Fred "Sonic" Smith

It is Saturday and time to "Kick out the Jams."  Fred "Sonic" Smith would have been 64 today.  Today he is primarily recognized as punk rock goddess and poet Patti Smith's late husband.  He is a product of a time when Detroit was on of the centers of the music universe - soul and rock,  Most remember Detroit as the home of Motown, but it was home to a vibrant rock scene - Grand Funk, The Stooges, Bob Seger, Mitch Ryder, The Rationals, ? Mark, Ted Nugent, and the MC5.

Sonic was a founder and lead guitarist for the MC5 - a band every bit as influential as Iggy Pop and The Stooges.   They hit the midwest rock scene in '68 with the apocryphal guitar rock statement:

After the breakup of the MC5, Fred continued to carry the banner of guitar rock when popular musical culture had moved on to disco and arena rock.  The Midwest remained a redoubt  of metal with Fred as one of the primary defenders. Enjoy another  from Fred and Sonic's Rendezvous Band.  The many could rock and play with the very best.

Here's a sonic rarity - Sonic and Patti Smith (pre marriage)from a 1977 Ann Arbor Concert.