Wayne Kramer (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
Wayne Kramer is an American
guitarist
, singer, songwriter
, producer
and film and television scorer
.
Kramer came to prominence as a teenager in 1967 as a co-founder of the Detroit rock group MC5
(Motor City 5), a group known for their powerful live performances and radical left-wing political stance. The MC5 broke up amid personality conflicts, drug abuse, and personal problems, which, for Kramer, led to several fallow years, as he battled drug addiction before returning to an active recording and performing schedule in the 1990s.
Rolling Stone
ranked him number ninety-two on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time".
and was managed by John Sinclair
, a radical left-wing writer and co-founder of the White Panther Party
, until 1970 when Jon Landau
took over creative management of the group. After MC5's demise, Kramer spent several years involved in illicit activities due to his ongoing struggle with drug addiction.
In 1975, he was caught selling cocaine
to undercover federal agents and went to prison for over two years at the Lexington Federal Prison
in Lexington, Kentucky. While incarcerated he met Red Rodney
, the American jazz
trumpet
er who had played with Charlie Parker
's quintet. They played together in the institution's Sunday chapel.
. They formed the band Gang War. He also played with popular 1980 band "Fats Deacon and the Dumbwaiters", making appearances on The Uncle Floyd Show, and appearing at all the major clubs of that era. The Dumbwaiters also included drummer Paul Blaccard and bassist Tony Lombardo.
Kramer also spent much of the 1980s working as a carpenter
in the city, where he co-wrote and regularly performed the R&B musical "The Last Words of Dutch Schultz" with Mick Farren
at Tramps, among other NY clubs. He recorded with and produced punk rock bands throughout his 10 years on New York's Lower East Side, including the notorious singer GG Allin
.
]]
In 1979, he joined the acid funk band Was (Not Was)
as their first guitarist. Kramer plays on the single "Wheel Me Out". He makes a guest appearance again on their 2008 release "Boo!" on Ryko Records.
Kramer, along with the other surviving members of MC5, reformed in 1991 in a memorial concert to raise money for the family of former lead singer Rob Tyner, who died from a heart attack.
In 1994, Kramer signed to Brett Gurewitz's punk rock label Epitaph Records and began a solo career. He released solo records, including 1995's self-produced The Hard Stuff, which features the band Claw Hammer
on most songs, along with appearances from members of The Melvins
and The Vandals
. In 1996 he released Dangerous Madness. In 1997, he released Citizen Wayne, co-produced by David Was
. In 1998, he played with Pere Ubu
. In 1999, he released the live record LLMF. In 2002, he released the studio album Adult World.
In 2001, Kramer and his wife and manager Margaret Saadi Kramer launched MuscleTone Records, an independent label. MuscleTone and Levi's Clothing partnered to produce a live performance featuring the MC5's surviving members and guests Ian Astbury (The Cult), Dave Vanian (The Damned) and Lemmy (Motorhead), which they filmed at London's 100 Club for Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. The event generated worldwide press coverage and prompted a world tour. The tour spanned several years and included dates in Europe, America, Australia, South America and Japan. They have performed together on and off since then with a variety of guests.
On August 27, 2008, Kramer made a special guest appearance at political-rock band Rage Against the Machine
's protest concert, at the Tent State Music Festival to End the War, in Denver, Colorado during the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He joined them on stage and gave a speech, followed by a joint performance of Kick Out the Jams.
On November 8, 2008, Kramer made a special guest appearance at progressive-rock band Coheed and Cambria
's Neverender event in Hollywood, California. He was brought out during the encore act to perform with the band to Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", and added a third guitar part during the solos of Coheed's song, "Welcome Home."
On May 1, 2009 Kramer attended a sold- out benefit where he was honored for his work with the nonprofit Road Recovery at NYC's Nokia Theatre. The following day, on May 2, 2009 he along with fellow musicians Tom Morello, Jerry Cantrell, Billy Bragg, Perry Farrell, Gilby Clarke and Don Was among others, played for inmates at Sing Sing prison.
On February 21, 2011 Kramer played with Tom Morello, and The Street Dogs at a free show to support the ongoing pro union rallys at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. 5,000 wrist bands were given out for the free show at the Monona Terrace.
