Kickstarter drive aiming for release of movie about influential Ann Arbor/Detroit rock band MC5
The MC5: From left, Fred "Sonic" Smith, Dennis Thompson, Robin Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Michael Davis.
The documentary film “MC5 - A True Testimonial,” exploring the rise and fall of pioneering Ann Arbor/Detroit hard rock band MC5, has cleared legal hurdles and is now facing a deadline to raise money for the movie to be released.
A fundraising drive via Kickstarter, an online pledge system for financing creative projects, will end at 11:02 a.m. on May 10.
The MC5, which was closely linked to the politically-charged Ann Arbor music scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s, included vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith. MC5’s three albums are regarded by many as legendary, and their rowdy "Kick Out the Jams" has been covered by countless groups that have named the MC5 as an influence.
The MC5 was the de facto house band at Detroit's legendary concert hall the Grande Ballroom. Smith and his later band, Sonic's Rendezvous band, regularly played Ann Arbor's Second Chance between 1976-1980.
"Either we reach the funding goal, the film's freed and the nightmare's over, or we don't, all pledges are canceled and the film remains in limbo,” said Detroit music producer Freddie Brooks, a longtime associate of Fred Smith. Brooks also assisted in researching the film and has worked to secure its release.
After its completion in 2002, “MC5 — A True Testimonial” went on to preview at film festivals around the world, receiving positive reviews (the New York Times described the film as "riveting"). But release was halted due to a dispute over the ownership of the MC5's music publishing rights. A four-year legal engagement, now ended, followed.
Brooks said $27,000 is needed in order for the project to continue.
“Real fans spreading the word is what's gonna make this happen,” he said, adding that it’s important from a historical perspective for the film to be released.
“Your casual fan has never had the opportunity to actually see Fred Smith and Rob Tyner in action; neither performed regularly after 1980,” said Brooks. “This film is a historical document of the era that the band existed in and an excellent opportunity for them to see what this band was all about.”
The MC5's last performance was New Year's Eve of 1972. Smith, who was married to musician rock/poet Patti Smith, died in 1994. Tyner died in 1991.
“The MC5 and their time in the 1510 Hill St. compound (band members lived for a time in this Ann Arbor house that was also shared by poet/activist John Sinclair and home base for the White Panther movement) are an integral part of Ann Arbor music history and no one disputes how incredibly significant they were to this area,” Brooks added. “And the Stooges would never have been signed to Elektra Records without the MC5's recommendation.”
Chicagoans David C. Thomas, Laurel Legler and a Future/Now Films production crew spent seven years crafting the documentary, keen on exploring one of the great untold stories of the 1960s — the intriguing rise and fall of the now-legendary Detroit group.
If the Kickstarter campaign is successful, theatrical screenings are expected to begin immediately with a worldwide DVD release expected to follow shortly thereafter.
In making the decision that ended the legal wrangling, United States District Court Judge Andrew J. Guilford noted that “the MC5 is historically significant and its music and story merit being heard today. The film had and still has the potential to spread the music and story of the MC5.”
Patti Smith agreed, adding in a prepared statement, “They were a great band and they should be remembered. And they should be remembered together. This film is a very good opportunity to give them recognition.”
Comments
Bill Wilson
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 4:52 p.m.
A little recap: We were told a tale of how a great film that seemed certain to go on to critical and economic success was derailed by a wrongful lawsuit. But the good news? The suit had finally been settled. So, let's get that film released, and let the theatre's cash drawers overflow with ticket sale monies, right? But, then we're told: "not so fast with that ticket there fellow... we want $27 first, or it DON'T GET SHOWN!" Then, we're provided with a link in the story (above) to the donation page and this quote (below) attributed to the Stooges' Ron Asheton appears: "That's Freddie Brooks, Fred Smith's old sidekick, he did all Fred's dirty work..." Further, if you read the comments (a link is provided on the donation page), one of the posters asks a valid question: "Patti Smith could raise $27k in her sleep, why isn't she doing this?" Three things: 1- I don't know Mr. Brooks, but that comment by the Stooges' Ron Asheton is reason enough alone to be skeptical of this whole scheme. 2- Patti Smith, the guitarist's own wife, doesn't seem to care. 3- If the film is such a sure fire bet, $27k seems like a pittance in comparison to what the film will gross. Why worry about small change when there's a fortune to be made? I'm glad that the public was smarter than they were given credit for, and they saw through this, and this scheme failed.
Alan Goldsmith
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 12:17 p.m.
I guess AnnArbor.com's policy about deleting 'knowing false' information only means when you are attacking political leaders. I have no clue who Bill Wilson is, but his comments are loaded with out and out misinformation and falsehoods. Kudos to Freddy Brooks for setting the facts straight.
matlp
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 10:35 a.m.
