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Michael Davis (bassist)
Encyclopedia
Michael Davis is a bass guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer.
bassist Pat Burrows when singer Rob Tyner
and guitarist Wayne Kramer
decided that they liked Davis' style and wanted him in the band.
MC5 comprises:
Together they were the hardcore of the late 1960s musical revolution that began in the American Midwest. Formed in the fall of 1965, the MC5 created an explosive sound that put them at the forefront of the radical social and political scene in their native Detroit. They became the symbolic figureheads for an artists’ collective called Trans Love Energies, as well as for The White Panther Party, and embodied the character of the entire scene – subversive, extravagant, and totally hip. The MC5 are the proud forefathers of banned albums and censored lyrics and liner notes.{Bartkowiak, M. J. (2009). The MC5 and social change: A study in rock and revolution. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.} As a result of this and their irreverence and anti-government messages, they brought on the ire of concert promoters and the police.{Bartkowiak, M. J. (2009). The MC5 and social change: A study in rock and revolution. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.}
at the urging of friend Ron Asheton
, of The Stooges.
Davis spent seven years with Destroy All Monsters, penning the underground punk hits "Nobody Knows", "Meet the Creeper", "Little Boyfriend", "Rocking The Cradle" and "Fast City" among others. The band recorded and released on Cherry Red Records, toured the U.K., and then broke up.
and Dennis Thompson to play a show at London's
legendary 100 Club as part of a promotion for an MC5 inspired line of apparel for Levi Strauss Vintage Clothing. This spawned a 200 city world tour and a trip back into the studio to write new songs.
freeway in May 2006, Davis along with his wife Angela Davis, launched a non-profit organization called The Music Is Revolution Foundation to support music education in public schools.
Volunteers Jake Cavaliere (The Lords of Altamont), Handsome Dick Manitoba (The Dictators), Steve Aoki (Dim Mak Records/Kid Millionaire), Pro-Skater Corey Duffel
, Pennywise
bassist Randy Bradbury
and Obey Giant's
Shepard Fairey
work alongside Davis to raise funds and public awareness about the ability of music education to increase cognitive ability and test scores, reduce absenteeism and drop-out rates and to inspire a new generation of future voters to learn about other cultures and other times, develop greater understanding of the world around them, and express themselves through music.
, Dollhouse, Tokyo Sex Destruction, and OJM.
Several years of immersion in life in the desert southwest and world travels with various rock bands left Davis with the inspiration and desire to return to his roots as a painter, studying art along the way at The Armory Center For The Arts in Pasadena, CA, the University of Oregon, in Eugene, OR, and at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon and Butte Community College/California State University, Chico in Chico, CA.
In 2006 he collaborated with artist Chris Kro, pro skateboarder Corey Duffel, and Foundation Skateboards to design a commemorative line of skateboard decks and t-shirts.
In 2007, he collaborated with OBEY’s Shepard Fairey on a limited line of MC5:OBEY merchandise.
In 2009, his painting “White Panther/Big World” appeared on the Cleopatra Records release MC5: The Very Best of MC5.
In 2011, his painting titled “Black To Comm Sk8r Boys” appeared as the cover art for the Easy Action Records multi-media audio/DVD release from the 2009 sold- out performance by British rock superstars Primal Scream and the reunited surviving members of the MC5 at the Royal Festival Hall. This piece inspired a series of four additional paintings, as well as a run of limited edition prints, all featuring the Sk8tr Boys, this time against iconic Detroit backdrops.
Today Davis devotes much of his time to drawing and painting at Birdseye House Studios in Chico, California. At age 68, he has decided to finally finish the BFA that he began in 1963. He currently lives in Chico, California with his wife and sons.
MC5
He replaced original MC5MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
bassist Pat Burrows when singer Rob Tyner
Robin Tyner
Rob Tyner remains best known as lead singer for the American proto-punk rock band MC5. Born Robert Derminer, his adopted surname was in tribute to the jazz pianist McCoy Tyner. It was Tyner who issued the infamous rallying cry of "kick out the jams, motherfuckers" at the MC5's live concerts...
and guitarist Wayne Kramer
Wayne Kramer (guitarist)
Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and film and television scorer....
decided that they liked Davis' style and wanted him in the band.
MC5 comprises:
- Michael Davis, bass,
- Wayne KramerWayne Kramer (guitarist)Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and film and television scorer....
, guitar, - Fred "Sonic" Smith, guitar,
- Dennis “Machine Gun” ThompsonDennis Thompson (drummer)Dennis Thompson is the drummer with the 1960s/1970s Detroit proto-punk/hard rock group MC5, which had a #82 US single with "Kick Out The Jams" and a #30 US album with the same name....
, drums, and - Rob TynerRobin TynerRob Tyner remains best known as lead singer for the American proto-punk rock band MC5. Born Robert Derminer, his adopted surname was in tribute to the jazz pianist McCoy Tyner. It was Tyner who issued the infamous rallying cry of "kick out the jams, motherfuckers" at the MC5's live concerts...
, vocals.
