MC5 guitarist on prison and a sense of worth
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- Wayne Kramer spent a long time angry about his stint in prison, especially since he didn't think it worked for him. Now, years after his release from Lexington Federal Prison, he's keeping one foot in the prison system to use music to change lives. Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter who came to prominence in the 19060's as the guitarist for the band MC5 (Motor City 5), a group known for their powerful live performances and radical left-wing political stance. Rolling Stone ranked him number nintey-three on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time. Wayne heads the American chapter of Jail Door Guitars, "an independent initiative which aims to provide instruments to those who are using music as a means of achieving the rehabilitation of prison inmates."
Wayne, you were way, way ahead of your time as a young guitarist (I actually was fortunate enough to have seen you play in 1970 or 1971 at an MC5 gig in PA with the Amboy Dukes). What impressed me most about your playing was your excellent vibrato and articulate picking going straight into a Marshall head- I know how tough that is, a guitarist has to really be able to be have his chops together to pull that off. Very few guitarists were at that level in the late 60's or early 70's. Nowadays with so many effects in guitar chains, truly great playing based on coordination between brain, fingers and guitar is rare indeed.
Anyway, to your credit, you indeed are channeling some tough experiences into something positive to influence other people. It made me ask myself what am I doing to affect any positive change in this world? Thank you, and good on you.
Wayne Kramer is a Rock n Roll God. and helped pioneer rock. Society fucked him, he should be angry. Glad he's surviving and doing something to help others.
+mojorayjones I totally agree. I wish Wayne well.
+mojorayjones How did society fuck him?
Wayne had a hand in his own fucking, and he freely admits this. He seems centered and ready to affect change and that's good. . . Not just unfocused anger.
Threw him in jail for getting high and fighting against the bullshit of society
I feel like he was a rock god but also probably a wild douchebag back in the day (not a bad thing) but by this interview his ego is more tamed to make it seem he was a defiant youth just screwed by the system.
Wayne Kramer and the MC5 are legends.
THIS
here's a man who really does something to help others, such an unsung hero. Wayne is awesome
Yes. Not like bullshit Bono
He's a genuine hero. And God bless him
The most legit heroes are unsung. Love this man.
How he does those riffs for that 1970 show is just beyond belief. Even good drugs can't make you THAT good. Must have been...what do they call it?...oh, yeah. Talent.
The more I learn about this man, the more I like him.
Being someone who’s dealt with heroin addiction and served time in prison, this is such an amazing thing! Most prisoners need soul level healing and learning to express through music is a soul level healing. Instead of bringing the outside in, we learn to bring the inside out and the healing occurs.
In addition to being a gifted rock n' roll artist, Wayne Kramer is one of the most decent nicest guys on the planet.
He is contradicting himself. Looks like prison did him nothing but good.
A native son of Detroit who messed up, hit the bottom, but came back up and is now a contributor to a clear mindset for what's left of America. I love this guy. Saw him a number of times at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit with the MC5. Along with Cub Koda, I think Wayne and the 5 were about the best things that ever came out of my hometown.
Love the MC5 but Detroit also gave us Jim McCarty & Jack White, just to name a couple.
The true pride of Detroit is the great Kid Rock.
termsofusepolice
BaaHahahaha
If I ever got my hands on a time machine, that's one of the places I would go - to see the MC5 at the Grande.
@@BenjWarrant You'd enjoy it, believe it. The 5, in addition to being a great band in their prime, were also extremely entertaining.
Wayne Kramer is great, as a musician, and as a man... but then, I knew that all along... Thanks for posting this
I recently found some video of you
playing live. The Rose song you sang
while playing was cool. But the best part was you slinging your guitar around and then the slide sideways was freaking totally badass!! Everytime I'm in a lousy mood I watch that video and changes my
attitude.
Outstanding Wayne. I saw the smiles on those inmates face's when they got their guitars. There's only one word that comes to mind for me. HOPE.
Did you ever hear this song? Um , yeah, its about me. lol
Wayne Kramer is a great man. Pretty good artist too. I wish his fellow MC5 band mates were still around. I know a couple died in the early 90s.
Way to young.
