ROB TYNER
Rob Tyner (born Robert W. Derminer; December 12, 1944 – September 18, 1991) was an American musician best known as lead singer for the Detroit proto-punk band, MC5. His adopted surname was in tribute to the jazz pianist McCoy Tyner. It was Tyner who issued the rallying cry of “kick out the jams, motherf--kers” at the MC5’s live concerts. Tyner had originally auditioned as the bass player, but the band felt his talents would be best used as a lead vocalist. (More from Wikipedia)
MC5 was formed in 1964 by several high school friends, Rob Tyner (vocalist), Fred “Sonic” Smith (guitar), Wayne Kramer (guitar), Pat Burrows (bass), and Bob Gaspar (drums). The two guitarists began experimenting with feedback and distortion in their concerts in 1965, and a new rhythm section joined in 1966, Michael Davis (bass) and Dennis Thompson (drums). MC5 got a regular gig at the Grande Ballroom, where their album Kick out the Jams was recorded live in October 1968.
In his 5-star review of the MC5 album, Mark Deming raves in Allmusic: “Kick out the Jams is one of the most powerfully energetic live albums ever made; Wayne Kramer and Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith were a lethal combination on tightly interlocked guitars, bassist Michael Davis and drummer Dennis Thompson were as strong a rhythm section as Detroit ever produced, and Rob Tyner’s vocals could actually match the soulful firepower of the musicians, no small accomplishment. Even on the relatively subdued numbers (such as the blues workout ‘Motor City Is Burning’), the band sounds like they’re locked in tight and cooking with gas; while the full-blown rockers (pretty much all of side one) are as gloriously thunderous as anything ever committed to tape. This is an album that refuses to be played quietly.”
(December 2016)
