[Landline special] Looking at them

The great lost documentary about the MC5

Friends,

Thinking about Wayne Kramer of the MC5’s recent passing¹ has, of course, sadly, unfortunately, led me to thinking about what’s arguably the greatest rock ‘n’ roll documentary film ever made, MC5 A True Testimonial, which was set for official release almost exactly 20 years ago…and then disappeared into a big mess.

Two of the 22x17-inch spreads from the massive multi-article MC5 feature published in Arthur No. 9 (March 2004). Photos courtesy Leni Sinclair. Design by W.T. Nelson.

This marvelous, deeply moving film is, apparently, unlikely to ever be legitimately issued—something I think I may never comprehend, no matter how many articles I read about it (and jeez, I think I've read them all!)².

I screened A True Testimonial many times for friends, back before my promotional DVD was permanently borrowed by someone, and just thinking about the film—about the absolutely outrageous story it tells, and the explosive, heartbreaking way it tells it—still makes me well up.

It wasn’t just me. Peter Margasak at the Chicago Reader had this to say, back in 2004:

[The filmmakers] uncovered unseen performance footage and talked to just about everyone ever associated with the band. [Director David] Thomas edited for maximum impact, meticulously matching studio recordings to silent performance footage in a way that brings extra spark and power to both. The movie makes a persuasive argument that the MC5 were the most exciting live band in rock history.

For an in-depth, properly enthusiastic review of the film, see The Seth Man’s 2002 review at Head Heritage. There are many other reviews available online, but his is my favorite. I encourage you to read every everlovin’ word.

And for a look at what the filmmakers were going for, see Steffie Nelson’s March 2004 feature-interview for the old Arthur Magazine: HIGH FIVE: Detroit’s visionary MC5 receive a film tribute that aims to rewrite rock history. Be sure to read to the end—it has a great, cosmic, truly heavy kicker.

I don’t know what has to happen for A True Testimonial to be released to the public. But, in the meantime, the entirety of this miracle of a film is currently up posted on a certain well-known archival website, available to stream and download, in two parts. You should be able to find it. If you aren’t, send me a note and I’ll try to help you out.

Thanks for reading — I had to testify!

Jay Babcock

Arizona

1. With Wayne’s passing, drummer Dennis Thompson is the last surviving member of the MC5.

2. I’ve always suspected this 2004 Detroit Metro Times piece by John Sinclair, the band’s one-time manager, may get closest to the root(s) of the issue, but there’s no way of knowing.