Rob Tyner (December 12, 1944 - September 18, 1991), aged 46 - vocals
Fred “Sonic” Smith (September 14, 1948 - November 4, 1994), aged 46 - 2nd lead guitar
Michael Davis (June 5, 1943 - February 17, 2012), aged 68 - bass
Wayne Kramer (April 30, 1948 - present) - lead guitar
Dennis Thompson (September 7, 1948 - present) - drums, also known as Machine Gun and MGT.
My older brother turned me onto the MC5 in 1969. How lucky am I?
I started moving. I started jumpin’. I been jumpin’ ever since that day. Yeah!
Learning a musical instrument is a great thing for all people. It's a skill and a passion that noone can take from you. Keep up the great work Wayne!
This guy is a class act.
Great story! Never heard of MC5 till recently. We need to treat addiction not punish it. Peace!
Thats what we do in Portugal with great outcome
Pedro Lima Right! Thank you!
That Wayne Kramer is working with Billy Bragg- my heart just burst a little
I seen mc5 48 years ago in Brooklyn just fabulous
You saw Mc 5.You didn't seen them...
I seen em too..!
@@davidmathews2599 shut up.
WAYNE, IS A MAN WHO HAS WITNESSED THE WORLD OF UP'S AND DOWNS, A MAN WHO TELLS IT LIKE IT IS, A MAN OF TRUTH, I ADMIRE HIM FOR BEING HONEST IN HIS WORDS, AND HE PLAYS A GREAT GUITAR, HE WENT TO MY HIGH SCHOOL IN LINCOLN PARK MICHIGAN, I WISH HIM THE BEST, HE IS A BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER, KEEP ON ROCKIN MAN, COUSIN FIGEL
Beautiful moving interview. Wayne is a true legend and survivor.
The whole point of prison is to keep the bad people away from the good people, It isnt to make the bad people better. I like the MC5 but this is too much. How about helping the victims of the criminals instead of helping the criminals.
Guitars can save the world.
Brother Wayne ... we were always with you.
I read this in hulk hogan's voice
One of those bands that were not just "entertainment" and put the spark of revolution in many of us ,even if it's like that old zen tale of the monk with the spoon beginning to move a mountain.Music is revolution, even in jail ! Thanks Wayne K. and MC5 !
@1.33 that move is the shit Wayne.
A man walks many paths in life we all make mistakes. I try not judge with the expectation of murders and pedophiles. This man went to edge and paid a price by going to prison His debt is paid he is bringing a powerful tool to help mend souls . I think it's terrific that he has implemented this program. Life isnt about the tragedies and loss its about how your rebound and heal and move on as tough as that maybe Wayne I would love to contact you. Your music that was produced in Mc 5 is inspiring. Keep on bringing music to help people mend.
wayne at mc5 years was the ultimate absolute undisputable rock symbol of all times. his uncontrollable passion for life and music brought him all the good and bad things that go with living such a completely rock life. I am so happy he is now so gracefully mature and complete but i am also thrilled he is still that incredible mc5 boy at heart.
Wayne Kramer is one of the last living guitar warriors - this man is authentic. He really can change the world with his guitar. I would love to talk with him to thank him.
jeremiasz rebelka yes he is..truly authentic!
Check out Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) at 2:52!
His recently-released autobiography is well worth the reading. No punches pulled, including the ones where he hits himself in the face full blast. Kickin' out the jams, indeed...
Very moving interview! We love you Wayne Kramer! I used to listen the MC5 when I was younger, especially "Kick out the jam" It is such a powerful live album! I wasn't aware of your story!
Wayne Kramer.. you're awesome
Agreed. Very cool guy.
A good dude.
Brother Wayne is the man.. Never strayed from it.. Knows who he is.. just listen.. It's not bullshit..
Wayne: let the doc MC5: a true testimonial come out!
We want to watch it!
"Creating something is a good argument against worthlessness"...I like that line, and so true...I know that from experience myself...never really went to prison, but did end up in the county a few times, the longest being 56 days...and yeah, what a waste, though I did write two poems during that stay...
Wayne is a superb guitar player..absolutely awesome.
still greatest. band EVER
Earl Dwire Man, how can you still be so judgmental and sour after watching this video?
Great job, thanks, keep it up
thank you for what you are doing.
Wow, by the state I meant in this case the country, the society, other people than oneself, that should have been clear from the circumstance. Please complain about my spelling too or something else which is completely irrelevant to the point. I love this guy for his music, but I don't have any sympathy for cocaine dealers, it's a filthy crime and there should be filthy consequences. I really don't care if he doesn't think the chairs in prison are comfy enough, the responsibility is on him.
