MC5 releases their new song ‘Boys who Play with Matches’ from their upcoming album ‘HEAVY LIFTING’ through earMUSIC.
MC5 will release their first studio album ‘HEAVY LIFTING’ after 53 years on October 18th, 2024, one day prior to the band’s induction into 2024’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they will receive the “Musical Excellence Award.”
The first single of the album is ‘Boys Who Play with Matches’ is out digitally today!
Listen to ‘Boys Who Play with Matches’ HERE
‘HEAVY LIFTING’ was led by the last remaining original members of MC5: founding member and guitarist Wayne Kramer who passed away in February, followed by the death of drummer Dennis ‘Machine Gun’ Thompson in May. MC5 recorded ‘HEAVY LIFTING’ with iconic producer Bob Ezrin (Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, KISS) and features an all-star lineup of guest musicians including Slash, Tom Morello, William Duvall (Alice in Chains), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), and Tim McIlrath (Rise Against), allowing for a collaborative effort that bridges the gap between generations of musicians inspired by MC5’s fearless approach to music and activism. It’s more than a trip down memory lane; it’s a resounding affirmation that the spirit of punk endures.
Pre-order the new album HERE
In addition to the 13-track album, a 2CD / 2LP bonus disc will be released including previously unreleased live recordings from the MC50 tour in 2018 celebrating the 50th anniversary of MC5’s revered 1969 debut album, Kick Out the Jams, which featured classic anthems like “Kick Out the Jams” and “Ramblin’ Rose.” Alongside Kramer, the MC50 live band features Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty, and frontman Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla).
About MC5
Emerging from the gritty streets of Detroit in the late 60s, MC5 revolutionized rock’n’roll with their blistering fusion of garage rock, blues, soul, free jazz, and proto-punk. Infamous for incendiary live performances and a radical left-wing stance, their status as pioneers of punk and protest rock has inspired many musicians like The Ramones, Rage Against The Machine, The White Stripes, Slash, and countless others and continues to shape the sound of punk and alternative rock for generations to come.