MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson has died, age 75

According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, Thompson died on Thursday (May 9) at the MediLodge of Taylor, where he had been hospitalised and was in the process of recovery after suffering a heart attack in April.

Thompson was the last surviving member among the original MC5 line-up. His death comes after the passing of guitarist and co-founder Wayne Kramer in February after succumbing to pancreatic cancer. The band’s former manager John Sinclair, who was also a renowned and respected poet and activist, died last month.

(1/3) In Memoriam: 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Dennis Thompson earned the nickname “Machine Gun” through his aggressive drumming with Detroit’s Motor City 5. pic.twitter.com/azUc7CQcb0

— Rock Hall (@rockhall) May 10, 2024

In April, MC5 were finally announced as a long-overdue inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame later this year. Becky Tyner, widow of MC5 vocalist Rob Tyner told the Detroit Free Press that Thompson’s first reaction was: “It’s about fucking time!”

MC5 formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1972. Over the course of their career, the band released two studio album, 1970’s ‘Back in the USA’ and 1971’s ‘High Time’.