MC5 guitarist and co-founder Wayne Kramer has died at the age of 75 after battling pancreatic cancer.
His passing was announced on his Instagram page last night (February 2) with the words: “Wayne S Kramer. Peace be with you. April 30 1948 – February 2 2024.”
Kramer died at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles according to Jason Heath, an executive director of the artist’s nonprofit Jail Guitar Doors, [via Billboard].
Tributes have poured in for the MC5 man with the likes of Primal Scream, Slash and Tom Morello paying their respects.
“Brother Wayne Kramer R.I.P.” wrote Primal Scream in a lengthy post on their Instagram page. “We are sad to hear about the passing of Wayne Kramer guitarist with the MC5. @mc5alive being one of our favourite bands ever.”
They went on to recall how they once played a show with Kramer and the band at Meltdown in 2007.
The band added: “We’ll never forget walking into @alaska_studios practice room in Waterloo to be welcomed by a smiling brother Wayne and his 5 comrades Michael & Dennis. They were all so gracious to us, Wayne especially, a soft spoken gentle guy. A dream come true to play with them. Their music will live forever.”
