Legendary MC5 Drummer Dennis Thompson Passes Away at 75 – Remembering a Rock Icon
Sad news shook the music world on Thursday when Dennis Thompson, the dynamic drummer of the influential Detroit band MC5, passed away at the age of 75. Thompson, who had been recovering from a heart attack in April, died at MediLodge of Taylor in Michigan. He was the last surviving member of MC5 and will be posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this fall alongside his bandmates.
Thompson joined MC5 in 1965, contributing greatly to their iconic sound and message. Although the band faced challenges and experienced little commercial success during their active years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, they left an indelible mark on both the music industry and the world of activism. Over the course of their career, MC5 released three studio albums, including classics like “Kick Out the Jams,” “Back in the USA,” and “High Time.”
In a poignant turn of events, just two years before his passing, bandmate Wayne Kramer announced plans for new music and a national tour under the moniker We Are All MC5. Unfortunately, the deaths of the remaining band members halted these aspirations. Despite the setbacks, Kramer remained resilient, enlisting the help of talented musicians like Tom Morello, Jill Sobule, Tim McIlrath, Kesha, and Alejandro Escovedo to breathe new life into their musical vision.
