The first album in 53 years from legendary proto-punk band MC5 will arrive in October, sadly after classic members Wayne Kramer and Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson both passed away earlier this year.
The LP, titled Heavy Lifting, was originally announced back in 2022. It will finally see the light of day on October 18th, one day before MC5 get inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame via the Musical Excellence Award.
Kramer co-wrote 12 of the album’s 13 songs with Brad Brooks, who served as the band’s singer during their final years before Kramer’s passing. First single “Boys Who Play With Matches” can be streamed below.
The album features a number of prominent guests, including Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Alice in Chains’ William DuVall, Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath, and Living Colour’s Vernon Reid, among others.
Thompson, the band’s classic drummer, appears on two of the tracks, marking his final recordings before his death last month.
The album was produced by the legendary Bob Ezrin, who commented, “It’s very heavy. It has a revolutionary message but also a good sense of humor. There’s a little bit of heavy metal. There’s quite a bit of funk. But it is a heavy record, and it’s a guitar record left, right and center. Just a wall of guitars most of the time, and mostly driven by Wayne and his ethos. It’s a snapshot of a guitar man at the height of his powers. We all feel a responsibility to make sure that his work is heard, and he is celebrated. We poured our hearts into the project.”
In addition to the standard edition, a deluxe version of the new album will include previously unreleased live recordings from 2018’s MC50 tour, featuring classics like “Kick Out the Jams” and “Ramblin’ Rose.” Pre-orders are available here.
MC5 only released two studio albums prior this LP: 1970’s Back in the USA and 1971’s High Time, while their 1969 live album Kick Out the Jams is also considered a classic.
Check out the single “Boys Who Play with Matches” below, along with the album artwork and tracklist.
Heavy Lifting Artwork:
Heavy Lifting Tracklist:
Heavy Lifting (feat. Tom Morello)
Barbarians at the Gate
Change, No Change
The Edge of the Switchblade (feat. William Duvall + Slash)
Black Boots (feat. Tim McIIrath)
I Am the Fun (The Phoney)
Twenty-Five Miles
Because of Your Car
Boys Who Play with Matches
Blind Eye (feat. Dennis Thompson)
Can’t Be Found (feat. Vernon Reid + Dennis Thompson)
Blessed Release
Hit It Hard (feat. Joe Berry)
