The new MC5 record “Heavy Lifting” is out in the wild! The record is available on all formats (digital & CD) as well as 2 killer vinyl options, Artic Pearl colored vinyl and the 2 record set with some live MC50 audio. Both a must have for collectors! It’s also available at Amoeba stores in the Bay Area and should be in most record stores throughout the Bay Area, and is easily available on line here. The record is officially released on Ear Music in Germany and they do an excellent job with their packaging.
The response has been humbling and overwhelming as to the love that the record has been getting so far and I just appreciate that its being listened to and taken on it’s own merit, as that’s something that I know Wayne would have been so proud of. There’s been some great podcasts and dialogue about the record from Discograffiti’s David Gebroe in his interviews with Bob Ezrin & Tom Morello, as well as Dean Delray’s show “Let There Be Talk” where we talk about the SF scene in the 90’s and my involvement in the making of “Heavy Lifting” with Wayne. There’s also one of the most in depth articles that I’ve seen so far by Gary Graff in the latest and final printed addition of Guitar Player Magazine, where Gary did his homework and interviewed just about everyone involved and its in the stores and highly recommended for any MC5 fans. Our own Dave Pehling also did an interview with me for CBS News SF and we got to cover a lot of ground. If you also pick up MOJO from the UK there’s an excellent review and also Uncut’s MC5 Feature did a brilliant job on the MC5 as well as the new book by Brad Tolinski & Jaan Uhelski & Ben Edmonds, (which I highly recommend) and some info from Bob Ezrin and I about the making of the record. UNCUT (Bob Ezrin & Brad Brooks)
NME also did an interview with Don Was, and there’s been some press that I’ve been doing in the German & French version of Rolling Stone, as well as Sounds, Visions, Classic Rock, Metal Digest & Deutschland Funk. All of it much appreciated.
As for me the whole thing has been mind blowing, emotional & bittersweet because of Wayne’s passing and what the future was going to hold, and Bob really put it into perspective as only he can: “I was just looking forward to the next chapter, the next thing. We’re gonna take this on the road and then after that, we’re gonna do another one. Of course we are, because it was so enjoyable and exciting and so fulfilling in the end” and that right there is probably the hardest pill for me to swallow and get over, (besides losing one of my best friends) because Wayne and I were always talking about the next one and what we were gonna do. So I stay in gratitude that Wayne trusted me to be his partner, that it happened, that we went on this incredible creative adventure and that the response has been very good.
AND THEN THERE WAS THE ROCK HALL INDUCTION WEEKEND:
Another incredible experience being there and getting to witness first hand not only the ceremony but also the MC5 exhibit that all of the families helped put together. Everyone stepped up and Tom Morello did a great job inducting the group and although there should have been some type of performance, it was great to finally see the 5 get the recognition that they should have gotten years ago. Why they fucking waited so long I have no idea! I will say that it was kind of a shock to see Wayne’s guitar sitting there behind the glass and I wasn’t quite prepared for that. The tools of his trade now in a museum. Can’t say I saw that one coming at the beginning of this year. The first time that we got together in person to write in March of 2021, he picked me up in his fave Dodge Challenger Hellcat (that car has it’s own story) and we headed right to his studio where he picked it up and we started working. It’s about as iconic of an American guitar as there is and now it’s in the Rock Hall Museum along with some of their outfits, Fred’s amp & guitar, Dennis’ drum set, Michael Davis’ bass, some typed out lyrics and a couple of Rob Tyner’s famous outfits, and a contract from the Detroit Federation Of Musicians.
SOME NEW PHOTOS FROM “WE ARE ALL MC5” tour 2022: Also some new unearthed photos compliments of Jeff Brinn who took these on the first night of the “We Are All MC5 tour” that kicked off in Detroit on 5/5/22. What a night and what a band! Also be on the look out for more Youtube videos of the band from the Bimbo’s show in SF.
SO WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
Still trying to figure that one out but have been doing a bunch of writing with one of my favorite Bay Area guitar players Tom Ayers and we’ve been writing what we hope will be a new record at some point. Tom is one of the most interesting players that I’ve been around and we’re having fun writing together. I also have some one off shows coming up in the next few months as I’ll be jumping up again with Angelo Bundini’s band Double Bari Sax Attack at the Ivy Room on 11/27, and then there’s the Protein reunion show with Josh Zee & Dan Thompson at Mac’s at 19th Broadway in the North Bay, a big Jesse Brewster 20th anniversary fest at Sweetwater Music Hall on 12/11 with a cavalcade of folks, Parker Gibb’s legendary holiday party “Craptacular” at Makeout Room 12/18, and then a crazy fun show where I’ll be singing with “The Jackson Saints” who were one of my favorite bands from the SF scene back in the day and we’ll be opening for the Flamin Groovies at The Chapel on 1/11/25. That should keep me busy for awhile!
Lastly thank you so much to everyone who’s reached out to me about the new record and although there won’t be any touring, there is hope that one day that some of the songs that WK and I wrote will be performed live in some fashion that does it justice and done the right way! BB’
