R.I.P. Fred "Tonic" Smith of Television, Blondie, Fleshtones

Sadly, bassist Fred Smith – who played with Television, Blondie & The Fleshtones – has passed away at 77. He'll be greatly missed.

LINKS

Stereogum Television bassist Fred Smith dead at 77

Happy Birthday Fred Smith of Television!

Raising a glass to Fred "Tonic" Smith with a some Television footage shot at The Fillmore in SF back in 2015. 

One For The Weekend: Patti Smith & Fred Smith

Here's Fred & Patti Smith performing an acoustic version of "People Have The Power" back in March, 1990. 

 

Watch Leni Sinclair's 1969 promo clip for The MC5's Kick Out The Jams

Watch recently uncovered MC5 footage from Paris Gibus Club, 1972

Check out the rare performance clip of the mighty MC5 with guitarist Fred Smith (right) in his "Sonic Suit"

Before They Were Famous: MC5

This autographed photo of the Motor City Five circa 1966 was found at a flea market by Willy Wilson. 

Revisiting the MC5's rock 'n' revolution

Originally published in the UK three years ago, Brett Callwood's well-researched study of the Motor City's finest, MC5: Sonically Speaking, has finally been published in North America by Wayne State University Press. Subtitled "A Tale of Revolution and Rock 'n' Roll," the book. which esteemed MC5 authority Iggy Pop deemed "Sincere and straightforward, is built around Callwood's extensive interviews the surviving members. As a result, MC5: Sonically Speaking offers firsthand accounts of the influential group's high-school band origins to their Grande Ballroom glory days, the tumultuous time with manager John Sinclair and the White Panther Party through to the bitter end in 1972. And unlike past career overviews, the book also delves into the members' post-MC5 projects, including guitarist Fred Smith's vastly underrated Sonic's Rendezvous Band. As a special bonus, the expanded 249-page US edition comes with a snazzy new cover illustrated by famed poster artist Gary Grimshaw in the style of his classic Grande Ballroom designs. Nice touch!  

To celebrate the long-overdue US publication of MC5: Sonically Speaking, a launch party is being staged on October 1 at the New Way Bar (23130 Woodward Ave) in Ferndale, Michigan with performances by local roughnecks Luder, The Octopus, Man Incorporated and Marco Polio & the New Vaccines. Callwood will be on hand to sign copies of his book available for sale at the venue.




LINKS
Brett Callwood www.myspace.com/brettcallwood
MC5: Sonically Speaking http://wsupress.wayne.edu/books/1180/MC5#news1