Detroit Rock City: Grit, Noise, and Revolution
David A. Carson's Grit, Noise, & Revolution: The Birth of Detroit Rock 'N' Roll (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2005) gives a detailed overview of Detroit's metal scene, with emphasis on the 1965-1972 period. He begins earlier, happily with John Lee Hooker, one of my favorite blues artists of all time. Who can beat Hooker's voice, let alone his stomping, driving rhythm? Nor does he leap over Motown, giving a good assessment of the Funk Brothers and the Detroit soul/funk scene.
Carson examines the rise of all sorts of predominantly white bands, too, covering a lot of ground with the likes of Mitch Ryder, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes, Grand Funk Railroad, Alice Cooper, Rare Earth, the MC5, and, of course, Iggy and the Stooges. Carson aptly illustrates how most of these bands were driven by the industrial energies of Detroit and its environs -- what I once read described as "America's closest approximation to Hell." Makes perfect sense to me. Aside from John Lee Hooker and brilliant Motown prodigies like Marvin Gaye, my favorite by far of all these area artists is the Stooges, headlined by Iggy Pop. For some reason, I've always found the MC5 to be somewhat annoying -- maybe because they were so unsubtly political about everything, which kind of kills some of the raw power of loud electric music. But then again, John Sinclair is also a poet and Fred Sonic Smith of the band did marry Patti Smith. John Lee Hooker's "Motor City is Burning" is far more immediate and raw than the MC5's politicized cover; immediacy is what makes the Stooges so well representative of this area's grittiness, as well.
There are all sorts of great little details about the bands in their Detroit element. Forget Woodstock and Altamont. Can you imagine that there was actually a Detroit Pop Festival in 1969 -- two years after the great '67 riot? Or that Bob Seger played at a huge concert in the parking lot of Oakland Mall up on Fourteen Mile Road? I love these details, plus photos, discography, index, and notes. An excellent book by Carson, formerly of Royal Oak and former disc jocket who now lives -- along with Jack White and his dancing bride -- in Nashville.
Ciao from Motown/Detroit Rock City! Go Pistons!
4 comments:
To go beyond only hearing music is to know to understand as it became gift in history and as she evolved. Detroit was great inspiration for many artists and must also have inspired you. Kisses
Thanks, Luma! -- Yes, Detroit is a very inspiring place, maybe because it's so tricky, hard, tough, and mysterious, a place where one must work very hard to live, let alone be creative.
I grew up in the 1960's era of Battle of the Bands and the Hideout--Does anyone remember the Rationals? The Chosen Few? The Yorkshires? It was a real scene. Everybody was either in a band or with the band. I'm nearly deaf, but it was worth it.
Hey Detroitgirl, I've only been here since '97, but the Carson book has a chapter on the Hideout "at 20542 Harper Road, near Eight Mile in Harper Woods," a fair amount on the Rationals and a little on the other two. After the Ramones and the Who, I know what you mean about it being worth it ;)
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