On June 17, 2011 Kramer was part of an all-star Detroit music celebration, led by fellow Detroit-native Marshall Crenshaw, at Chicago Orchestra Hall. This event was part of a series of six concerts called "United Sounds of America," all taking place at COH in June. Other artists who were scheduled to appear on the concert were Bettye LaVette, Brendon Benson, Amp Fiddler, Mick Collins, Regina Carter, Louis Hayes, Ralphe Armstrong and GayeLynn McKinney.
, on the May 16, 1997 Season 1 finale; "Paper Dove" (Episode 22).
Highlights from recent scoring work can be heard in the Will Ferrell comedies "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and Summer 2008’s "Step Bros" for Sony Pictures. Kramer's solo track “Edge of the Switchblade” runs at "Talladega's" end title credits. He co-composed the score for HBO’s controversial 2007 documentary "Hacking Democracy", which also featured his song “Something Broken in the Promised Land” as its title track.
Wayne recently completed work on the score for the ITVS/PBS documentary "The Narcotics Farm" about America’s decades-long failed drug war, as well as the accompanying soundtrack album entitled "Lexington".
He also was narrator for the documentary. Kramer also composes music for television, including themes for Fox Sports Network's "5-4-3-2-1", "Spotlight", "In My Own Words" and "Under the Lights" and E!’s Emmy-nominated series "Split Ends" as well as the “Unlabeled” Jim Beam commercial.
He is currently at work on the score for the new HBO comedy series "East Bound and Down," starring Danny McBride and executive produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy
under their new production banner Gary Sanchez. Season 1 has six episodes. It premiered on Sunday, February 15, 2009.
features "Get Kramer", the lyrics of which begin:
Further on, mention is made of the band's work, viz:
The Clash
also weigh in on Kramer's drug troubles in their song "Jail Guitar Doors":
Tom Morello
of Rage Against The Machine
often cites Kramer as a major influence and now performs with him at Axis Of Justice
shows.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and film and television scorer
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
.
Kramer came to prominence as a teenager in 1967 as a co-founder of the Detroit 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...
(Motor City 5), a group known for their powerful live performances and radical left-wing political stance. The MC5 broke up amid personality conflicts, drug abuse, and personal problems, which, for Kramer, led to several fallow years, as he battled drug addiction before returning to an active recording and performing schedule in the 1990s.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
ranked him number ninety-two on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time".
With the MC5
The MC5 often played at Detroit's famous Grande BallroomGrande Ballroom
The Grande Ballroom is a historic live music venue located at 8952 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The building was designed by Detroit engineer and architect Charles N. Agree in 1928 and originally served as a multi-purpose building, hosting retail business on the first floor and a large...
and was managed by John Sinclair
John Sinclair (poet)
John Sinclair is a Detroit poet, one-time manager of the band MC5, and leader of the White Panther Party — a militantly anti-racist countercultural group of white socialists seeking to assist the Black Panthers in the Civil Rights movement — from November 1968 to July 1969...
, a radical left-wing writer and co-founder of the White Panther Party
White Panther Party
The White Panthers were a far-left, anti-racist, White American political collective founded in 1968 by Lawrence Plamondon, Leni Sinclair, and John Sinclair. It was started in response to an interview where Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, was asked what white people could do...
, until 1970 when Jon Landau
Jon Landau
Jon Landau is an American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.He is currently the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
took over creative management of the group. After MC5's demise, Kramer spent several years involved in illicit activities due to his ongoing struggle with drug addiction.
In 1975, he was caught selling cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
to undercover federal agents and went to prison for over two years at the Lexington Federal Prison
Federal Medical Center, Lexington
The Federal Medical Center, Lexington is a federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky housing 1,464 male inmates at high security and 296 female inmates at a low security camp.-History:...
in Lexington, Kentucky. While incarcerated he met Red Rodney
Red Rodney
Robert Roland Chudnick , who performed by the stage name Red Rodney, was an American bop and hard bop trumpeter.-Biography:...
, the American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er who had played with Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
's quintet. They played together in the institution's Sunday chapel.
Post MC5
Upon his release from prison, he moved to New York City and briefly teamed up with Johnny ThundersJohnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
. They formed the band Gang War. He also played with popular 1980 band "Fats Deacon and the Dumbwaiters", making appearances on The Uncle Floyd Show, and appearing at all the major clubs of that era. The Dumbwaiters also included drummer Paul Blaccard and bassist Tony Lombardo.
