Wayne Kramer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wayne Kramer
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Kramer in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wayne Kambes |
| Born | April 30, 1948 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | February 2, 2024 (aged 75) |
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| Years active | 1964–2024 |
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Wayne Kramer (born Wayne Kambes; April 30, 1948 – February 2, 2024) was an American musician. He was a talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He also worked as a producer and created music for movies and TV shows.
Kramer became well-known in 1967 when he helped start the Detroit rock band MC5. This group was famous for their powerful live shows and their strong political views. After the MC5 broke up, Kramer started his own solo music career in the 1990s.
The music magazine Rolling Stone recognized him as one of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time".
Contents
Wayne Kramer's Music Career
Starting with MC5
In 1967, the band MC5 became the "House Band" at Detroit's famous Grande Ballroom. A writer named John Sinclair managed the band. He was a radical writer and helped start the White Panther Party. Sinclair became a mentor to Wayne Kramer, who was 20 years old at the time. He introduced Kramer to different kinds of music, poetry, and ideas about politics. They remained good friends throughout their lives.
The MC5 recorded three albums with major record labels. These included Kick Out The Jams in 1969 on Elektra records. They also released Back in the USA in 1971 and High Time in 1972, both with Atlantic Records. The MC5 toured a lot across the USA. However, they faced many problems because of their strong political messages. They were even banned from some radio stations. By 1972, the original band members decided to break up.
After MC5: New Beginnings
In 1979, Kramer started touring as a solo artist. He led different groups, including trios and quartets. He also joined the band Was (Not Was) as their first studio and touring guitarist. Kramer played on their first album, Was (Not Was), and their hit song "Wheel Me Out." He also played on their 1983 album Born to Laugh at Tornadoes. He returned to play on their 2008 album Boo. Kramer also performed with Don Was's Orquestra Was.
In 1979, he moved to New York City. He briefly joined a band called Gang War with Johnny Thunders. Kramer also played with and produced many bands in New York. He worked as a freelance studio guitarist, meaning he played guitar for different artists when they needed him. In the late 1980s, Kramer helped write a musical called The Last Words of Dutch Schultz. He performed this musical regularly in New York clubs.
During the 1980s, Kramer also worked as a carpenter in New York City. In 1988, he moved to Key West, Florida. There, he played in local bands and continued his work building custom homes. In 1990, Kramer moved again to Nashville, Tennessee. He kept doing custom woodworking, played music sessions, and produced local rock bands.
In 1991, Kramer reunited with some MC5 members in Detroit. They played a concert to honor their lead singer, Rob Tyner, who had passed away. This concert also raised money for Tyner's family.
Solo Career and Producing Music
In 1994, Kramer moved to Los Angeles. He signed with Brett Gurewitz's punk rock record label, Epitaph Records. This began a new part of his solo career. He released four albums with them. His 1995 album, The Hard Stuff, was produced by himself. It featured the band Claw Hammer on most songs. Members of The Melvins and The Vandals also appeared on the album.
In 1996, he released Dangerous Madness. In 1997, he released Citizen Wayne, which he co-produced with David Was. He also played on the song "Incomplete" from Bad Religion's 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction. In 1998, he played with Pere Ubu. In 1999, he released a live album called LLMF.
In 2000, Kramer released ... Blues. This album included some studio recordings from the 1970s. It also had four songs recorded live with The Pink Fairies in London in 1978.
In 2001, Kramer and his wife, Margaret Saadi Kramer, started their own independent record label called MuscleTone Records. MuscleTone and Levi's Clothing worked together to put on a live show. It featured the surviving members of MC5 and special guest musicians. They filmed this event in London for a TV channel in the United Kingdom. The show received a lot of attention worldwide and led to a world tour that lasted several years.
Kramer also played bass on the song "Inside Job" for the band Mudhoney. He produced the album that song was on, called Beyond CyberPunk. Kramer's 2004 free jazz album, "Lexington," reached number 6 on Billboard's Top Jazz Charts.
