MC5's Steve "Sonic" Smith Mosrite Madness

[Black Headstock]

Check out Steve "Sonic" Smith with his white Mosrite (and a black one in some shots).

The best (or worst) is what he does to that white Mosrite in the last few seconds of this 1972 vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaR6Rh5H_vE

Kick Out The Jams!!!

Alan

[Sarah93003]

I remember that song. Is Steve related to Fred?

[zarfnober]

It was Fred "Sonic" Smith.

Rocco

[Black Headstock]

Oh well, that will teach me to post on the Mosrite Forum 5-minutes after waking up this morning and 10-minutes before a first cup of coffee; of course FRED "Sonic" Smith, don't know where I got (Steve) from.

I see a lot of Fred "Sonic" Smith in Johnny Ramone's later stage presence. And Fred very often played a Rickenbacker like Johnny Ramone later did for a time.

This is one intense vid.

[brutus]

totally awesome!!! What can you say about MC5 that wasn't been said.. great vid.

[JohnnySonic]

My favorite guitar player of all time. Bar none. A real wiz on the strings. From 1968 to about 1969, an original Mosrite Ventures model seemed to be Freds guitar of choice. Later it was a Rickenbacker 450 with PAFs and a Mosrite modified with a p90 in the bridge position and a PAF in the neck as a backup. The Kick Out The Jams album was almost certainly recorded with a Mosrite. My favorite Fred-moment from that album could not be found on youtube (an incredible solo from the song "Rocket Reducer No. 65" where he and Wayne Kramer blast of in an exchange of fiery notes where Fred is panned to the left). But, this is pretty cool too.

[eltuce]

Thank you Johnny! I was waiting for you to chime in!

[JohnnySonic]

Thank you Johnny! I was waiting for you to chime in!

Well, you know me. Hopeless Fred-fanatic.

[Black Headstock]

Clearer MC5 footage 1969; some good looks at that white Mosrite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQUCpMhLM-4

Alan

[slapshot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgL1H0dOBgc
Sonic's Rendezvous Band