Wayne Kramer (1948-2024) - The Vinyl Guide Interview
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A replay of our interview with Wayne Kramer (1948-2024) discussing the MC5, the recording, censorship and legacy of “Kick Out The Jams”, making “Back In The USA” and “High Time”, various controversies, “Jail Guitar Doors” and more.
Which came first – the guitar or politics?
Starting to play in local bands
His mother’s warning for going into music
Forming the MC5
Original lineup of MC5
The ethos and radicalization of MC5
The music and message of MC5
The story of AMG records and early records of MC5
Reissue of music on AMG
A-Square records “Borderline / Looking At You”
Memories of the Chicago Democratic National Convention – 1968
Getting signed to Elektra records by Danny Fields
The Stooges got signed as their “Little Brother Band”
Recording “Kick Out The Jams”
Recollections of the live sets for “Kick Out The Jams”
The guitar went immediately out of tune
Wayne singing “Ramblin’ Rose”
Rob Tyner and being censored for “Kick Out The Jams”
The MC5 strategy for changing “brothers and sisters” to “Mother f*ckers”
Reaction to being censored by their record label
Calling out the “Hudson’s Record Store”
Getting dropped from Elektra while record is still in the charts
Danny Fields got slapped and fired
Wayne’s reaction to the album “Kick Out The Jams”
Album cover of “Kick Out The Jams” – art director put himself on cover
Transitioning to Atlantic Records was painful
Hard to record “Back In The USA”
Jon Landau’s wisdom and Wayne playing bass himself
Critics disliked the spontaneity of MC5
Highlights of “Back in the USA”
How did hard bop influence the MC5?
Memories of “High Time”
The fight with Bill Graham
The end of the MC5
Last gasp of the MC5 in Europe
The longevity and influence of MC5
The genesis of “Jail Guitar Doors”
Playing for inmates with Chuck D
The rehabilitation and other musicians
Voyage Air Guitars donating to “Jail Guitar Doors”
End of interview
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About The Vinyl Guide
If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related.