“Heavy Lifting” – which is being marketed as the first MC5 studio album in 53 years – is out on October 18.
Led by late founding member Wayne Kramer (pictured right) and recorded with iconic producer Bob Ezrin (Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, KISS), the album features original Five drummer, also late Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson, on two tracks along with special guests including Slash, Tom Morello, William DuVall (Alice in Chains), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Don Was, and Tim McIlrath (Rise Against).
"Heavy Lifting" will be on LP and CD with a bonus disc of live tracks by MC50, the band Kramer fronted on a world tour to showcase MC5 songs for the 50th anniversary.
earMUSIC will release the album a day prior to the MC5’s induction into 2024’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
Wayne Kramer co-wrote 12 of the album’s 13 songs with Oakland singer/songwriter Brad Brooks. Kramer was the last remaining active member of MC5. He passed away suddenly in February, followed by the death of Dennis Thompson in May.
The album’s debut track “Boys Who Play with Matches” is out now.
