Kick Out The Jams by MC5

Album: Kick Out The Jams (1969)

Charted: 82

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The ad that got the MC5 dropped from Elektra Records just six months after signing to the label. That's lead singer Rob Tyner with his fist in the air; the copy reads:

Kick out the jam's, motherf--ker!
And kick in the door if the store won't sell you the album on Elektra.

F--k Hudson's!

Elektra had nothing to do with it, but their name and logo were on it. Hudson's, which owned a chain of stores in Michigan, threatened to pull all Elektra product, so the label gave the MC5 the boot.

The group never found their footing; Kick Out The Jams earned a place in rock history, but Grand Funk emerged as the superstars of the Detroit scene.

Comments: 24

Tom from Macomb,miThe MC5 played at my catholic High school dance. When they did this song, the intro was "KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHER SUPERIOR !!"
Bob from Southfield, MiThe album was recorded over two nights (Oct. 30th and 31st) at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit. Just like Woodstock, there are lots of people who swear they were there that night but who probably weren't.
Mike from Matawan, NjDidn't the Starland Vocal Band do a cover of this as well?
Maria from Des Moines, Iathere is a great book "Kick Out the Jams" from Continium 33 1/3 series by Don McLeese. It's all about the MC5.
Buy it Motherfu***'s
Ziggy from HellI got the CD version the other day, and it has the "motherf*cker" line in it. Brilliant song.
Matthewz from Corpus Christi, Txa great version is also to be heard on THE ROB TYNER BAND, LIVE AT THE KRAMER THEATER, 1977.
this version is about 50% faster, even...
Joey from Nowhere Land, Caman I'm happy, I have the version, "Kick out the james mother f******" the song is so brilliant
Jaym from The Dark Side Of The Moonkick a$$ it may be, rob, but no one will EVER match the original version
Rob from Vancouver, CanadaA kick-ass cover by Blue Oyster Cult on 'Some Enchanted Evening".
Vic from Wheeling, IlFred "Sonic" Smith was married to Patti Smith.
Robert from Santa Barbara, CaMC5 was part of a large communal group in Detroit headed by a man named John Sinclair, who founded a group called The White Panthers. He expressed solidarity with The Black Panthers. The group's music was meant to be revolutionarily political.
Daniel from Perththe band entombed covered this song in their own "death rock" style on their cd sons of satan praise the lord.
Geordie from BarcelonaKick Out The Jams have been covered for many artists. Michael Monroe from Hanoi Rocks did an incredible one at his 1997 album 'Peace of Mind'. Also, in the MC5 reunion gig, March 13th 2003 at the 100 Club in London, this song was performed by Ian Astbury (The Cult) on vocals, Nick Royale (Hellacopters) on guitar plus the surviving MC5.
Tom from Washington, DcThis past weekend ,Wayne Kramer ,from MC 5, kicked out the jams at the anti war concert on the Mall. I met him in a mueseum later and he and his wife were sweet as could be,he even signed a CD for me.Check out the new Box Set of their material recently released on Rhino.
Zachary from Charlotte, NcIf there ever was a band ahead of its time it was The MC5 and the sad thing is they don't get any credit for laying the foundation of what would later become the punk rock scene we all know and love today....
Dominick from Concord, NhBlue Oyster Cult also covered this song on their Spectres (1978?) tour. It can be found on their 1980 live release entitled "Some Enchanted Evening".
Luke from Manchester, EnglandPUSA, even
Luke from Manchester, EnglandThe PSUA version isn't a cover, it has different lyrics
Andrew from TorontoA band definatly ahead of it,s time.Too much for the masses in 1969,cult and and music freaks only(myself included).Awesome early angry music and innovators although they would,nt know it.If you like this check out Stooges- 1969 debut album,Velvet Underground-Sister Ray,Heroin,dark music but brilliant.
Darren from Sydney, Australia.some songs should never be touched, this is one of them!
Matthew from Colorado Springs, CoIt was also covered by the Presidents of the United States of America about 5 years before Rage did it.
Billy Ross from Hagerstown, Mdyeah it was on renegades
Janelle from New York City, Nywhat a great rocking song!
Steve from Cheshire, CtThis song was also covered by Rage Against the Machine, and i believe it was put on the Renegades album.

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