Written by: Alex Green

Nothing like a blast of good news from the MC5.

The 2022 Rock Hall nominees have announced We Are All MC5, a May tour that will find them playing dates that stretch from their native Detroit to San Diego.

Led by the legendary Wayne Kramer, the updated 2022 version of the band will feature singer Brad Brooks, drummer Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), bassist Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples), and guitarist Stevie Salas (David Bowie).

Not only will the band be playing live, their first new music since 1972 is on the way, in the form of two new Bob Ezrin-produced songs, including a track called “Heavy Lifting” and another titled “Edge Of The Switchblade.”

But it doesn’t stop there.

MC5 have announced they will release a new album in October on the German label Ear Music. Songwriting collaborators on the album include Tom Morello, Jill Sobule, Tim McIlrath, Kesha, and Alejandro Escovedo.

In a press release Kramer had this to say about hitting the road and recording new material: “Nonstop touring, especially the last decade, I’ve come to understand that the music of the MC5 is as necessary as ever. It’s definitely high time to write and record new songs and to carry a message of uncompromising hard rock to fans around the world.”

The Heavy Lifting 2022 Tour Dates

5/05 – Detroit, MI @ El Club

5/06 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird

5/07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts

5/08 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw

5/12 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s 

5/13 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club

5/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy Theatre

5/15 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar