Fred Smith

Birth : 1949-09-14, West Virginia, USA

Death : 1994-11-04

History

Frederick Dewey Smith (September 14, 1949 – November 4, 1994), known by his stage name Fred "Sonic" Smith, was an American guitarist. Smith is best known as a member of the band MC5. He later went on to form Sonic's Rendezvous Band, which released one single, "City Slang", during Smith's lifetime. Smith was born in West Virginia. He and his band opened a show for singer and poet Patti Smith. Patti Smith's guitarist, Lenny Kaye, introduced Fred and Patti before the show. The two were married in 1980. He and Smith collaborated on her 1988 album Dream of Life. A resident of St. Clair Shores, Michigan (a Detroit suburb), Fred Smith died in Detroit in 1994. The apparent cause was heart failure.

Movies

MC5: Early Video Collection 1967-1972

Detroit legends, MC5, captured live and in-studio performance throughout their short -- yet influential -- career.

Rockin' in the USA

Twenty-two rare German television appearances from 1960s and '70s American rock and blues acts are featured on this disc, making it a veritable time capsule of rock 'n' roll. Includes performances by The Doors, The Beach Boys, Blood Sweat & Tears, Canned Heat, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, The Grateful Dead, The Byrds, Chicago, The Steve Miller Band, Little Feat, MC5 and Captain Beefheart.

MC5: A True Testimonial

Himself

This documentary, made over a period of eight years, tells the remarkable story of an extremely influential rock'n'roll band. Starting from their mid-60's garage band roots (sounding amazingly like the Sonics), the Motor City 5 deveoped into an icon for a brand of loud, crushing music reflecting their industrial roots. Even if you don't care for their music (and you're bound to like even a few of their songs), their story is fascinating. It combines 60's protest, youthful braggadocio, and a style of music that would help carry one to the likes of Iggy and the Stooges (not to mention certain aspects of punk rock). This film is clearly a labor of love, combining extraordinarily rare live shows, still shots, a nearly-continuous backdrop of MC5 tunes, penetrating interviews with the remaining members and their spouses, and even FBI surveillance shots. It's the ultimate testimonial to a band that only gains in stature as time goes on.

MC5: Kick Out the Jams

Kick Out the Jams features many never before seen films of the MC5 as created by Leni Sinclair & conceptual artist Cary Loren during the peak of their career.