Michael Davis, bassist for one of my all-time favorite bands, The MC5, passed away last week from liver disease. Given the fact that so much of the attention on the Motor City boys was on guitarists Wayne Kramer and Sonic Smith, or on vocalist Rob Tyner, it might be easy to forget just how important the rhythm section was to one of the most influential Rock’n’Roll outfits of all time…Here are just a few reminders. Expect to hear several of these when Melting Pot returns to the KPFK airwaves on March 4th.
“Future/Now”
One of the few times where Davis’ bass leads off the tune, and it really sets the tone for one of the MC5’s toughest grooves:
“Over & Over”
Another track from the band’s final record High Times, and another song where Davis’ bass features prominently in the mix and the sound:
“I Believe To My Soul”
Recorded live at the Grande Ballroom in 1968, with Davis’ fuzzed out bass much more prominently featured in the mix than on the Elektra album…this is probably how the band should have sounded on their debut.