John Sinclair

Author, poet and activist John Sinclair (born October 2, 1941, in Flint, Michigan) mutated from small-town rock’n’roll fanatic and teenage disc jockey to cultural revolutionary, pioneer of marijuana activism, radical leader and political prisoner by the end of the 1960s.

In 1966-67 the jazz poet, downbeat correspondent, founder of the Detroit Artists Workshop and underground journalist joined the front ranks of the hippie revolution, managing the “avant-rock” MC5 and organizing countless free concerts in the parks, White Panther rallies and radical benefits. Working closely with lead singer and songwriter Rob Tyner and the members of the band, Sinclair brought the MC5 to local fame, national attention and a contract with Elektra Records.

Leni Sinclair

Let's call it like it lies: There are few images in rock 'n' roll as iconic as Leni Sinclair's seminal MC5 photographs. And, as they say, half of life is just showing up. During the revolutionary-unto-legendary '60s music and culture explosion in Detroit, Leni Sinclair showed up. And she brought her camera with her. In fact, thanks to the historic explosion of creativity and "do anything" spirit surrounding the MC5, their manager (and Sinclair's then-husband) John Sinclair, the avant-prolific Artist's Workshop and Wayne State University's experimental Monteith College, Leni Sinclair was on hand to document one of only a handful of supernova-sized cultural scenes that the actual living, breathing '60s cultural revolution birthed. And her photos were an integral part of the myth that grew up around the '5, the White Panther Party, Iggy Pop and the idea of "Detroit" that still smolders in the hearts of Cass Corridor rock hopefuls.

Danny Spencer

Danny Spencer's style exemplifies the best of the Detroit tradition of aggressive and explorative drummers which gave the jazz world Elvin Jones, Freddie Waites, and Louis Hayes among others. His intense propulsive energy combined with his ability for subtle colorations made him Joe Henderson's choice for touring in the seventies and many concerts since. Spencer was also part of the legendary Contemporary Jazz Quintet which recorded for Blue Note and Strata Records.

Statement of the Red Star Sisters

The Red Star is a universal symbol of COMMUNEism, of living and working together, coming together, a symbol of righteous revolution and love for ALL of humanity. We, the sisters of the White Panther Party, take the Red Star as the symbol of our own liberation, and align I ourselves with all oppressed people on the planet.

In Vietnam the spirit and determination of the women to free their people is as strong as the men's. In Vietnam, the members of the Vietnam Women's Union tell of how before 1930, before the Party was formed, there were two main tendencies among women's liberation.

Rob Tyner

Tyner redefined himself as the ultimate front-man, the Shaman at the center of the chaos, the tribal leader intent on "resensifying the People" through song, dance, expanded consciousness, and ecstatic union (the White Panther’s "Total Assault on the culture through Rock ‘n’ Roll, Dope and Fucking in the Streets," man!) Rob Tyner sure looked like one baaad motherfucker. As his hair "grew out" so too did the music of the MC5 "grow out" - from predictible British Invasion-inspired covers to awe-inspiring Avant Rock, incendiary proto-Punk, and a slinky form of pre-Metal rarely recreated since. --David Thomas, Furious.com