“As dangerous as a Detroit riot”: The band that invented punk rock, according to Tom Morello

Posted On January 17, 2025January 17, 2025

Even for the most seasoned music historian, it is often difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of a certain musical genre. The case tends to be that movements are formed from a gradual shift in focus or a menagerie of different artists landing upon the same idea at the same time. This is certainly the case when it comes to punk rock, whose origins either lie within the sweat-soaked walls of the CBGB club or stretch back to the beatnik generation of the 1950s, depending on who you ask. 

There are a multitude of different artists who could be argued to be the originators of the punk genre. From the early shock rock of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to the trailblazing power of Iggy Pop and The Stooges to the profound nature of Patti Smith and Horses, the debate surrounding punk’s origins has rallied on for decades.

During the 1990s, one of punk’s most prominent groups was Rage Against the Machine. In terms of sound, the California outfit blended influences of hip-hop, metal, and alternative rock, but their punk attitude was always unwavering. Building upon the rich history of political activism and rebellion within the punk genre, Rage was tireless in challenging the status quo of American society during that era. As such, guitarist Tom Morello has certainly earned the right to give his two cents on the history of punk.

Luckily, Morello did just that while speaking at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last year. During his impassioned speech, the guitarist heaped praise onto one of the forerunners of the proto-punk age: The MC5. Formed in Michigan in 1963, the group offered a stunningly abrasive alternative to the hippie-dippy sounds of America’s counterculture age, opting for anger and raw power rather than peace and love.

“The MC5 crystalised the ‘60s counterculture movement at its most volatile and threatening,” Morello shared. “They were as bold and as musically adventurous as experimental jazz, as militant and as stylish as the Black Panther Party, and as loud and as dangerous as a Detroit riot.” Inspired by the sounds of the DIY garage rock boom in cities like Detroit, the MC5 adopted a sound unlike any other rock band of that era, which made them both exciting and, in the eyes of the establishment, dangerous. As such, it is difficult to argue against Morello’s take on the group.

Continuing in his praise of the pioneering outfit, the Rage Against the Machine guitarist said, “But perhaps their greatest accomplishment was that the MC5, in sound and in attitude, laid the cornerstone for one of rock’s most exciting and important genres.” Explaining their impact on the development of punk, Morello continued, “Before The Ramones, before the Sex Pistols, before The Clash, there was the MC5, inventing the template of raw power and irreverent attitude that became punk rock.”

Certainly, upon listening to iconic tracks like ‘Kick Out The Jams’, it is easy to see how the power and aggression inherent in the band’s music went on to inspire the later development of punk. In fact, without the MC5, Iggy Pop probably would not have formed The Stooges, a band often credited with laying the groundwork for the punk scene.

Both the music and attitude of the MC5 were essential in inspiring other budding young musicians to question authority and adopt a fiercely original sound, rather than following the crowd. The band arrived at the perfect time to expose the complacency of the hippie age, ushering in a new era both for music and subculture. In other words, Tom Morello’s claims that The MC5 invented punk rock are very difficult to credibly dispute.

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