The Zola System

The First Essential Scary Truth

One of the joys of the Social Networking is the sheer number of different people you meet. In my few years blogging on Facebook, OpenSalon.com and here on the Zola System have brought me into contact with old friends from high school, college and the old neighborhood in Bloomfield Hills. New friends from all over the world and various parts of the country I’ve never seen. The most gratifying connections I have made are with some of the people who turned me on to become a writer in the first place.

Legendary underground comic icon Skip Williamson has been a guest blogger for the Zola System. Former Husker Du bass player Greg Norton commented on My Fear of Flying post and I was walking on a cloud for days. Well gang, today’s guest blogger has made me giddy for the last week.

Fellow Detroiter Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson, drummer for the MC5 (and one of the greatest rock and roll drummers of ALL time), has graciously submitted his list for his favorite 15 Songs in 15 Minutes. The Detroit born and based MC5 were one of the bands, along with the Velvet Underground and the Stooges, who created what we now call punk rock.

When I discovered the VU, Stooges and Thompson and his band mates, it was like discovering intelligent life in the universe. I would have just gone to Michigan and then Law School (not that there’s anything wrong with that) had I not heard ‘Shakin’ Street,’ ‘American Ruse,’ ‘Kick Out the Jams’ ‘Motor City is Burning,’ ‘Looking at You’ et al.

So ladies and gentlemen, without further overt gushing, I give you Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson’s list.

Enjoy!

God Save The Queen Sex Pistols

Jumpin Jack Flash The Stones

Should I Stay or Should I Go Clash

Spirits in the Material World Police

I’m Free The Who

Pump it Up Elvis Costello

Panic in Detroit Bowie

Axis Bold as Love Hendrix

Song 2 Blur

Afro Blue Coltrane

Shinjitu Elvin Jones

1969 Stooges

Jaded Green Day

Have a Little Faith The Bellrays

Boom Boom John Lee Hooker