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Rock musician Michael Davis passes away

Rock musician Michael Davis passes away

MICHAEL Davis, the bass player with rock band MC5, has passed away. He was 68.

Mr. Davis died at a hospital in California where he had been receiving treatment for liver disease.

A talented musician, Mr. Davis had dropped out of school in the 1960s to join the Detroit band MC5 [the name the shortened version of Motor City Five]. The band was widely regarded as being pioneers of punk rock in the US.

The band enjoyed success with their debut album Kick Out The Jams (1969), see below. MC5 become known for anti-establishment stance with what many regarded as subversive political themes being woven into much of their work.

When Kick Out The Jams was released some retails outlets refused to stock it because of some of the content.

With their loud and energetic style MC5 were regarded as one of the most important rock groups of their period. But it was all to end in 1972 when the group decided to disband — leaving the music world with just three, highly acclaimed albums.

Two key members of the group were to die young — vocalist Rob Tyner died of a heart attack in 1991, aged 46, and guitarist Fred Smith was 45 when he died from a heart attack in 1994.

Mr. Davis joined the two other surviving members of MC5 — guitarist Wayne Kramer and drummer Dennis Thompson — for a reunion 2003. In recent years the group had continued to make appearances with vocalist Handsome Dick Manitoba in the line-up.

To see MC5 perform Kick Out The Jams, click here.

 

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