Listening to John Coltrane on Acid on a Hot Summer Day

The late Wayne Kramer on the music that blew his mind.

Wayne Kramer has died. He was 75 years old. I literally gasped when I heard the news.

The man was a legend. MC5, the proto-punk band he co-founded in Detroit, Michigan, inspired generations of no-shit-taking rockers from The Stooges to Tom Morello. After serving four years in a Kentucky prison for selling (in his words) “a big pile of cocaine” to undercover feds, Wayne played guitar for Was (Not Was), produced songs by infamous shock-rocker GG Allin, and launched indie label MuscleTone Records.

He was also one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met. And curiously enough, also the funniest. The last time I spoke with Wayne, he asked about my son, a 12-year-old aspiring guitarist. I asked if he had any pointers and Wayne said, “Tell him to lay off the cocaine. Prison ain’t worth it.” I laughed so hard, I nearly peed myself.

Here’s one of the last interviews I ever did with him. Rest in power, Brother Wayne.