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57 Years Ago, MC5 Got Booted From Elektra Records After Profanity-Laden Magazine Ad

They publicly called out Hudson’s Department Stores for refusing to stock their album Kick Out the Jams.

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MC5 was a rock band with authentic attitude, and they didn’t do anything by halves. Their debut album, Kick Out the Jams, was recorded live to capture their high-energy, rebellious spirit. Notably, it also captured singer Rob Tyner shouting “Kick out the jams, motherf***er!” before they played the title track.

The band was a beloved staple of the Detroit rock scene, but not everyone was a fan. Kick Out the Jams released in February 1969 on Elektra Records, but by April, MC5 was short a record label. Not because of poor sales or the conclusion of a contract. But because the band had publicly protested Detroit-based Hudson’s Department Stores for refusing to stock the album.

In 1969, there were no explicit content warnings on........

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