Michael Davis (bassist)

Michael Davis
Michael Davis
Occupation	Bass guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Music Producer, and Artist.

Michael Davis (born 5 June 1943^{[citation needed]} in Detroit, Michigan) is a bass guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer.

MC5

He replaced original MC5 bassist Pat Burrows^[1] when singer Rob Tyner and guitarist Wayne Kramer decided that they liked Davis' style and wanted him in the band.

MC5 comprises:

• Michael Davis, bass,
• Wayne Kramer, guitar,
• Fred "Sonic" Smith, guitar,
• Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson, drums, and
• Rob Tyner, vocals.

Together they were the hardcore of the late 1960s musical revolution that began in the American Midwest.^[2] Formed in the fall of 1965, the MC5 created an explosive sound that put them at the forefront of the radical social and political scene in their native Detroit. They became the symbolic figureheads for an artists’ collective called Trans Love Energies, as well as for The White Panther Party, and embodied the character of the entire scene – subversive, extravagant, and totally hip. The MC5 are the proud forefathers of banned albums and censored lyrics and liner notes.{Bartkowiak, M. J. (2009). The MC5 and social change: A study in rock and revolution. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.} As a result of this and their irreverence and anti-government messages, they brought on the ire of concert promoters and the police.{Bartkowiak, M. J. (2009). The MC5 and social change: A study in rock and revolution. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.}

Destroy All Monsters

Upon his release, joined the Ann Arbor based art noise band Destroy All Monsters^[3] at the urging of friend Ron Asheton, of The Stooges.

Davis spent seven years with Destroy All Monsters, penning the underground punk hits "Nobody Knows", "Meet the Creeper", "Little Boyfriend", "Rocking The Cradle" and "Fast City" among others. The band recorded and released on Cherry Red Records, toured the U.K., and then broke up.

Blood Orange

After the demise of the MC5, Davis then moved to Arizona, where he played in Blood Orange, and then Rich Hopkins and Luminarios, the latter taking him back in to the studio to record several albums for Germany's Blue Rose Records. In the spring of 2003, Davis reunited with fellow surviving members Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson to play a show at London's legendary 100 Club as part of a promotion for an MC5 inspired line of apparel for Levi Strauss Vintage Clothing. This spawned a 200 city world tour and a trip back into the studio to write new songs.

Music education project

Following a serious motorcycle crash on a Los Angeles freeway in May 2006, Davis along with his wife Angela Davis, launched a non-profit organization called The Music Is Revolution Foundation to support music education in public schools.

Volunteers Jake Cavaliere (The Lords of Altamont), Handsome Dick Manitoba (The Dictators), Steve Aoki (Dim Mak Records/Kid Millionaire), Pro-Skater Corey Duffel, Pennywise bassist Randy Bradbury and Obey Giant's Shepard Fairey work alongside Davis to raise funds and public awareness about the ability of music education to increase cognitive ability and test scores, reduce absenteeism and drop-out rates and to inspire a new generation of future voters to learn about other cultures and other times, develop greater understanding of the world around them, and express themselves through music.

Record production

Davis also produces records for garage and punk bands, including The Mothers Anger (on Dionysus Records), the Lords of Altamont, Dollhouse, Tokyo Sex Destruction, and OJM.

Art Career

In 1964, Davis dropped out of the fine arts program at Wayne State University and achieved fame as the bassist, songwriter, and vocalist for the legendary Detroit pro-punk band MC5. After the MC5 self-destructed in the early 1970s, Davis continued exploration as a visual artist while serving time at the Lexington Federal Correction Institution for a narcotics violation. During this period, he was tasked with creating oversized abstract paintings for permanent display in the prison’s Visitor Center and administrative offices. Several years of immersion in life in the desert southwest and world travels with various rock bands left Davis with the inspiration and desire to return to his roots as a painter, studying art along the way at The Armory Center For The Arts in Pasadena, CA, the University of Oregon, in Eugene, OR, and at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon and Butte Community College/California State University, Chico in Chico, CA.

In 2006 he collaborated with artist Chris Kro, pro skateboarder Corey Duffel, and Foundation Skateboards to design a commemorative line of skateboard decks and t-shirts.

In 2007, he collaborated with OBEY’s Shepard Fairey on a limited line of MC5:OBEY merchandise.

In 2009, his painting “White Panther/Big World” appeared on the Cleopatra Records release MC5: The Very Best of MC5.

In 2011, his painting titled “Black To Comm Sk8r Boys” appeared as the cover art for the Easy Action Records multi-media audio/DVD release from the 2009 sold- out performance by British rock superstars Primal Scream and the reunited surviving members of the MC5 at the Royal Festival Hall. This piece inspired a series of four additional paintings, as well as a run of limited edition prints, all featuring the Sk8tr Boys, this time against iconic Detroit backdrops.

Today Davis devotes much of his time to drawing and painting at Birdseye House Studios in Chico, California. At age 68, he has decided to finally finish the BFA that he began in 1963. He currently lives in Chico, California with his wife and sons.

References

1. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Anouar Brahem: Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mc5-p4864/biography. Retrieved 4 February 2011. 
2. ^ Perry, Kevin (2006-11-28). "Michael Davis interviewed about MC5". London: The Beaver. http://thebeaverdialogues.blogspot.com/2006/11/mc5.html. Retrieved 2010-09-29. 
3. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Destroy All Monsters: Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/destroy-all-monsters-p143890/biography. Retrieved 4 February 2011. 

Bartkowiak, M. J. (2009). The MC5 and social change: A study in rock and revolution. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.

Persondata
Name	Davis, Michael
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Date of birth	1943-06-05
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