Kramer also spent much of the 1980s working as a carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
in the city, where he co-wrote and regularly performed the R&B musical "The Last Words of Dutch Schultz" with Mick Farren
Mick Farren
Michael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...
at Tramps, among other NY clubs. He recorded with and produced punk rock bands throughout his 10 years on New York's Lower East Side, including the notorious singer GG Allin
GG Allin
Kevin Michael "GG" Allin was an American punk rock singer-songwriter, who performed and recorded with many groups during his career. GG Allin is perhaps best remembered for his notorious live performances, which often featured transgressive acts, including coprophagia, self-mutilation, and...
.
]]
In 1979, he joined the acid funk band Was (Not Was)
Was (Not Was)
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Contributions:* A Christmas Record - "Christmas Time In The Motor City"* That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk - "Ba-Lue-Bolivar-Ba-Lues-Are"...
as their first guitarist. Kramer plays on the single "Wheel Me Out". He makes a guest appearance again on their 2008 release "Boo!" on Ryko Records.
Kramer, along with the other surviving members of MC5, reformed in 1991 in a memorial concert to raise money for the family of former lead singer Rob Tyner, who died from a heart attack.
In 1994, Kramer signed to Brett Gurewitz's punk rock label Epitaph Records and began a solo career. He released solo records, including 1995's self-produced The Hard Stuff, which features the band Claw Hammer
Claw Hammer
Claw Hammer was an American indie rock band from California. Claw Hammer formed in 1986 in Long Beach, California; its members were from several neighboring municipalities. Their name was taken from a Captain Beefheart song...
on most songs, along with appearances from members of The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
and The Vandals
The Vandals
The Vandals are an American rock band established in 1980 in Huntington Beach, California. They have released ten full-length studio albums and two live albums and have toured the world extensively, including performances on the Vans Warped Tour...
. In 1996 he released Dangerous Madness. In 1997, he released Citizen Wayne, co-produced by David Was
David Was
David Was is, with his stage-brother Don Was, the founder of the 1980s pop group, Was .Was was born in Detroit, Michigan...
. In 1998, he played with Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group from Cleveland, Ohio.Père Ubu may also refer to:* Ubu, the enigmatic central figure of a series of French plays by Alfred Jarry, including Ubu Roi, and subsequent plays Ubu Cocu and Ubu Enchaîné...
. In 1999, he released the live record LLMF. In 2002, he released the studio album Adult World.
In 2001, Kramer and his wife and manager Margaret Saadi Kramer launched MuscleTone Records, an independent label. MuscleTone and Levi's Clothing partnered to produce a live performance featuring the MC5's surviving members and guests Ian Astbury (The Cult), Dave Vanian (The Damned) and Lemmy (Motorhead), which they filmed at London's 100 Club for Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. The event generated worldwide press coverage and prompted a world tour. The tour spanned several years and included dates in Europe, America, Australia, South America and Japan. They have performed together on and off since then with a variety of guests.
Recent events
Kramer also recorded as bassist on the song "Inside Job" for the grunge band Mudhoney for the album he produced, Beyond CyberPunk. In 2006 he was interviewed for the VH1 show The Drug Years and has been interviewed for nearly a dozen programs about the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots in Chicago, for recovery and addiction in rock and roll, and programs about social justice issues.On August 27, 2008, Kramer made a special guest appearance at political-rock band Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
's protest concert, at the Tent State Music Festival to End the War, in Denver, Colorado during the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He joined them on stage and gave a speech, followed by a joint performance of Kick Out the Jams.
On November 8, 2008, Kramer made a special guest appearance at progressive-rock band Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
's Neverender event in Hollywood, California. He was brought out during the encore act to perform with the band to Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", and added a third guitar part during the solos of Coheed's song, "Welcome Home."
On May 1, 2009 Kramer attended a sold- out benefit where he was honored for his work with the nonprofit Road Recovery at NYC's Nokia Theatre. The following day, on May 2, 2009 he along with fellow musicians Tom Morello, Jerry Cantrell, Billy Bragg, Perry Farrell, Gilby Clarke and Don Was among others, played for inmates at Sing Sing prison.
On February 21, 2011 Kramer played with Tom Morello, and The Street Dogs at a free show to support the ongoing pro union rallys at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. 5,000 wrist bands were given out for the free show at the Monona Terrace.
