MC5: Celebs Rumors

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.

MC5 manager John Sinclair has died, aged 82.His representative, Matt Lee, confirmed the late poet and political activist’s passing this morning (April 2) at Detroit Receiving Hospital following congestive heart failure, reports The Detroit News.Sinclair was an influential activist who was best known for his fight toward legalising marijuana in the US and for his role in MC5. The Davison native was also a champion of civil rights and co-founder of the radical anti-racist group the White Panther Party.The late activist also helped launch Iggy Pop And The Stooges.

A.D. Amorosi John Sinclair, the counterculture activist and former MC5 manager who helped define that proto-punk ensemble’s radical politics, died on Tuesday at 82.

MC5 have announced their first album in over 50 years and a series of US tour dates.The band took to Instagram earlier today (March 9) to post a video, which you can view below, featuring old footage of the punk veterans and a snippet of the album’s title track ‘Heavy Lifting’. The song also features Rage Against The Machine‘s Tom Morello.MC5 have reformed with original member Wayne Kramer, Pollo Elastica’s Brad Brooks, Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples) and guitarist Stevie Salas.The new LP, which is due to drop later this year, will be the band’s first proper studio effort since 1971’s ‘High Time’ and sees Kramer collaborating with Morello, Kesha, Jill Sobule, Tim McIlrath, and Alejandro Escovedo.The band will also hit the road for a US tour in May, dates for which you can view below.A post shared by MC5 (@mc5alive)Tickets for the shows will go on sale this Friday (March 11) and further information is available via Kramer’s Facebook page here.Meanwhile, MC5 were recently nominated for this year’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame alongside Eminem, Kate Bush, Beck, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Rage Against The Machine, A Tribe Called Quest, Carly Simon, Judas Priest, Fela Kuti, New York Dolls, Dionne Warwick, DEVO and Pat Benatar.It is the Detroit rockers’ sixth nomination over the years ahead of the final shortlist in May.A body of more than 1,000 artists, industry members and historians will help decide which five acts out of the 17 will progress into the final round of induction consideration.