Later Years and Projects
In May 2018, Kramer announced the MC50 tour. This tour celebrated the 50th anniversary of the MC5's album "Kick Out the Jams." The tour lineup included Kramer himself. Other musicians joined him, such as Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron from Soundgarden. Brendan Canty from Fugazi and Doug Pinnick from King's X also played. Don Was was part of the tour too. Later, Faith No More bassist Billy Gould replaced Pinnick. Marcus Durant, the singer from Zen Guerrilla, completed the group.
Kramer's first memoir, which is a book about his own life, came out in 2018.
In 2020, Kramer, Jason Heath, and Luke Morrison built the CAPO Center in Los Angeles. This center is a full-service youth center. It has a recording studio, a learning lab, and a performance space. It helps young people who have been involved with the justice system.
In 2021, Kramer contributed to the Alice Cooper album, Detroit Stories. He played guitar and sang backing vocals on most of the album. He also helped write many of the songs. The album was very successful around the world. It reached number 1 in Germany and number 4 in the UK. It also topped Billboard's sales chart.
In March 2022, Kramer said he was working on new MC5 music. He mentioned writing and recording a new album. He felt that everyone could be part of the "MC5 spirit."
Death
Wayne Kramer passed away from pancreatic cancer on February 2, 2024. He was 75 years old.
Music for Film and TV
Kramer's song "Stranger in the House" was used in the TV series Millennium in 1997.
He also created music for movies. Highlights of his work can be heard in the Will Ferrell comedies Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Step Brothers. Kramer's solo song "Edge of the Switchblade" plays at the start of the end credits for Talladega Nights.
Kramer also composed music for television shows. He created themes for Fox Sports Network's 5-4-3-2-1, Spotlight, In My Own Words, and Under the Lights. He also scored for E!'s Emmy-nominated series Split Ends. He even composed music for a Jim Beam commercial called "Unlabeled."
He scored for the HBO comedy series Eastbound & Down. This show starred Danny McBride and was produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Chris Henchy. It first aired in February 2009.
Film and TV Music Credits
- CREEM: America's Only Rock & Roll Magazine (2019) - Composer
- Shut It Down (2021) - Composer
- Being Evel (2015) - Additional Music
- Algren: Prophet of the Neon Wilderness (2014) - Composer
- Concrete Blondes (2013) - Composer
- Fully Loaded (2011) - Additional Music
- Salem Rogers (2015) - Pilot episode music
- Why Not? With Shania Twain (2011) - Series Season 1 (All Episodes)
- Sonic Revolution (2005) - Main Title Theme & Musical Director
- CBGB (2013) - Music Producer for "Because the Night" single
- The Big Short (2016) - Guitars
- Russian Five (2018) - Composer
- Welcome to Me (2015) - Alice’s Title Theme & Additional Music
- Hell & Back (2015) - Original Songs & Additional Music
- House of A Lifetime: Richard Lewis (2014) - Composer
- Let Fury Have the Hour (2012) - Composer
- The Story of Van’s (2016) - Television Commercial Composer for "Van’s Turns 50"
- Bad Judge (2014-2015) - Series Season 1 (All Episodes)
- Kell On Earth (2009-2010) - Co-Composer (Various Episodes)
- South of Nowhere (2007) - Series Additional Score
- C.O.G. (2013) - Contributing Score Mixer & Music Recordist
- Guitar Hero World Tour (2009) - Video game music
Selected Albums
With the MC5
- Kick Out the Jams (1969)
- Back in the USA (1970)
- High Time (1971)
Solo Albums
- Death Tongue (1991)
- The Hard Stuff (1995)
- Dangerous Madness (1996)
- Citizen Wayne (1997)
- Adult World (2002)
Live Albums
- LLMF (1998)
Other Albums
- Gang War (1990) - with Johnny Thunders
- Dodge Main (1996) - with Dodge Main
- Mad For The Racket (2000) - with The Racketeers
Reissued Albums
- The Hard Stuff + (2004)
- More Dangerous Madness (2004)
- The Return of Citizen Wayne (2004)
See also
In Spanish: Wayne Kramer para niños
