Telling the story of the MC5

book-cover-mc5Brent Callwood‘s MC5: Sonically Speaking is an expanded edition of a 2007 British book. That book – as well as this one, obviously – tells the story of the Motor City Five, the Detroit rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse best known for “Kick Out the Jams.” Theirs was a rocky story, blending as they did their politics with a rock ‘n’ soul sound. The MC5 was a band that influenced more bands after they broke up than fans they had when they were first around. Much like labelmates and fellow Detroit citizens the Stooges, the band was ahead of their time, and more than a little out there for the end of the ’60s.

Sonically Speaking does an excellent job of telling the story of the band, rather than blending the individual stories of everyone involved. This is the tale of the MC5, not five stories of people who came together for a time as a rock act. At the book’s outset, there’s a good amount of focus on the band’s first manager, John Sinclair. Founder of the White Panthers, the story of his Artist Workshop is integral to how the band evolved in the days before they signed to Elektra.

However, aside from a touch of focus on the briefest of biographical detail for each individual member of the MC5, the reader doesn’t get a lot of information on the band members outside of their musical career. This is as it should be: if the personal struggles of the five don’t have anything to do with the band, why include it? This philosophy keeps the book down to a lean and efficient read, coming in just over 200 pages.

Granted, Callwood follows the members post-MC5 careers, but he is tracing their trajectory as they come around to the DKT/MC5 reunion in 2003. Callwood uses the story of the members’ post-MC5 bands to show exactly how a grouping and coming together of individuals is what makes an act what it is – it’s not just the sum of its parts. Wayne Kramer is an amazing guitar player, but it’s the counterpoint of Fred “Sonic” Smith that made the songs what they were. Same thing with Dennis Thompson’s drums being complimented by Michael Davis’ bass.

MC5: Sonically Speaking is an pleasurable read, and while those looking for something that places the band in a greater context might be disappointed, the tale of the band itself is more than interesting enough to hold your attention. In terms of the story of a band, and what it meant to the people involved, Callwood acquits himself well.

The book will be available in September from Wayne State University Press. You can pre-order the book here.