Dennis Thompson (drummer)
Encyclopedia
Dennis Thompson is the drummer
with the 1960s/1970s Detroit proto-punk/hard rock
group MC5
, which had a #82 US single with "Kick Out The Jams
" and a #30 US album with the same name.
Thompson was given the nickname "Machine Gun" because of his "assault" style of fast, hard-hitting drumming that sonically resembles the sound of a Thompson
machine gun
(commonly referred to as a "Tommy Gun"). His powerful drumming pre-figured and influenced punk
, metal
, and hardcore punk
drumming styles.
After the MC5 broke up, Thompson was a member of the 1975–1976 Los Angeles based super-group The New Order
, the 1981 Australia based super-group New Race
, The Motor City Bad Boys, and The Secrets. In 2001, he guested for Asmodeus X
on the song, The Tiger (St. Thomas Records).
Thompson is currently in the band DKT/MC5 with the surviving members of the MC5
. The Dictators
singer, Handsome Dick Manitoba, currently fills in for original singer Rob Tyner.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
with the 1960s/1970s Detroit proto-punk/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
group MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
, which had a #82 US single with "Kick Out The Jams
Kick Out the Jams
Kick Out the Jams is the first album by Detroit protopunkers MC5, released in 1969. It was recorded live at Detroit's Grande Ballroom over two nights, Devil's Night and Halloween, 1968. In 2003, the album was ranked number 294 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time...
" and a #30 US album with the same name.
Thompson was given the nickname "Machine Gun" because of his "assault" style of fast, hard-hitting drumming that sonically resembles the sound of a Thompson
Thompson submachine gun
The Thompson is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals...
machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
(commonly referred to as a "Tommy Gun"). His powerful drumming pre-figured and influenced punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, and hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
drumming styles.
After the MC5 broke up, Thompson was a member of the 1975–1976 Los Angeles based super-group The New Order
The New Order (band)
The New Order was an American hard rock and proto-punk band. The band was based in Los Angeles and existed from early 1975 to October 1976.-History:...
, the 1981 Australia based super-group New Race
New Race
New Race was a punk/proto-punk super-group based in Sydney, Australia formed in April 1981. New Race was a concept band featuring three members of Radio Birdman: Deniz Tek, Rob Younger, and Warwick Gilbert, along with their inspirational mentors: Ron Asheton of The Stooges, and Dennis "Machine Gun"...
, The Motor City Bad Boys, and The Secrets. In 2001, he guested for Asmodeus X
Asmodeus X
Asmodeus X is an American electro-industrial band whose music is frequently characterized as a mixture of EBM and darkwave and typically includes the use of environmental sampling. Their style is said to be influenced by the music of Laibach, Kraftwerk, Death in June, and Front 242, among others...
on the song, The Tiger (St. Thomas Records).
Thompson is currently in the band DKT/MC5 with the surviving members of the MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
. The Dictators
The Dictators
The Dictators are an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth." The Dictators are represented in the "Punk Wing" of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland, Ohio...
singer, Handsome Dick Manitoba, currently fills in for original singer Rob Tyner.