American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan in 1964. Long-running lineup: Rob Tyner (vocals, 1944-1991), Wayne Kramer (guitar, 1948-2024), Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar, 1948-1994), Michael Davis (bass, 1943-2012), and Dennis Thompson (drums, 1948-2024). Distinguished by their proto-punk intensity and political activism, including association with John Sinclair's White Panther Party.
Three studio albums during their original run: Kick Out the Jams (1969, recorded live), Back in the USA (1970), and High Time (1971). Critical peak: Kick Out the Jams, widely cited as foundational to punk rock. The band dissolved in 1972; all five original members died between 1991 and 2024. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 (the same year Kramer and Thompson died).
