MC5 announce first album in over 50 years and US tour dates

MC5 have announced their first album in over 50 years and a series of US tour dates.

The band took to Instagram earlier today (March 9) to post a video, which you can view below, featuring old footage of the punk veterans and a snippet of the album’s title track ‘Heavy Lifting’. The song also features Rage Against The Machine‘s Tom Morello.

MC5 have reformed with original member Wayne Kramer, Pollo Elastica’s Brad Brooks, Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples) and guitarist Stevie Salas.

The new LP, which is due to drop later this year, will be the band’s first proper studio effort since 1971’s ‘High Time’ and sees Kramer collaborating with Morello, Kesha, Jill Sobule, Tim McIlrath, and Alejandro Escovedo.

The band will also hit the road for a US tour in May, dates for which you can view below.

Tickets for the shows will go on sale this Friday (March 11) and further information is available via Kramer’s Facebook page here.

Meanwhile, MC5 were recently nominated for this year’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame alongside EminemKate Bush, BeckEurythmicsDuran DuranDolly PartonLionel RichieRage Against The MachineA Tribe Called QuestCarly SimonJudas PriestFela KutiNew York DollsDionne Warwick, DEVO and Pat Benatar.

It is the Detroit rockers’ sixth nomination over the years ahead of the final shortlist in May.

A body of more than 1,000 artists, industry members and historians will help decide which five acts out of the 17 will progress into the final round of induction consideration. Fans also have the chance to contribute to the selection process by voting every day here or at the museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

Foo FightersJay-Z and Tina Turner all featured in the 2021 cohort of inductees alongside The Go-Go’s, Carole King and Todd Rundgren in the Performers category. KraftwerkGil Scott-Heron and Charley Patton, meanwhile, each received the Early Influence Award.