I've seen one of the bootleg copies of this excellent documentary , it's great to see that that it's going to get the widespread distribution it deserves.
Freddie Brooks
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 12:36 p.m.
"Never argue with an idiot, he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience."
Bill Wilson
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 12:33 a.m.
Freddie, Whether they settled out of court or actually went to court is, as the lawyer's say: "A distinction without a difference" I remember the Detroit News and Freep articles this man on used wigs wrote about... he's not making it up. (To the reader, Google "Patti Smith Does Debby (Boone)" to read it) Patti & Freddie used a lawyer well, and it would seem Mr. Kramer learned from the master. I'm still confused though: Patti is/was Fred's wife, eh? As a commentor on the site this links to said "Patti could come up with $27k in her sleep... why isn't she doing this?" If she doesn't care about her hubby's legacy, why should we? But now you say this isn't for the band's legacy...it's for the "benefit of the filmmakers" . I only ask because of the quote about you by the Stooges' Ron Asheton on the donation site "That's Freddie Brooks, Fred Smith's old sidekick, he did all Fred's dirty work..." What's the old saying? "The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. " -Groucho Marx
Freddie Brooks
Tue, May 3, 2011 : 12:06 a.m.
The poet and singer Patti Smith had returned to NYC by 1996. The clothier Patti Smith operated her store until it's sale in March 1999 and then went to work for Levi's. The new owner closed the store in 2000, a little more than a year later. There was never any lawsuit. As they say, you're welcome to your own opinions but not your own facts. Ms. Smith has a very strong following in Ann Arbor and most of those reading this are aware of the facts. This fund-raising campaign is being run for the benefit of the filmmakers who created a historical film that documents an era which ended New Year's Day, 1973. If you're not interested, so be it. "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."
Bill Wilson
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.
You're correct, Hynde wrote it. I cannot imagine confusing the two: Hynde actually had a few hits. Patti Smith's only claim to fame was "Rock & Roll Star" and the Byrds wrote that and did it originally, eh? As for when they got married, how does this even factor in? In fact, they did marry, and in fact, MC5 was her hubby's band. Was he in MC5 when they married? No. Did I say he was? Again, no. As to liking the band: in fact, I have a electronic music collection of over 3500 classic rock albums complete w/art (you simply name the cover .jpg 'folder' and windows will display the folder like an album cover), and I have 13 MC5 albums, including their Sturgis collection. Do I like them? They're no Pink Floyd, but they're okay. No Patti Smith though. No plans to add any. Sorry, but you guys were no Roxy Music, either. As to the clothing store, Patti did have a part in that, but I had to look up the whole story, as it was many. many years ago (the 1980's). Some guy on usedwigs dot com wrote a little piece on it: (via Google): LATER In Royal Oak, MI, there used to be a clothing boutique, in the '80s, called Patty Smith. The eponymous owner was a kind of funky hipster eccentric. I can remember reading at the time that Patti Smith successfully sued Patty Smith to remove their similarly-spelled name from the shop. It was kind of a scandal around Detroit. Like, who does this Patti Smith think she is? I'd have to do some research to see what the deal was. The more I think about it, Patti Smith WAS a fashion icon, so there were grounds. But it was one little shop in Royal Oak. Not a national brand or something." I knew there was some scandal, but forgot the details. It seems almost fitting: Freddie & Patti sue this poor woman whose only crime was having a similar name, and now, a lawsuit derailed a film that may have helped his legacy. I guess greed has no conscience... all the more reason to let her fork over the $27k, IMO.
Freddie Brooks
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
Again, several items from my response seem to have been omitted. Sigrid Dobat was Fred's wife during the MC5 era; no, the band didn't do anything with erasers. The lyrics quoted are from a song titled "My City Was Gone", written by Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde and Patti Smith are not the same person. I've listened to Patti's music, toured with her and her band and produced music for her. Wouldn't it be more interesting to read comments from people who care about the film and/or the band?
Freddie Brooks
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 8:04 p.m.
>> Does the fact that she may have married him in 1980 make MC5 any less "her husband's band"? > When they married, did the band take out the erasers and take his name off the albums? > As for "her so-called 'ample time and energy' is nothing more than baseless and idle speculation"... maybe you ought to listen to her music sometime: I WENT BACK TO OHIO BUT MY PRETTY COUNTRYSIDE HAD BEEN PAVED DOWN THE MIDDLE BY A GOVERNMENT THAT HAD NO PRIDE THE FARMS OF OHIO HAD BEEN REPLACED BY SHOPPING MALLS Maybe you ought to try driving down the Ohio Turnpike sometime. If you do, you'll see the premise of this song is nonsense. It's pretty much all farm land all the way to PA. She pretty much wrote a protest song about a non-existant problem to make a buck. We've seen this before: anyone remember Grand Funk Railroad, and after they started to make it, we were given "We're an American Band." > I see little difference between GFR's sell-out vs. Patti's "high-end" Birmingham clothing store. << Patti Smith currently lives in New York and has never owned any clothing store. As I said before, in my previously truncated comment: If you don't care to contribute to the film's release, that's fine. Adding superfluous nonsense to the mix is a major waste of everyone's time. Thanks for nothing.
ypsijake
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
got a great boot of this many years ago with tons of bonus footage like wives discussing their former husbands and Kramer inside the crumbling Grande. This film deserves to be seen by a wider audience and should be out on dvd with everything i've seen. If only I could help, I would. Perhaps you will.
