Wayne Kramer (April 30, 1948 - February 2, 2024): MC5 (3 Albums) + Johnny Thunders + The Pink Fairies

 

Wayne Kramer (April 30, 1948 – February 2, 2024) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, and film and television composer.
                

Kramer came to prominence as a teenager in 1967 as a co-founder of the Detroit rock group MC5, a

group known for their powerful live performances and radical left-wing political stand. The MC5 broke up amid government harassment, poverty, and drug abuse. For Kramer, this led to several fallow years as he battled drug addiction before returning to an active recording and performing schedule in the 1990s.
                    

A member of the legendary MC5, guitarist and proto-punk icon Wayne Kramer returned to prominence

during the 1990s as a solo performer. Born April 30, 1948 in Detroit, he co-founded the MC5 in 1965, teaming with the great Fred "Sonic" Smith to create the band's incendiary twin-guitar attack. Their first album, 1969's Kick Out the Jams, remains one of the most influential records of the era, its raw, visceral sound laying the groundwork for the rise of punk a decade later.
             

Alongside their Detroit-area brethren the Stooges, MC5 essentially laid the foundations for the

emergence of punk; deafeningly loud and uncompromisingly intense, the group's politics were ultimately as crucial as their music, their revolutionary sloganeering and anti-establishment outrage crystallizing the counterculture movement at its most volatile and threatening.
                  

Under the guidance of Svengali John Sinclair (the infamous founder of the radical White Panther

Party), MC5 celebrated the holy trinity of sex, drugs, and rock & roll, their incendiary live sets offering a defiantly bacchanalian counterpoint to the peace-and-love reveries of their hippie contemporaries.
                  

In 1967, the MC5 were designated “House Band” at Detroit's famous Grande Ballroom and were

managed by John Sinclair, a radical left-wing writer and co-founder of the White Panther Party, until 1969 when Sinclair was sentenced to nine and a half years in the Michigan Department of Corrections for giving two joints to an undercover police woman. Sinclair became a mentor to then 20-year-old Kramer and introduced him to the world of free jazz, poetry, and progressive political awareness. They remained close friends.
                          

The MC5 recorded three major label albums including 1969’s Kick Out The Jams on Elektra records.

1971’s Back in the USA and 1972’s High Time both for Atlantic Records. The MC5 toured the USA extensively and ultimately faced insurmountable challenges both from being banned from the radio and government police agencies for their militant political stance. Unable to tour or sell records and after a last-ditch effort by Ronan O'Rahilly that included a move to London, England, by 1972, the original group disbanded.
                   

The band barreled furiously through a brief initial run before disintegrating in the early '70s, leaving

behind a legacy of controversy and three electrifying albums that would set the course for punk, hard rock, and all stripes of heavy music that followed.
                  

Kramer died of pancreatic cancer on February 2, 2024, at the age of 75. His death was announced by

the official social media accounts for the MC5, with a statement reading: "Wayne S. Kramer 'PEACE BE WITH YOU' April 30, 1948 – February 2, 2024."
                  

Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, who cited Kramer as a major influence, wrote: "His band

the MC5 basically invented punk rock music... Wayne came through personal trials of fire with drugs and jail time and emerged a transformed soul who went on to save countless lives through his tireless acts of service."  
                   

Rolling Stone ranked him among the "100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time".
                         

MC5 - KICK OUT THE JAMS 1969
                   

MC5 – Kick Out The Jams
Label: Elektra – 7559-74042-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: Europe
Released: 1991
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRAXS

                

01.Ramblin' Rose   2:39
Written-By – Burch, Wilkin
02.Kick Out The Jams   2:37
Written-By – MC5
03.Come Together   4:17
Written-By – MC5
04.Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)   5:01
Written-By – MC5
05.Borderline   2:45
Written-By – MC5
06.Motor City Is Burning   4:30
Written-By – Albert B. Smith
07.I Want You Right Now   6:02
Written-By – C. Frechter, L. Page
08.Starship   8:26
Written-By – MC5, Sun Ra

LINE - UP

Bass Guitar – Michael Davis
Drums – Dennis Thompson
Guitar – Fred "Sonic" Smith, Wayne Kramer
Lead Vocals, Liner Notes – Rob Tyner

NOTES

Recorded "live" on stage at Russ Gibb's Grande Ballroom, Detroit, on the Zenta New Year, October 30-31, 1968.

Flac Size: 269 MB

MC5 - BACK IN THE USA 1970
    

MC5 – Back In The USA
Label: Rhino Records – R2 71033, Atlantic – R2 71033
Series: Atlantic & ATCO Remasters Series
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Rock & Roll

TRAXS

                 

01. Tutti-Frutti   1:28
Written-By – Dorothy LaBostrie, Joe Lubin, Richard Penniman
02. Tonight    2:26
03. Teenage Lust    2:34
04. Let Me Try    4:14
05. Looking At You    3:01
06. High School    2:41
07. Call Me Animal    2:05
08. The American Ruse    2:30
09. Shakin' Street   2:20
Lead Vocals – Fred "Sonic" Smith
10. The Human Being Lawnmower    2:23
11. Back In The USA   2:26
Written-By – Chuck Berry

LINE - UP

Bass – Michael Davis
Drums – Dennis Thompson
Guitar – Fred "Sonic" Smith, Wayne Kramer
Keyboards – Danny Jordan
Vocals – Rob Tyner

NOTES

Originally released 1970, Atlantic 8247

Flac Size: 219 MB

MC5 - HIGH TIME 1971
                

MC5 – High Time
Label: Rhino Records – R2 71034, Atlantic – R2 71034
Series: Atlantic & ATCO Remasters Series
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock

TRAXS

                 

01. Sister Anne   7:23
Bass Drum – Butch O'Brien
Bass, Vocals – Mike Davis
Drums, Tambourine, Vocals – Dennis Thompson
Flugelhorn, Vocals – Charles Moore
Guitar, Vocals – Wayne Kramer
Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica, Organ – Fred Smith
Piano – Pete Kelly
Trombone – Larry Horton
Tuba – David Oversteak
Vocals [Freedom Now] – Brenda Knight, Joanne Hill, Merlene Driscoll
Vocals, Harmonica, Maracas – Rob Tyner
02. Baby Won't Ya   5:32
Bass, Vocals – Mike Davis
Drums, Other [Reen] – Dennis Thompson
Guitar, Vocals – Fred Smith
Guitar, Vocals, Piano – Wayne Kramer
Vocals, Other [Rockas] – Rob Tyner
03. Miss X   5:08
Bass, Vocals – Mike Davis
Drums, Tambourine – Dennis Thompson
Guitar, Percussion [Sandpaper] – Fred Smith
Guitar, Piano, Vocals – Wayne Kramer
Organ – Skip "Van Winkle" Knapp
Vocals – Rob Tyner
Written-By – Wayne Kramer
04. Gotta Keep Movin'   3:24
Bass – Mike Davis
Drums, Tamborim [Tambors] – Dennis Thompson
Guitar – Fred Smith, Wayne Kramer
Performer [Mirachees] – Kinki Le Pew
Vocals, Harmonica – Rob Tyner
Written-By – Dennis Thompson
05. Future/Now   6:21
Bass – Mike Davis
Drums, Percussion [Reen], Percussion [Acme Scraper] – Dennis Thompson
Guitar – Fred Smith, Wayne Kramer
Performer [Wizzer] – Lil' Bobby Wayne Derminer
Vocals – Rob Tyner
Written-By – Rob Tyner
06. Poison   3:24
Bass, Vocals – Mike Davis
Drums – Dennis Thompson
Guitar – Fred Smith, Wayne Kramer
Vocals, Castanets – Rob Tyner
Written-By – Wayne Kramer
07. Over And Over   5:13
Bass, Other [Ka], Vocals – Mike Davis
Drums, Tambourine – Dennis Thompson
Guitar, Vocals – Fred Smith, Wayne Kramer
Vocals – Rob Tyner
08. Skunk (Sonicly Speaking)   5:31
Bass – Mike Davis
Drums, Percussion – Bob Seger, Dave Heller, Dr. Dave Morgan, Dennis Thompson, Ellis Dee (2), Scott Morgan, Terry Trabandt, Wm. FRD.
Guitar – Fred Smith, Wayne Kramer
Saxophone [Tenor] – Leon Henderson
Trombone – Dan Bullock
Trumpet – Rick Ferretti
Trumpet, Arranged By [Horns] – Charles Moore
Vocals, Congas – Rob Tyner

NOTES

Recorded at: ARTIE FIELDS STUDIOS, Detroit. "Sister Anne" Recorded at LANSDOWN STUDIOS & PYE STUDIOS, London; & ARTIE FIELDS STUDIOS

Flac Size: 292 MB

JOHNNY THUNDERS & WAYNE KRAMER - GANG WAR! 1993
      

Johnny Thunders & Wayne Kramer's Gang War!
Label: Jungle Records – FREUD CD076
Format:    CD, Reissue
Country: UK
Released:    
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Garage Rock, Rock & Roll

