ANN ARBOR—Confrontations with police and its reputation for radical behavior and political involvement followed the MC5 (Motor City 5) band to its peak of popularity in 1968 with packed audiences for its stage shows and record sales of its singles and albums, especially its trademark rendition of “Kick Out the Jams!”

Born into the social turmoil of Detroit in the mid-1960s, and nurtured by southeastern Michigan native John Sinclair, the band eventually became renowned for its radical and political stage behavior.

Featured in an exhibit at the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library as part of the celebration of Detroit’s 300th anniversary, “Kick Out the Jams!: the MC5 Rock Detroit, 1968” chronicles the fast rise of the band and its equally rapid fall from popularity. “Although the success of the MC5 was short-lived,” says curator Nan Curtis, “the energy, power, political message and reckless abandon, all of which were the band’s hallmark in 1968, have continued to influence subsequent bands. Most notable is the MC5’s influence on the first punk movement of the late 1970s and early ’80s, and the neo-punk music of the 1990s.”

Prior to Sinclair signing on as the band’s manager, the MC5 were reasonably successful as Detroit’s Grande Ballroom house band, but they were unable to break into the rest of the rock club scene. “They frequently had to borrow equipment and transportation; they were frequently late, if they showed up at all; and were often drunk and played music that was too loud or irrelevant to the audience,” Curtis says. So, few club owners would hire them.

Even after Sinclair took over the band’s management, their reputation preceded them. A gig in Jackson, Mich., was prevented by police order. Police presence at MC5 concerts was the norm with police often appearing in riot gear. “The MC5 continued to confront the police and drew the audience into the confrontations,” says Curtis. “Throughout the summer of 1968, members of the band and John Sinclair, were maced, beaten, fined and arrested for charges including assault and battery on a police officer and disturbing the peace.” And still the band rose in popularity finding greater audiences with their political message, and, in turn, encouraged to become even more outrageous both in their music, their stage show, and their pre-show confrontations.

“Sinclair attributed the band’s success to the counterculture’s growing political unrest, and voice,” says Curtis. “He used the energy and the confrontations with the police in an attempt to unite with other recognized political causes. In July 1968 the MC5 was the only band to appear at the Festival of Life, organized in Chicago as a counterculture alternative to the Democratic National Convention.”

The beginning of the band’s eventual demise arose from a concert appearance, which ended in violence at the Fillmore East in New York and the subsequent media coverage. A disagreement on charging the audience for the concert and dismissing a local band led to audience members opening the hall’s side doors, rushing in, and the local band slashing seats in the hall. While MC5 tried to maintain a level of “peace,” asserting that they had come to play music, not participate in violence, MC5 received bad press by Rolling Stone and Time. The Rolling Stone article, although favorable, depicted the band more as juveniles playing with politics rather than serious revolutionaries and the article was catastrophic for the band.

“Kick Out the Jams!” will continue through August at the Bentley Historical Library. Admission is free. The Library is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

MC5John SinclairBentley Historical LibraryRolling Stone