If junkie thieves don't want to sit they can be suspended by the neck like in countries that find incentives for people to not decide to have the "disease" of drug use.
What a hell like world - to be confined to an area, being forced to hear such a stressful gut wrenching sound stemming from so many musically illiterate guitar players playing different things all at once, out of tune!! I'd hang myself!!
@ed zmuda: How's your brother Bob?
If he wants to make some restitution he and his junkie roadie can give me back my vintage Gibson Firebird Guitar that they stole out of the guitar case at Denny McLains Electric Circus, when we did a show with Wayne Kramers band around 1972. That guitar would be worrth $15, 000 today.
remind him see what happens?
Ouch‼️
Eh, I've recovered from worse
I'd go see him and hit him up with the bill. Split the difference
ej nolan "golly let's see. my life is screwed up from a lifetime of overindulging and pigs breathing down my neck!15 grand you say my former roadie swiped? who do i make it out to?"
Perhaps prison rehabilitated you more than you realize?
Without it you very well may have succumbed to your addictions and become just another forgotten Rock & Roll statistic...
1MrB True. He could have been another Jim Morrison in the making especially at that period where his band was gaining a lot of momentum.
I think he's talking about drug offenders in prison. You can't have murderers and pedos being catered to. They're finished, they made their demise.
+Gud Dergo Still, could it hurt to give them a guitar?
Gud Dergo Ya the junkies defitely deserve a second chance. the pedos and murderers? straight to the chair, I say
I bet Not hes a left wing nut job He wants murderers and petto's out in public, Hey believe it's societee is fault
@@davidpavlicek4322 Russian troll?
What a great interview. I just read about MC5 in MOJO 60s, a magazine a friend gave me to read. It was about there time at Filmore East in 1968.
Thanks for all your Talent Wayne! Way ahead of your time!
Thanks very much for uploading this program....Mr. Kramer is a hell of a man.
Yes, but other musicians are out there glorifying murder and robbery - encouraging their listeners to go to prison....
Let's also give great respect to Billy Bragg, he's a real hero of the working class man and a music genius who has been in my life since my troubled teens and I found comfort and understanding in his music and his message.absolutely great to see he's still working to help the damaged and broken souls of this world.thanks Billy.
Here's a little know secret to stay out of prison: Stop doing crime!!! Yes, it's that easy.
This was uplifting.
Oh, yeah, you were one of my heroes in the '60s. I was from Detroit and then my folks moved to Cleveland, but I kept going back to Detroit for concerts because of all the great musicians there. Ted Nugent, Bob Seeger, you guys, Iggy and the Stooges, the list goes on and on. There was so much excitement in the air all the time. I think I saw you at the Grande but it might have been Cobo Hall. We were smoking that good hashish from Windsor, Ontario, that was coming in. I gave it all up when I turned 30 and got married and had kids. But I was at Kent State University when they shot four of my friends and wounded 9 others. I was at the Democratic Convention in 68 when the cops went crazy and started beating us all. I went to jail many times for stupid stuff like "loitering," and "disorderly conduct," even jaywalking. Cops cut my long hair off once and they all laughed about it and had a good time. I'm retired now but those years, from about '68 to '72 were soooooooo intense. We stopped the Viet Nam war eventually, and we hated Nixon! I wish you many years of peace until we all meet up at the "End of the Line," as Tom Petty sang.
For starters, abolish victimless crimes.
Hey idiot if you commit a crime it's going to negatively affect somebody if you break my window you didn't hurt a human but you made it a pain in the ass for me to go to Wal the ship of replacing my window I am a victim, There is no such thing as a victimless crime
Name one crime where there isn't a victum
Junkies steal and fuck everyone over for a long time before they go to prison for their "victimless" crime.
Fuck them.
Noone should be in jail for drugs period or forced to quit for that matter via court ordered rehab. IT DOESN'T AND WILL NEVER WORK LONG TERM!
Sad, and foolish, that you hold such views. I am sober 21 years as of yesterday and myself know a great many other people with multiple years of sobriety and ongoing recovery who's sobriety began with a judge giving them a choice of either prison or treatment. It has worked, it does work and it will continue to work.
