock. Gravitating towards music that leaned into speed, energy, and revolution, MC5 (short for “Motor City Five”) practiced cover songs in Kramer’s mother’s basement and gained a local following in Detroit.

MC5 earned national attention with their first album, Kick Out The Jams, recorded live at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom in 1968. The album featured liner notes from activist John Sinclair and obscenity-laced introductions, prompting stores to boycott sales of the album. But the album still sold over 100,000 copies and peaked at #23 on the Billboard album chart in May 1969. After being dropped by Elektra, MC5 was picked up by Atlantic and produced two more albums before disbanding.

After MC5, Kramer spent the latter half of the ‘70s in prison for what he described as his career in “illegitimate capitalism.” Upon release, he embarked on a solo career, teamed up with Johnny Thunders, and created custom woodwork and homes on the side. In the ‘90s, Kramer signed with Epitaph and released four solo records. In the ‘00s, Kramer, Billy Bragg, and Margaret Saadi Kramer founded Jail Guitar Doors. This non-profit, named after the b-side of the Clash’s 1978 single, donates musical instruments to people in prison and supports other prison-reform initiatives. 

“The only way I can militantly oppose [..] nihilism is through taking ethical action in my life,” Kramer said of his charitable work to Flood Magazine in 2018. “Go do something that moves in the direction of human happiness and away from the direction of human suffering.”

More recently, following the release of his memoir, Kramer had been toying with the idea of creating new MC5 music. 

Fellow musicians and friends have shared memories and testimonials on social media.

“Truly a great man, lovely in every respect, and a fighter for good,” wrote Brendan Canty of Fugazi.

“R.I.P. Brother Wayne. A true inspiration 💔,” wrote filmmaker and musician Jim Jarmusch.