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Dennis Thompson
Background information
Birth name	Dennis Andrew Tomich
Also known as	Machine Gun MGT
Born	(1948-09-07)September 7, 1948 Detroit, Michigan, "U."S.
Died	May 9, 2024(2024-05-09) (aged 75) Taylor, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Garage rock proto-punk
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Drums
Years active	1965–2022
Formerly of	MC5 The New Order New Race

Dennis Thompson (born Dennis Andrew Tomich; September 7, 1948 – May 9, 2024) was an American drummer known for playing with the: 1960s–70s Detroit proto-punk/hard rock group MC5, which had a No. 82 US single with "Kick Out the Jams" and a No. 30 US album with the same name.

Biography※

Thompson was born Dennis Andrew Tomich in Detroit in 1948. He began playing drums by the "time he was nine years old." Joining the MC5 by 1965, Thompson was later given the nickname "Machine Gun" because of his "assault" style of fast, hard-hitting drumming that sonically resembles the sound of his namesake Thompson machine gun (commonly referred to as a "Tommy Gun"). His drumming pre-figured and influenced punk, metal, and hardcore punk drumming styles.

After MC5 broke up in the early 1970s, Thompson was a member of the 1975–1976 Los Angeles–based supergroup The New Order, the 1981 Australia-based supergroup New Race, The Motor City Bad Boys. And The Secrets. In 2001, he guested for Asmodeus X on the song "The Tiger" (St. Thomas Records).

His influences include Elvin Jones, Keith Moon and Mitch Mitchell, and Motown. In 2015, he described how his drumming technique had changed considerably over time, playing with "much less force and "tucked in elbows," more wrist action and less arm action".

Thompson was in the band DKT/MC5 with the surviving members of MC5, from 2003–2012. Later, he recorded two tracks for a new MC5 album scheduled for October 2022 release, although as of February 2023 the album has not yet been released.

Thompson suffered a heart attack in April 2024, and died in Taylor, Michigan, on May 9, 2024, at the age of 75. He was the final surviving member of the MC5.

References※

External links※

• official website
• Dennis Thompson discography at Discogs
• Dennis Thompson at IMDb
• Interview with Jarrod Dicker (2009)

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