On June 17, 2011 Kramer was part of an all-star Detroit music celebration, led by fellow Detroit-native Marshall Crenshaw, at Chicago Orchestra Hall. This event was part of a series of six concerts called "United Sounds of America," all taking place at COH in June. Other artists who were scheduled to appear on the concert were Bettye LaVette, Brendon Benson, Amp Fiddler, Mick Collins, Regina Carter, Louis Hayes, Ralphe Armstrong and GayeLynn McKinney.
With the MC5
Albums- Kick Out the JamsKick Out the JamsKick 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...
(1969) - Back in the USA (1970)
- High Time (1971)
Solo albums
- Death Tongue (1991) Progressive
- The Hard Stuff (1995) Epitaph RecordsEpitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
- Dangerous Madness (1996) Epitaph RecordsEpitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
- Dodge Main (1996) Alive
- Gang War (1996) Sonic
- Citizen Wayne (1997) Epitaph RecordsEpitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
- LLMF (Live Like a Mutherfucker) (1998) Epitaph RecordsEpitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
- Mad for the Racket (2001) MuscleTone
- The Return of Citizen Wayne (2002) MuscleTone
- Adult World (2002) MuscleTone
- More Dangerous Madness (2004) Diesel Motor
Composer
Kramer's song "Stranger In The House" was featured on the Millennium (TV series)Millennium (TV series)
Millennium is an American television series created by Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files. Millennium aired on the Fox Network from 1996 to 1999. The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, though most episodes were ostensibly set in or around Seattle, Washington...
, on the May 16, 1997 Season 1 finale; "Paper Dove" (Episode 22).
Highlights from recent scoring work can be heard in the Will Ferrell comedies "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and Summer 2008’s "Step Bros" for Sony Pictures. Kramer's solo track “Edge of the Switchblade” runs at "Talladega's" end title credits. He co-composed the score for HBO’s controversial 2007 documentary "Hacking Democracy", which also featured his song “Something Broken in the Promised Land” as its title track.
Wayne recently completed work on the score for the ITVS/PBS documentary "The Narcotics Farm" about America’s decades-long failed drug war, as well as the accompanying soundtrack album entitled "Lexington".
He also was narrator for the documentary. Kramer also composes music for television, including themes for Fox Sports Network's "5-4-3-2-1", "Spotlight", "In My Own Words" and "Under the Lights" and E!’s Emmy-nominated series "Split Ends" as well as the “Unlabeled” Jim Beam commercial.
He is currently at work on the score for the new HBO comedy series "East Bound and Down," starring Danny McBride and executive produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy
Chris Henchy
Christopher Thomas "Chris" Henchy is an American, who graduated from Friendswood High school in 1982. He attended University of New Mexico. He is the co-executive producer of Entourage and one of the creators of the website Funny or Die...
under their new production banner Gary Sanchez. Season 1 has six episodes. It premiered on Sunday, February 15, 2009.
Influence
The 1996 EP "Eno Collaboration" by Half Man Half BiscuitHalf Man Half Biscuit
Half Man Half Biscuit, often "HMHB", are an English rock band from Birkenhead, Merseyside, active since the mid-1980s, known for satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs. The group comprises Nigel Blackwell , Neil Crossley , Ken Hancock , and Carl Henry...
features "Get Kramer", the lyrics of which begin:
We've got Kramer
Coming over
To produce us
So that we can show off to our specialist friends
Go down to the Falcon in Camden and say
'I'll have a pint for myself
And a pint for the ex-MC5"
Further on, mention is made of the band's work, viz:
And I'll call my farmhand
And he will come running in a red cap sleeve t-shirt
With a West Country smile that says
'I'll give you "Kick out the JAMS!"
The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
also weigh in on Kramer's drug troubles in their song "Jail Guitar Doors":
Let me tell you 'bout Wayne and his deals of
cocaine
A little more every day
Holding for a friend till the band do well
Then the D.E.A. locked him away
Tom Morello
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
of Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
often cites Kramer as a major influence and now performs with him at Axis Of Justice
Axis of Justice
Axis of Justice is a non-profit organization co-founded by Serj Tankian and Tom Morello. Its purpose is to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots progressivism to fight for social justice together.-Formation:...
shows.
External links
- Wayne Kramer's official website
- Wayne Kramer at Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...