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Dennis Thompson (drummer)

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Dennis Thompson
Background information
Birth nameDennis Andrew Tomich
Also known as
  • Machine Gun
  • MGT
Born(1948-09-07)September 7, 1948
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMay 9, 2024(2024-05-09) (aged 75)
Taylor, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1965–2022
Formerly of

Dennis Thompson (born Dennis Andrew Tomich;[1] September 7, 1948 – May 9, 2024) was an American drummer known for playing with the 1960s–70s Detroit proto-punk/hard rock group MC5,[2] which had a No. 82 US single with "Kick Out the Jams" and a No. 30 US album with the same name.

Biography

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Thompson was born Dennis Andrew Tomich in Detroit in 1948.[3] He began playing drums by the time he was nine years old.[4] Joining the MC5 by 1965,[5] Thompson was later given the nickname "Machine Gun" because of his "assault" style of fast, hard-hitting drumming that sonically resembles the sound of his namesake Thompson machine gun (commonly referred to as a "Tommy Gun"). His drumming pre-figured and influenced punk, metal, and hardcore punk drumming styles.[citation needed]

After MC5 broke up in the early 1970s, Thompson was a member of the 1975–1976 Los Angeles–based supergroup The New Order, the 1981 Australia-based supergroup New Race, The Motor City Bad Boys, and The Secrets. In 2001, he guested for Asmodeus X on the song "The Tiger" (St. Thomas Records).[6]

His influences include Elvin Jones, Keith Moon and Mitch Mitchell, and Motown.[7] In 2015, he described how his drumming technique had changed considerably over time, playing with "much less force and tucked in elbows, more wrist action and less arm action".[8]

Thompson was in the band DKT/MC5 with the surviving members of MC5, from 2003–2012. Later, he recorded two tracks for a new MC5 album scheduled for October 2022 release, although as of February 2023 the album has not yet been released.[9]

Death

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Thompson suffered a heart attack in April 2024, and died in Taylor, Michigan, on May 9, 2024, at the age of 75.[3][10] He was the final surviving member of the MC5.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Dennis Thompson". Allmusic. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  2. ^ McCann, Ian (September 17, 2021). "Rob Tyner: How MC5's Frontman Led a Rock'n'Roll Revolution". Dig!. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Yoon, John (May 10, 2024). "Dennis Thompson, Drummer and Last Remaining Member of MC5, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Gross, Jason (November 1998). "MC5- Dennis Thompson interview". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Iconic proto-punk guitarist brings 'reanimation' of MC5 to Bimbo's - CBS San Francisco. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  6. ^ Asmodeus X band biography, Electrogarden.com, Retrieved September 1, 2009]
  7. ^ City Slang: Dennis Thompson on “Kick out the Jams” - Detroit Metro Times. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  8. ^ Modern drummer interview with Dennis Thompson. April 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  9. ^ Wayne Kramer Unveils 'We Are All MC5' Spring Tour - Yahoo!. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  10. ^ McCollum, Brian (May 9, 2024). "Dennis Thompson, MC5 drummer and 'last man standing,' dies at 75". The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  11. ^ Dennis Thompson, last remaining member of MC5, dies at age 75. The Detroit News. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
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