Dennis Thompson’s death has left a longing in the community after the sole remaining MC5 member passed away, his son confirmed.
The drummer from the protopunk Detroit group inspired some of the biggest bands in the past century, including the Clash and Rage Against The Machine. Thompson and the group released hardcore anthems such as Kick Out The James in their prime before his death. The music star was the last surviving original member of the group, and Dennis Thompson’s cause of death came after he suffered a heart attack last month. He was being treated in a Michigan nursing home, but sadly passed away on Thursday.
50 years in the making
From the 1960s, Dennis ‘Machine Gun’ Thompson played drums, and Wayne Kramer and Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith were on guitars for the MC5 lineup, which also featured Michael Davis on bass and Rob Tyner on vocals.
For a spell, the group was managed by White Panther co-founder John Sinclair.
MC5 (Motor City 5) were known for their raw sound, and although commercial success didn’t match to their aspirations, they had a strong following.
Dennis earned his nickname, Machine Gun, due to his fast and hard approach to drumming, resembling a Tommy machine gun.
MC5 released three studio albums, Kick Out The Jams, Back In The USA and High Time before disbanding. They reunited and toured across the world, and performed at a 50th anniversary tour in 2018.
Last surviving member
It comes after Kramer’s death in February, from pancreatic cancer.
Ahead of his death in 2018, Kramer released a memoir, The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5 and My Life of Impossibilities. He spoke of a history of legal troubles and using substances, and his time in the bad, which it’s sound would fuse with political action.
The group’s new album is set to come out this spring, Heavy Lifting, with Kramer and Thompson from the original group featuring on the record. Other music icons are contributing to the tracks, from Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, Slash, William DuVall of Alice in Chains and Vernon Reid.
Sadly, Dennis Thompson’s death comes before the record releases.
He announced the album back in March 2022, but it doesn’t seem to have an official release date as yet.
The group is being inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year, but sadly it has come as all the original members have passed. Thompson’s son says when his dad heard, he said: “It’s about f****g time”.
Tributes pour in after Wayne Kramer’s death
Tributes for the celebrity have emerged since Thompson’s death, with many hoping Dennis would have had a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before he passed.
His son Chris McNulty told Detroit News: “He was a true, free-spirited rock and roller up until the very last day.”
One fan wrote on Twitter: “Machine Gun Tomich, drummer & last living member of the MC5, has died. They’re being inducted into the R&R HoF and they’re all gone. I wish the HoF would have honored them when most of the group was alive (Wayne Kramer just died in February, Michael Davis in 2012).”
A second added: “I’ve loved this band since I first heard Kick Out The Jams in the late 70s. Got to see Dennis, Michael Davis and Wayne Kramer when they toured as DKT/MC3. There’ll never be another band like them.”
A third penned: “Wayne Kramer in Feb, and now Machine Gun, and the MC5 is all gone… all respect to Mr Albini but let’s pour one out for some real OG’s as well.”
While a fourth posted: “The fact that it took Wayne Kramer’s passing to finally get them inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame, now the last remaining member passes before the induction ceremony. So sad.”
Dennis Thompson’s death marks the last member of the original lineup of the rock group.
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