Wayne Kramer

Wayne Kramer
Wayne Kramer
	Kramer in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Wayne Stanley Kambes
Born	April 30, 1948; Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	February 2, 2024 (aged 75); Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Punk rock; psychedelic rock; garage rock; blues rock; protopunk; hard rock; free jazz;
Occupations	Musician; songwriter; producer;
Instruments	Guitar; bass; vocals;
Years active	1964–2024
Labels	Epitaph; Alive; Atlantic; Elektra;
Formerly of	MC5
Spouse(s)	Margaret Saadi
Website	www.waynekramer.com

Wayne Stanley Kramer (né Kambes; April 30, 1948 – February 2, 2024) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, and film and television composer. Kramer came to prominence in the 1960s as the lead guitarist of the Detroit rock band MC5.

Kramer and guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith co-founded the MC5 in 1963, with vocalist Rob Tyner, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson joining shortly after. The MC5 became known for their powerful live performances and radical left-wing political stance. The group broke up amid government harassment, poverty, and drug abuse. For Kramer, this led to several fallow years as he battled drug addiction before returning to an active recording and performing schedule in the 1990s. Kramer also founded the independent initiative Jail Guitar Doors, USA with Billy Bragg and Margaret Saadi Kramer in 2009. The project was named after a song by The Clash, which the band had written as the 'B' side of Clash City Rockers in dedication to Kramer and to raise awareness of his term in prison.The song opens with the lines "Let me tell you 'bout Wayne and his deals of cocaine", which is a reference to Wayne Kramer's internment. ^[2]

Rolling Stone ranked him among the "100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time".

^ Cite error: The named reference NYT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Wayne Kramer on Jail Guitar Doors: 'We have no shortage of prisons'". Digital Spy. July 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2015.

[NYT-1] Cite error: The named reference NYT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] "Wayne Kramer on Jail Guitar Doors: 'We have no shortage of prisons'". Digital Spy. July 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2015.

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