M.C.5 - the legendary Detroit ‘Motor City Five’ band, are hailed as seminal pioneers of high-energy rock’n’roll and punk. They first came to prominence in the politically-charged late 60’s as the ‘Official White Panther Party Band’, preaching revolutionary ideology alongside dope, sex and r’n’r. Played the infamous 1968 Democratic Convention that turned into a police riot. Their activist manager, John Sinclair then became a hippie martyr after being jailed for 10 years for possessing 2 joints, inspiring John Lennon’s ‘10 For 2’ song.
WHITE PANTHER PARTY MANIFESTO: "WE WANT A FREE PLANET. WE WANT FREE LAND; FREE FOOD; FREE SHELTER; FREE CLOTHING; FREE MUSIC; AND FREE CULTURE. FREE MEDIA; FREE TECHNOLOGY; FREE EDUCATON; FREE HEALTH CARE; FREE BODIES; FREE PEOPLE; FREE TIME AND SPACE … EVERYTHING FREE …"

They were thrown off their first label, Electra, after taking music paper ads in the labels’ name attacking a shop not stocking their album with the infamous ‘Kick Out The Jams, Motherfuckers!’ intro. Signed to Atlantic for the ‘Back In The USA’ (produced by Jon Landau) and ‘High Time’ albums but couldn’t shake off the ‘revolutionary band’ tag. Now greatly revered posthumously. Guitarist Wayne Kramer continues with a solo career on Epitaph.

‘Thunder Express’ documents their FIRST and LAST STUDIO WORK - six tracks recorded in France in ’72 at Studio Castle Herouville for a TV show; plus 4 tracks from their first two singles from ’66 & ’68.