Together they were the hardcore of the late 1960s musical revolution that began in the American Midwest. Formed in the fall of 1965, the MC5 created an explosive sound that put them at the forefront of the radical social and political scene in their native Detroit. They became the symbolic figureheads for an artists’ collective called Trans Love Energies, as well as for The White Panther Party, and embodied the character of the entire scene – subversive, extravagant, and totally hip. The MC5 are the proud forefathers of banned albums and censored lyrics and liner notes.{Bartkowiak, M. J. (2009). The MC5 and social change: A study in rock and revolution. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.} As a result of this and their irreverence and anti-government messages, they brought on the ire of concert promoters and the police.{Bartkowiak, M. J. (2009). The MC5 and social change: A study in rock and revolution. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.}
Destroy All Monsters
Upon his release, joined the Ann Arbor based art noise band Destroy All MonstersDestroy All Monsters (band)
Destroy All Monsters were an influential Detroit band existing from 1973 to 1985, with sporadic performances since. Their music touched on elements of punk rock, psychedelic, heavy metal music and noise rock with a heavy dose of performance art. Their name likely came from the Godzilla film Destroy...
at the urging of friend Ron Asheton
Ron Asheton
Ronald Frank Asheton was an American guitarist and co-songwriter with Iggy Pop for the rock band The Stooges.Asheton is ranked as number 29 on Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time....
, of The Stooges.
Davis spent seven years with Destroy All Monsters, penning the underground punk hits "Nobody Knows", "Meet the Creeper", "Little Boyfriend", "Rocking The Cradle" and "Fast City" among others. The band recorded and released on Cherry Red Records, toured the U.K., and then broke up.
Blood Orange
After the demise of the MC5, Davis then moved to Arizona, where he played in Blood Orange, and then Rich Hopkins and Luminarios, the latter taking him back in to the studio to record several albums for Germany's Blue Rose Records. In the spring of 2003, Davis reunited with fellow surviving members Wayne KramerWayne Kramer (guitarist)
Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and film and television scorer....
and Dennis Thompson to play a show at London's
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
legendary 100 Club as part of a promotion for an MC5 inspired line of apparel for Levi Strauss Vintage Clothing. This spawned a 200 city world tour and a trip back into the studio to write new songs.
Music education project
Following a serious motorcycle crash on a Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
freeway in May 2006, Davis along with his wife Angela Davis, launched a non-profit organization called The Music Is Revolution Foundation to support music education in public schools.
Volunteers Jake Cavaliere (The Lords of Altamont), Handsome Dick Manitoba (The Dictators), Steve Aoki (Dim Mak Records/Kid Millionaire), Pro-Skater Corey Duffel
Corey Duffel
Corey Duffel is a skater from Walnut Creek, California. He was born on April 11, 1984 as William Corey Duffel to Steve and Sharon. He is known for his fast-paced skating style, skating big gaps, rails, stairs, riding big wall ride gaps, and any large obstacles like the freeway gap in Cataclysmic...
, Pennywise
Pennywise (band)
Pennywise is a Californian punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. The name is derived from the monster, It, from the Stephen King novel of the same title....
bassist Randy Bradbury
Randy Bradbury
Randy Bradbury is the current bass guitar player for the Californian punk band Pennywise.He joined in October 1995 when founding bass player Jason Thirsk left the band. Randy was supposed to switch to rhythm guitar when Thirsk returned, but it never happened due to Thirsk's suicide in 1996...
and Obey Giant's
André the Giant Has a Posse
Andre the Giant Has a Posse is a street art and viral marketing campaign based on a design by Shepard Fairey created in 1989 in Providence, Rhode Island. Distributed by the skater community, the stickers featuring an image of André the Giant began showing up in many cities across the U.S.A...
Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey
Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
work alongside Davis to raise funds and public awareness about the ability of music education to increase cognitive ability and test scores, reduce absenteeism and drop-out rates and to inspire a new generation of future voters to learn about other cultures and other times, develop greater understanding of the world around them, and express themselves through music.
Record production
Davis also produces records for garage and punk bands, including The Mothers Anger (on Dionysus Records), the Lords of AltamontLords of Altamont
The Lords of Altamont are a Hard Rock/Garage/Punk/Psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles. The current lineup consists of members of The Bomboras, The Fuzztones and The Cramps. They have released 3 albums and are on the verge of releasing their 4th, "Midnight To 666", in early 2011...
, Dollhouse, Tokyo Sex Destruction, and OJM.
Art Career
In 1964, Davis dropped out of the fine arts program at Wayne State University and achieved fame as the bassist, songwriter, and vocalist for the legendary Detroit pro-punk band MC5. After the MC5 self-destructed in the early 1970s, Davis continued exploration as a visual artist while serving time at the Lexington Federal Correction Institution for a narcotics violation. During this period, he was tasked with creating oversized abstract paintings for permanent display in the prison’s Visitor Center and administrative offices.Several years of immersion in life in the desert southwest and world travels with various rock bands left Davis with the inspiration and desire to return to his roots as a painter, studying art along the way at The Armory Center For The Arts in Pasadena, CA, the University of Oregon, in Eugene, OR, and at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon and Butte Community College/California State University, Chico in Chico, CA.
In 2006 he collaborated with artist Chris Kro, pro skateboarder Corey Duffel, and Foundation Skateboards to design a commemorative line of skateboard decks and t-shirts.
In 2007, he collaborated with OBEY’s Shepard Fairey on a limited line of MC5:OBEY merchandise.
In 2009, his painting “White Panther/Big World” appeared on the Cleopatra Records release MC5: The Very Best of MC5.
In 2011, his painting titled “Black To Comm Sk8r Boys” appeared as the cover art for the Easy Action Records multi-media audio/DVD release from the 2009 sold- out performance by British rock superstars Primal Scream and the reunited surviving members of the MC5 at the Royal Festival Hall. This piece inspired a series of four additional paintings, as well as a run of limited edition prints, all featuring the Sk8tr Boys, this time against iconic Detroit backdrops.
Today Davis devotes much of his time to drawing and painting at Birdseye House Studios in Chico, California. At age 68, he has decided to finally finish the BFA that he began in 1963. He currently lives in Chico, California with his wife and sons.