TRAXS

                        

01. Ramblin' Rose   2:40
Written-By – Burch, Wilkin
02. London Boys   2:12
Written-By – Rath, Thunders, Lure
03. These Boots Are Made For Walking   3:14
Written-By – Hazlewood
04. M.I.A.    2:01
Written-By – Thunders
05. The Harder They Come   3:44
Written-By – Cliff
06. Endless Party   2:24
Written-By – Johansen, Thunders
07. I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys   2:37
Written-By – Oldham, Richards
08. I'll Go Crazy   2:20
Written-By – Brown
09. Hey Thanks   2:29
Written-By – Kramer
10. The Courageous Cat    1:25
11. Just Because I'm White / Bright Lights Big City   3:15
Written-By – Thunders
12. Around And Around   2:14
Written-By – Berry
13. The Harder They Come   3:23
Written-By – Cliff
14. Ten Commandments Of Love   7:59
Written-By – Thunders
15. Like A Rolling Stone   3:39
Written-By – Dylan
16. Endless Party   2:40
Written-By – Johansen, Thunders
17. Do You Love Me?   2:26
Written-By – Gordy Jnr

NOTES

Recorded live in Toronto & Boston.
2004 Jungle Records
1992 Skydog International

Flac Size: 354 MB

WAYNE KRAMER & THE PINK FAIRIES - COCAINE BLUES '74 - '78
     

Wayne Kramer & The Pink Fairies – Cocaine Blues
Label: Gonzo Multimedia – HST376CD
Format: CD, Album, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: May 20, 2016
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock

TRAXS

                     

01. If You're Goin' To The City    3:12
02. Heavy Music    5:46
03. Cocaine Blues    9:32
04. Kick Out The Jams    6:02
05. Do You Love Me    3:25
06. East Side Girl    4:16
07. The Harder They Come    3:08
08. Too Late    3:23
09. Get Some   3:38
10. Ramblin' Rose    4:12

NOTES

1974 - 1978 Recordings / Studio Tracks + Live At Dingwalls!

Flac Size: 318 MB

WAYNE KRAMER - THE HARD STUFF 1995
       

Wayne Kramer – The Hard Stuff
Label: Epitaph – 86447-2
Format:    CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock

TRAXS

             

01. Crack In The Universe   4:39
Bass – Rob Walther
Drums – Bob Lee
Guitar – Christopher Bagarozzi
Guitar, Harmonica – Jon Wahl
Vocals, Guitar – Wayne Kramer
Written-By – Kramer
02. Junkie Romance   3:36
Bass – Rob Walther
Drums – Bob Lee
Guitar – Christopher Bagarozzi, Jon Wahl
Vocals – Kim Shattuck
Vocals, Guitar – Wayne Kramer
Written-By – Farren, Kramer
03. Bad Seed   4:26
Bass – Randy Bradbury
Drums – Josh Freese
Vocals, Guitar – Wayne Kramer
Written-By – Farren, Kramer
04. Poison   3:31
Bass – Mark Deutrom
Drums, Percussion – Dale Crover
Recorded By – Joe Barrisi
Vocals – King Buzzo
Vocals, Guitar – Wayne Kramer
Written-By – Kramer
05. Realm Of Pirate Kings   4:07
Bass – Matt Freeman
Drums – Brett Reed
Vocals, Guitar – Brett Gurewitz, Brett Gurewitz
Written-By – Farren, Kramer
06. Incident On Stock Island   5:44
Drums – Josh Freese
Voice [Spoken Word], Guitar, Bass – Wayne Kramer
Written-By – Kramer
07. Pillar Of Fire   5:03
Bass – James Jamerson, Jr.
Drums – Josh Freese
Vocals – Sweet Pea Atkinson
Vocals, Guitar – Wayne Kramer
Voice [Spoken Word] – Marjorie Kramer
Written-By – Farren, Kramer
08. Hope For Sale   3:26
Bass – Rob Walther
Drums – Bob Lee
Guitar – Christopher Bagarozzi, Jon Wahl
Vocals, Guitar – Wayne Kramer
Written-By – Farren, Kramer
09. Edge Of The Switchblade   3:43
Bass – Bruce Duff
Drums – Josh Freese
Vocals – Keith Morris
Vocals, Guitar – Wayne Kramer
Written-By – Kramer
10. Sharkskin Suit   3:38
Bass – Randy Bradbury
Drums – Josh Freese
Vocals, Guitar – Wayne Kramer
Written-By – Kramer
11. So long, Hank (A Tribute To Charles Bukovski)  4:34

Flac Size: 328 MB