Dennis Thompson

Birth : 1948-09-07, Detroit, Michigan, USA

History

Dennis Thompson (born September 7, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan, United States) was the drummer with the 1960s/1970s Detroit proto-punk/hard rock group MC5, which had a #82 US single with "Kick Out The Jams" and a #30 US album with the same name. Thompson was given the nickname "Machine Gun" because of his "assault" style of fast, hard-hitting drumming that sonically resembles the sound of a Thompson machine gun (commonly referred to as a "Tommy Gun"). His powerful drumming pre-figured and influenced punk, metal, and hardcore punk drumming styles. After the MC5 broke up, Thompson was a member of the 1975–1976 Los Angeles based super-group The New Order, the 1981 Australia based super-group New Race, The Motor City Bad Boys, and The Secrets. In 2001, he guested for Asmodeus X on the song, The Tiger (St. Thomas Records).

Movies

MC5: Early Video Collection 1967-1972

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

Sonic Revolution: A Celebration of the MC5

Detroit's iconic rock group The MC5 is celebrated in this raucous London concert featuring other musicians and artists who join the band's remaining members onstage for an unforgettable show. The guest list boasts such rock luminaries as The Hydromatics' Nicke Royale, The Cult's Ian Astbury, The Damned's Dave Vanian, Meg and Jack of The White Stripes, Primal Scream, Death in Vegas, Dollhouse, The Go and more.

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.