Jack White, Alice Cooper, John Brannon, Tom Morello, Primal Scream & more pay tribute to MC5’s Wayne Kramer

Tributes have started to roll in for Wayne Kramer, the MC5 bandleader who died today at age 75.

“We lost one of Detroit’s greatest, brother Wayne Kramer of the MC5,” wrote fellow Detroiter Jack White on Instagram. “The first guitar solo I ever sat down and learned was Wayne’s from the 5 song ‘Looking At You.’ He was definitely part of the solution as he changed rock and roll and broke the ground wide open in Detroit for the rest of us. Thank you brother Wayne for all that have done and will continue to do forever.”

Another Detroit rock legend, John Brannon of Negative Approach, also paid tribute on Instagram, saying “This one really hurts.”

Alice Cooper wrote, “Today we lost longtime friend – and sometimes collaborator – Wayne Kramer of the MC5. RIP,” while The Dictators wrote, “No MC5 …. No Dictators.”

Tom Morello wrote a very nice tribute: “Brother Wayne Kramer was the greatest man I’ve ever know. He possessed a one of a kind mixture of deep wisdom & profound compassion, beautiful empathy and tenacious conviction. His band the MC5 basically invented punk rock music and was the only act to not chicken out and performed for the rioting protestors at the 1968 Dem National Convention. I’m pretty sure every album I’ve ever worked on the rawest fastest track had the working title “MC5” (“Sleep Now In The Fire” for example). Wayne came through personal trials of fire with drugs and jail time and emerged a transformed soul who went on to save countless lives through his tireless acts of service. He and his incredible wife Margaret founded @jailguitardoorsusa which founds music programs in prisons as life changing effective rehabilitation. I’ve played with Wayne in prisons and watched him transform lives, he was just unbelievable. Wayne had a soft heart but was also Detroit tough as nails. A couple months ago (at 75 years old) Wayne beat the crap out an intruder in his home that menaced his family. And whenever any charity or union or human rights activist event was coming up Wayne would always heed the call. ALWAYS. From our “Frostbite And Freedom” performances during the Madison union uprising to Wayne “Chainsaw” Kramer knee deep in fire ants in the 9th Ward in New Orleans post-Katrina reclaiming living spaces for those affected. But mostly Wayne was a great friend, a beautiful comrade, and an older brother who helped me to forgive myself for making mistakes, take chances with my music, and never be afraid to help those in need. The countless lives he’s touch, healed, helped and saved will continue his spirit and legacy. He was like a non-Tom Joad. Whenever and wherever any of us kick out the jams, Brother Wayne will be right there with us.”

Street artist Shepard Fairey also noted Wayne’s humanitarian work in his tribute, “I did the logo for his U.S. branch of Jail Guitar Doors, a charity dedicated to providing guitars for prison inmates. Wayne did time in jail and understood personally how therapeutic music and creativity are for all people, but especially those without freedom. Thank you for the decades of inspiration Wayne, both through your music and your righteous dedication to improving people’s lives.”

On a similar note, Billy Bragg wrote, “Wayne Kramer was a revolutionary artist who walked it like he talked it. His own incarceration gave him an instant bond with the prisoners he helped through his leadership of Jail Guitar Doors USA. My thoughts are with Margaret and their son Francis.”

Scottish greats Primal Scream called MC5 “one of our favourite bands ever,” saying “Their music will live forever.” They also shared a memory of playing with Wayne at London’s Meltdown Festival in 2007.

You can also read tributes to Wayne from Billy Idol’s guitarist Steve Stevens, Living Colour‘s Vernon Reid, The Feelies, The Go-Go’s Kathy Valentine, The Runaways‘ Cherie Currie, Matt Pinfield, Riki Rachtman, HEALTH, The Ataris, Dead Kennedys, Jon Wurster, David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) and more, below.

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