Bill Wilson
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.
======= Ill-informed comments from people who have no idea what they're talking about is a trip, isn't it? For the record, the MC5 was a memory as of 1973 and Patti Smith married Fred "Sonic" Smith in 1980. Patti hasn't complained about anything and has been nothing but supportive of this film, in more ways than you'll ever know, and speculating about what she does with her so-called "ample time and energy" is nothing more than baseless and idle speculation. ======== They (ill-informed comments) certainly are: pot meet kettle. Does the fact that she may have married him in 1980 make MC5 any less "her husband's band"? When they married, did the band take out the erasers and take his name off the albums? As for "her so-called 'ample time and energy' is nothing more than baseless and idle speculation"... maybe you ought to listen to her music sometime: I WENT BACK TO OHIO BUT MY PRETTY COUNTRYSIDE HAD BEEN PAVED DOWN THE MIDDLE BY A GOVERNMENT THAT HAD NO PRIDE THE FARMS OF OHIO HAD BEEN REPLACED BY SHOPPING MALLS Maybe you ought to try driving down the Ohio Turnpike sometime. If you do, you'll see the premise of this song is nonsense. It's pretty much all farm land all the way to PA. She pretty much wrote a protest song about a non-existant problem to make a buck. We've seen this before: anyone remember Grand Funk Railroad, and after they started to make it, we were given "We're an American Band." I see little difference between GFR's sell-out vs. Patti's "high-end" Birmingham clothing store. If this documentary is really all you're making it out to be, release it, and charge for tickets to see it. Or just maybe, it's only MC5 fans who think it's great, and there simply would be no demand for it, so they're forced to "shake-down" methods.
recordhound
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 3:18 p.m.
It's a fantastic movie, I hope it gets out there for viewing beyond the fanatic fans who already know how great they were. What exactly is the money for? To pay Wayne Kramer? Wasn't he the whole reason the thing got shelved to begin with?
Freddie Brooks
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 3:29 p.m.
Warner/Chappell Music holds the publishing rights to the MC5 catalogue and a synchronization license is required to sync the MC5 songs to the images within the film. Funds raised by the Kickstarter campaign will be used to acquire that license, the film can't be released without it.
Freddie Brooks
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
"That's the confusion that's always held people back on this planet. Everybody is involved with all this bizarre confusion and stirring up all kinds of lies and misinformation..." - Rob Tyner Ill-informed comments from people who have no idea what they're talking about is a trip, isn't it? For the record, the MC5 was a memory as of 1973 and Patti Smith married Fred "Sonic" Smith in 1980. Patti hasn't complained about anything and has been nothing but supportive of this film, in more ways than you'll ever know, and speculating about what she does with her so-called "ample time and energy" is nothing more than baseless and idle speculation. What's been absolutely proven in the last seven years, and the point that some choose to conveniently overlook, is that director David Thomas, producer Laurel Legler and Future/Now Films made a tremendous, highly-acclaimed film about the MC5. They were then royally shafted for it, their film was blocked, they were publicly humiliated, financially devastated, the film's commercial prospects destroyed and, adding further insult to injury, they were forced to defend an incredibly expensive and thoroughly baseless "copyright infringement" lawsuit in a Federal Court in California. Bottom line is that Thomas and Legler are good people who didn't deserve such mistreatment. The MC5 was extremely important to Detroit's musical history, this is unarguably a great film and it deserves a proper release. The fact that Future/Now Films will never come close to recouping their investment in creating this documentary doesn't change the overriding fact that this film is an important historical document about an important band and a tumultuous historic time in both Detroit and America. What's left is the art, releasing the wondrous document Thomas and Legler painstakingly crafted. If you don't care to contribute to the film's release, that's fine. Adding superfluous nonsense to the mix is a major waste of everyone'
Bill Wilson
Mon, May 2, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
They need $27k or the film will not be released? Sounds like a shake-down to me. Patti Smith is a fairly famous rock star with plenty of money for clothing stores and ample time and energy to complain about others not doing their part in things. Seems to me that this was her husband's band: why doesn't she kick in the $27k?