Matt Cooper amen to that 👍
I agree. Give them the Singapore treatment.
A rope, not prison.
I think he and the other members of MC5 needed to be trouble and be "insane" because being sane, angry, frustrated, in a time like theirs was "trouble". Let's face it, society has always had issues in general with blunt, raw, truth telling art in general. MC5 were indeed one of the most overlooked and underrated bands in rock history.
@Earl Dwire 50 years later and we're here talking about them and that includes you! They must have had something going for them! I suggest you see the live footage.....
@Earl Dwire they weren't any worse than any other garage band of the 60s. The shows they put on at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit were unparalleled for the time.
"Christians" have trouble hearing the truth. They think Jesus wouldn't like it
Nobody in prison is ''guilty''.... They're all there by mistake. They did nothing ''wrong''!
I'm 76 and in the 60's it was commonly accepted that imprisoning people who loudly disagreed...was a cool idea...the constitution was tossed out and wire taps were used without any oversight by judges etc...widespread abuse followed...we may see this again.
Great Band and Music....and a psychologically 1960's sick (drugs and alcohol) and
troubled young man....basic stuff from what Sigmund Freud predicted of
the late 20th Century and NOW the 21st Century.
Sigmund Freud.....
and the......
"The Culture of Narcissism, " C. Laisch, 1979.
predicted the........
Pandemics of Middle Class Personality Disorders
Secondary Narcissism in the late 20th Century and early 21st Century, ....
ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN....(a Sigmund Freud specialty)
and the Beta Males they terrorize & Control
with abortion and No Fault Divorce Laws and false claims of “abuse’...
The Un intended consequences and collateral damage of the Culture of Narcissism....
Single Parenthood....and ....the........
.."The inability to think and BEHAVE rationally
about People & Events ...beyond one's IMMEDIATE personal CONTROL....."
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones,
who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party,
the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies and the......'nosers-out'...of unorthodoxy........"
George Orwell
YOU moved me WAYNE , WHAT your doing is fantastic!! NO ITS FUCKING AWSOME, and much needed !! THANK you for careing about the fucked over, and forgotten, PLAYING GUITAR, kept me alive ,gave me purpose, something to work at getting better at ,When i felt like a looser, ,and something to cry through, and scream through when i hurt ,and something to smile through when I feel good... its my best friend your giveing people best friends.. when they forgot what that even means...
Alcohol & Drugs Destroy EVERYTHING.
The End.
ZERo
Wayne, a lot of people belong in prison for what they have done. There is evil. You make it sound like everyone there is innocent.
He doesn't live down in the trenches in neighborhoods across this country. The crime, noise, social dysfunctions etc is really bad and it's getting harder and harder for decent people to find a decent place to live. The problem is the system is too weak and liberal rather than oppressive. The criminals oppress decent people in these neighborhoods every day. The decline of our society started with the liberal antichristian free sex dug and alcohol abusing hippy movement.
It's unpopular to say what you're saying, and people will give you that dirty look like you're a prejudice old man from prejudice old times if you speak like that; that is if they haven't rolled their eyes already. But I think you're right.
In 1968(or so)in Elementary school a kid could order Scholastic books. I was already intrigued by Rock music and ordered one on the popular groups of the day. I remember looking through it and I stopped, absolutely mesmerized by a picture of a band called the MC5. It said that they were from Detroit and it alluded to them being 'Radical'! Well, I didn't get to hear them until about 1970, but I stored that mention of Detroit away. In '69 I bought the Stooges first album and kept my beady little eyes open for some weird girl named Alice Cooper. Well, by '70, I had heard the MC5, had bought ' Funhouse' and knew that Alice Cooper was a band, NOT a girl. Detroit, Michigan. I have never been there, but I have to respect the contribution it made to my Rock education.
1:33. lateral moonwalk
Drugs & Alcohol will do it. The US Prison system sucks, absolutely no rehabilitation.
Wayne Kramer is a guiding light for creating musical conventions for people who have nothing. Wayne is passing the torch of confidence, empathy, concern for the US Bureau of Prisons inmates. The system is hard, he is making it better, and helping inmates overcome violence within US Bureau of Prison Walls.
Damn,Dude you did fed time.I have been to Jackson prison,I was so blown away by your involvement,With how prisons treat ppl.
What's that old phrase? Oh yeah, "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time".
