MC-5 at the *Straight Theater* by MIKE WALTER
Artwork-Gary Grimshaw
We had never heard of the MC5
before the Straight Theater gig. After that one night we never
forgot them. I was a roadie for Clover at the time and was one
of the first to arrive to set-up the equipment for the night. The MC5's
roadies were already there setting up a huge wall of Marshall amps on
the rear of the stage. I had never seen such a massive wall of powerful
amps ever. I set-up Clover's equipment in front of that wall and when
I was done Clover's amps looked like toys in comparison. Having finished
my job for the moment I went into the band room where the MC5
were sitting around in t-shirts, Levi's and black leather jackets. I
thought, "Hey, these guys look pretty normal. What's the big deal?"
About then Clover arrived and I left for the stage to finish my work.
Clover opened the show and after their set I tore down the equipment
and stored it behind the stage. The second act was The Congress of
Wonders, a very hip and funny comedy team of three guys. As they
took the stage one of them took off his jacket and tossed it at the
wall of Marshalls. As the jacket brushed the massive amp, the giant
wall fell over backwards off the stage, crushing Johnny Ciambotti's
bass guitar case. Luckily the guitar was OK, but the amp was a mess.
The guy in The Congress of Wonders was as white as a sheet muttering
that if the amp had fallen forward he would have been crushed and that
his jacket was not an amp killer and should be forgiven. I think that's
when the two bands started talking to each other. Apologies from the
MC5 and an "it's ok man, it was only my case and not my axe"
from Johnny. Most times if we played first we would leave early and
go home, but this night we stayed to catch the show. And what a show
it was! |