Dennis Thompson (drummer)
Dennis Thompson (born September 7, 1948) is an American drummer, most famous for being a member of the 1960s–70s Detroit proto-punk/hard rock group MC5,[1] which had a No. 82 US single with "Kick Out the Jams" and a No. 30 US album with the same name.
Dennis Thompson | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Machine Gun, MGT |
| Born | September 7, 1948 |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Garage rock, proto-punk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Drums |
| Years active | 1963–present |
Biography
Thompson began playing drums by the time he was nine years old.[2] Joining the MC5 by 1965,[3] Thompson was later given the nickname "Machine Gun" because of his "assault" style of fast, hard-hitting drumming that sonically resembles the sound of his namesake Thompson machine gun (commonly referred to as a "Tommy Gun"). His drumming pre-figured and influenced punk, metal, and hardcore punk drumming styles.
After MC5 broke up in the early 1970s, Thompson was a member of the 1975–1976 Los Angeles–based supergroup The New Order, the 1981 Australia-based supergroup 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).[4]
His influences include Elvin Jones, Keith Moon and Mitch Mitchell, and Motown.[5] In 2015, he described how his drumming technique had changed considerably over time, playing with "much less force and tucked in elbows, more wrist action and less arm action".[6]
Thompson was in the band DKT/MC5 with the surviving members of MC5, from 2003–2012. Later, he recorded two tracks for a new MC5 album scheduled for October 2022 release, although as of February 2023 the album has not yet been released.[7]
References
- McCann, Ian (17 September 2021). "Rob Tyner: How MC5's Frontman Led a Rock'n'Roll Revolution". Dig!. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- Gross, Jason (November 1998). "MC5- Dennis Thompson interview". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- Iconic proto-punk guitarist brings 'reanimation' of MC5 to Bimbo's - CBS San Francisco. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- Asmodeus X band biography, Electrogarden.com, Retrieved September 1, 2009]
- City Slang: Dennis Thompson on “Kick out the Jams” - Detroit Metro Times. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- Modern drummer interview with Dennis Thompson. April 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- Wayne Kramer Unveils 'We Are All MC5' Spring Tour - Yahoo!. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.