He fucked up, that's what happens when you're a grown up. Take responsibility, that requires you to learn to be strong. Don't blame society, don't blame others, you control your life.
A public defender traded me for a "loving husband and father" who got off lite. Let me tell you.. MC5 was a scream.. a personal favorite; but, unfortunately, no fuckin' guitar would have made that time go by any better. Marion was a shit hole back then.
I like WK and knew of his history. I'm torn over the judicial/legal system. The rehabilitation process is broken...completely as our rehabs etc etc now its a two-way street...gotta give to get so has to work together...can't break the law but you can't just house and shut them away...we learn from these lessons hopefully WK path will assist in this disconnect with reaching those unreachable.
First saw MC5 at the Lincoln Park Theater 71 or 72 What fond memories
The crime against humanity was committed by the people in prison, they weren't arrested walking to the library. This guy is still seriously wrong headed. Prison isn't for fixing your fucked up ness, its for paying for the crimes you committed . Also, there have been plenty of bands who were alot of trouble who made it big. It just may be mc5 wasn't all that great.
The fact that Kramer and not to be forgotten, Scott Morgan, are not really very well known. If you compare the impact they had, with the knowledge of them. It just kills me. This is wise words to me.
Substance use disorder is a medical condition...you wouldn't imprison someone for diabetes...America is in the dark ages regarding drug rehabilitation, and needs to decriminalize, and instead medicalize like Portugal has done for the past 20 years...
Coincidentally death by garroting and illegal tattooing increased 10,000 percent when guitars were introduced into the prison.
thanks so much for posting this. It good to know there are people on earth like Billy and Wayne.
Don’t do the crime and you will stay out of prison. It’s just common sense fuzz nuts, so stop bellyaching about it because you only have yourself to blame. I have all of zero sympathy for those in prison as it is their own undoing.
You go Wayne. Always loved you at the Grande. You look well brother. I'm glad.
Right on, brother!
Although I lean right which is more against the establishment than many thinks. I support this cause 100% as well as Wayne Kramer..
Our country is going in the wrong direction AGAIN.. but we don't have music like this or anything revolutionary happening like it did in the 60s.
This is a role model if I ever saw one. A great heart, beaten demons and vision.
Hopefully those guitar's have a Pro Tune. It can be disheartening to try and play a box stock acoustic.
Drugs and booze can sure ruin your dreams.....
@pigjubby1 not everybody is willing or able to buy whatever their government preaches, follow every pointless rule it lays down or pay the taxes it disgustingly forces upon all its citizens. wayne was most certainly not going to hear any of Lyndon Johnson's crap back in 1968, when his axe blazed through the immortal "kick out the jams".
Quote Wayne: Prison is a great argument for worthlessness and creating something is a great argument against worthlessness.
2:40
I can't reconcile this.
"I got myself together in prison, I was a good guy, but prison didn't do it for me"
Prison sounds like hell on earth to me, but somehow, it sounds like prison helped him, at least on some level.
mebeasensei You missheard. He said "I wish I could say that I got myself together in prison but--" it didn't happen that way.
OK! Thx
+TommyTwobats Then delete your post you fucking imbecile.
You are correct, prison just makes a person bitter.
Already Have.
No music at the prison i was in. There was a few gentlemen that had rap sessions close to my open door stall as i was taking shits
Wait, hold on here. "Crime against humanity"? Crime is a choice, but we still should keep the prisoners in our hearts. Jesus says to never forget them and visit them and help them.
When MC5 came to London it was as if a bomb went off it was an amazing experience in those early days
from the lips of experience. hes pretty tuned into things. maybe not all, but more than myself. pretty bad cat ....this one.
They won't get hired for shit after prison, so let 'em make music and potentially make a living.
Is there anyone today, anywhere, that does not feel "our country is seriously going in the wrong direction"? If so, please tell me why we're not on the road to hell.
Who the hell gives this a thumbs down?! Kind of fucking sociopath are you?!
Good video, thanks for sharing
This dude is talking outta his ass. Some people need to be in prison. Prison works for people who want to be rehabilitated.
Not everyone is able to turn it around Wayne. Crime equals Time. There's equality for you!
And yet you are a democrat....unbelievable. I love ya brother Wayne but yer politics are messed up
You have a point. People make mistakes they never thought they could and not all are lucky to escape it. My bad brother. My apologies.