MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock's Most Revolutionary Band

Brad Tolinski and Jaan Uhelszki's MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock's Most Revolutionary Band? delivers a riveting and long-overdue deep dive into the proto-punk energy and radical spirit of Detroit's MC5. More than just a band, MC5, under the fervent management of hippie activist John Sinclair, were a thunderous voice of dissent, fearlessly amplifying marginalised voices long before it became mainstream. Their activism, from championing Black Lives Matter to advocating for cannabis legalisation, was as integral to their identity as their raw, high-octane sound. 

This commitment to their beliefs made them a target. As the musical wing of the White Panther Party, they earned the ire of J. Edgar Hoover's FBI and the guardians of public decency, leading to violent encounters, gunpoint threats, jail stints, and even being unceremoniously dropped by their record label just as their album was climbing the charts – all while the Sex Pistols were still finding their feet.

Tolinski and Uhelszki's oral biography seeks to reclaim MC5's musical legacy, arguing that their notoriety has often overshadowed just how damn good they were. The book is expertly constructed around a series of candid, funny, and moving interviews with the band members themselves, their charismatic manager John Sinclair, and key figures from their inner circle – many of whom are sadly no longer with us. These invaluable interviews were inherited from Ben Edmonds, a founding staffer at CREEM Magazine and later Mojo's US editor, lending an authentic and deeply personal voice to the narrative.

Through these direct testimonies, readers gain an intimate understanding of MC5's uncompromising artistic vision and their fierce commitment to their revolutionary ideals. The book also features a fascinating supporting cast of 1960s rock royalty, including Iggy and the Stooges, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, promoter Bill Graham, John Lennon, and the Jefferson Airplane, alongside political firebrands like Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, and Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver, painting a vivid picture of the turbulent era in which MC5 operated.

As innovative, insightful, and inspiring as the band itself, MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock's Most Revolutionary Band? is a fitting and powerful testament to the enduring legacy of these true rock pioneers, told in their own unforgettable words. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the raw energy of proto-punk, the intersection of music and activism, and the untold stories of rock and roll's most uncompromising rebels.