Re: srv box set

[DDBanter]

>> Robin Dunn:   anyone have thoughts or info on this new sonic's rendezvous
band box set?B  about all i know of the mc5 and it's aftermath is that there
has been a ton of acrimony.B  wondering if this is a legit release, and truly,
as
they say on their site, compiled w/ the help of fred's estate (i think that
ends up being jackson for all intents and purposes, but am not certain). <<

Neither Patti or Jackson Smith had any participation in compiling this bogus
box set, neither did drummer Scott Asheton; anyone who claims is lying,
otherwise they would bring forth the evidence.   The people who engineered
this
latest fiasco were told flat out that the Smith estate wanted no part of it
and
objected to the release.   The company had previously assembled a shabby
multi-disc MC5 box, claiming it was 'authorized' as well; being based in the
UK, they
seem to feel Patti won't stoop to mud-wrestling with them over the false
claims.

The complete story behind this illegitimate box can be at the Sonic website:

http://sonicsrendezvous.com/

Like the still-developing legal mess surrounding the Sonic's Rendezvous
escapade, the unsavory "ton of acrimony" which Robin speaks of is largely a
result
of jealousy and avarice on the part of the lesser creative talents in the MC5
who began to run rampant after the deaths of Rob Tyner and Fred Smith.   The
underhanded machinations first came into public arena when Kramer and his wife
derailed the release of the highly acclaimed documentary film "MC5: A True
Testimonial" in early 2004.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Susan Whitall of the Detroit News, "MC5 In Turmoil Yet Again" from 31 March
2004:   "That Kramer has blocked the filmbs release hasnbt pleased the
survivors of the two MC5 members whobve died: lead singer Rob Tyner and
guitarist
Fred bSonicb Smith.

bI said to Laurel and David all along, their journey has so paralleled that
of the MC5,b says Tynerbs widow Becky. bNow webre at the breakup of
the MC5.
The bully tactics, the pressure. Itbs almost cosmic...b

bItbs a travesty that it would be blocked,b Jackson Smith says.
bItbs a
great document of the band, itbs a great document of life, and itbs a
great
document of things ... far and beyond the band.b

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune, "Once More With Feeling" from 18 June 2004:
 "Kramer's battle with Thomas and Legler's crporation, Future/Now Films, has
divided the MC5 camp.   Tyner's widow, Rebecca Derminer, has agreed to license
her husband's share of the songs to the filmmakers and joined in their motion
against Kramer in bankruptcy court.   Also upset is Patti Smith, the second
wife of MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith, who died of heart failure in 1994.

"It's a shame," says Patti Smith, who had two children with the guitarist. "I
understand from my son [Jackson] that it's a wonderful movie, and I support
it. It's being blocked by Wayne Kramer, and I think that's unfortunate. My son
is one of the true guardians of his father's name, and he felt that the movie
served his father well, and he was hoping that it would come out. These things
are always a shame, when someone is trying to do something good and it gets
tainted by greed."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times, "Patti Smith" from 18 June 2004:

 Q. Let's switch gears: There's been quite a bit of controversy in Chicago
between filmmakers David Thomas and Laurel Legler and the surviving members of
the MC5, particularly Wayne Kramer, who are blocking the release of their
film,
"MC5: A True Testimonial." You were married to the late MC5 guitarist Fred
"Sonic" Smith. Where do you stand on the issue?

A. I feel very sad about it. I haven't seen the film, but my son has seen it.
He thinks it's great. He really wanted to see it come out. I mean, I've done
everything that I can legally do to help them. The MC5 era was before my time,
so I know very little about it, except that I hope that the filmmakers get a
chance to distribute their film. I don't have very much respect for Wayne
Kramer as a human being, so I can't really make any judgment. I haven't found
him
to be an honorable person. I shouldn't comment on it because I haven't seen
the film, but I take my son's word that it was good and good for his dad.

They were a great band and they should be remembered. And they should be
remembered together. This film is a very good opportunity to give them
recognition. I don't understand why he would want to block it except for
monetary
reasons. The only reason I haven't seen it is just it's hard for me to watch
Fred.
It's just painful.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

As you might understand, defending against such unscrupulous behavior is
costly, time-consuming and quite painful for the families, which is the main
reason so much of it went unchecked for so long.B 

However the culmination of several lengthy legal undertakings is expected in
the next few weeks.

Kramer's vindictive and mean-spirited suit for "copyright infringement",
filed last November against Future/Now Films, those who created the stunning
"MC5:
A True Testimonial", will be subject of a hearing on September 25; the case
will either be dismissed or go to trial the following week.B  It should be
reiterated that both the family of Rob Tyner and the Smith camp are on record
in
support of both Future/Now Films and the documentary's release.

The lawsuit filed by the family of Rob Tyner against the Kramer gang for
non-payment of royalties is also nearing resolution, will either settle this
week
or go to trial in October.B 

http://www.velvetrope.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=540067&page=0&;
fpart=all&vc=1

It's truly a shame all this nastiness has festered since the deaths of Rob
and Fred, either of them would have throttled the unscrupulous low-lifes
perpetuating this nonsense.B  But on a positive note, the most blatant
skullduggery is
finally be drawing to a conclusion.

Sometime early in the week, the detailed results of both cases should be
posted here:

http://detroittango.typepad.com/mc5truetestimonial/

The brilliant attorneys who've fought so hard to rectify the MC5 injustice
can then turn their sights to locking down this scam Easy Action box.