Wayne Kramer, the co-founder and guitarist for the mighty MC5, passed away on Friday, February 5th, at 75 years old. In occasional Pencil Storm fashion, we’ll leave the lengthy tributes to bigger outlets, but here’s a connection you may not be aware of and find interesting.
In Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, named that after the influx of Irish immigrants that came to work the factories in the manufacturing era, sits a bar called The Lager House. It’s one of Detroit’s most treasured dive-bar-music-venues and dates back to pre-Prohibition times. The bar is going strong, even after long-time owner and music-lover/supporter Paul “PJ” Ryder sold it after the pandemic.
When PJ was at the helm, he commissioned local artist Eric Patrick Kelly to paint a giant mural of Brother Wayne on the brick wall that hovers over the back patio. I like to think PJ was motivated by Eric’s work on the cover of The Tucos’ Don’t Worry it’s Not Contagious LP, but that remains unconfirmed.
Jeremy Porter and The Tucos - Don’t Worry… It’s Not Contagious artwork by Eric Patrick Kelly
The creation of the mural was covered by local press and remains a landmark photo-op in Corktown today. It’s been on endless touring-bands’ Instagram feeds, celebrating their Detroit stop, with a nod to Wayne and the great MC5 on the patio of “The Lager.” Welcome to the Motor City, as influential to rock and roll as any city anywhere. Now get up on that stage and kick out the jams!
Here is Eric’s post from Saturday. Rest easy Brother Wayne. Thanks for helping to make rock and roll dangerous.
Eric Patrick Kelly and Wayne Kramer on the patio of PJ’s Lager House.
Jeremy Porter lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
www.thetucos.com
www.facebook.com/jeremyportermusic
www.rockandrollrestrooms.com
Twitter: @jeremyportermi | Instagram: @onetogive & @jeremyportermusic
