Dennis Thompson, the drummer of influential American rock band MC5 has died. He was 75.
According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, Thompson died on Thursday (May 9) at the MediLodge of Taylor, where he had been hospitalised and was in the process of recovery after suffering a heart attack in April.
Thompson was the last surviving member among the original MC5 line-up. His death comes after the passing of guitarist and co-founder Wayne Kramer in February after succumbing to pancreatic cancer. The band’s former manager John Sinclair, who was also a renowned and respected poet and activist, died last month.
In April, MC5 were finally announced as a long-overdue inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame later this year. Becky Tyner, widow of MC5 vocalist Rob Tyner told the Detroit Free Press that Thompson’s first reaction was: “It’s about fucking time!”
MC5 formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1972. Over the course of their career, the band released two studio album, 1970’s ‘Back in the USA’ and 1971’s ‘High Time’.
“We thought we were a good band and were on our way. The band liked to rehearse — everybody loved to play,” Thompson recounted to the Detroit Free Press. “We loved what we were doing. It was fast cars, hanging out at the drag strip. It was the best way to break away from the system where you went straight to a factory if you didn’t go to college.”
Following the news of his death, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame wrote on X (formerly Twitter: “Dennis Thompson earned the nickname “Machine Gun” through his aggressive drumming with Detroit’s Motor City 5 (MC5). Punk and heavy metal progenitors, the MC5 kicked out the jams and politicized all bystanders with their unapologetic driving rock & roll and antiestablishment messaged.”
“Influenced by Elvin Jones and Keith Moon, Thompson’s fast, hard-hitting drumming appeared on the MC5’s groundbreaking 1969 LP Kick Out The Jams and on both of the group’s 1970s studio albums, ‘Back In The USA’ and ‘High Time’. Thompson was the last surviving member of the classic lineup.”
(1/3) In Memoriam: 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Dennis Thompson earned the nickname “Machine Gun” through his aggressive drumming with Detroit’s Motor City 5. pic.twitter.com/azUc7CQcb0
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) May 10, 2024
(3/3) Thompson’s fast, hard-hitting drumming appeared on the MC5’s groundbreaking 1969 LP Kick Out the Jams and on both of the group’s 1970s studio albums, Back in the USA and High Time. Thompson was the last surviving member of the classic lineup.
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) May 10, 2024
