Much more Rockin than 85% of this list.Kids today who like it loud and hard and haven't heard of the MC5 would do well to give 'em a listen.

kickout the jams MC5

kick out the jams

No doubt they should be in, while I personally regard "Let Me Try" from their 2nd album as atrocious, and they had some other mediocre tracks, virtually everything else they did was astonishing, and they had energy and talent equivalent to about..oh, let's say...4,986 bands of today combined...A seminal band from what I regard as far and away the best era in the genre's history, and a great band that mixed free jazz, hard rock, proto-metal, proto-punk, radical politics, stuff inspired by the great early rock figures like Chuck Berry,and sheer noise. A huge influence on the punk, hard rock,and metal acts that followed in their wake...It's a shame that everyone knows who Britney Spears is, but only about 5% of rock fans are aware of this tremendous outfit. Would probably already be in the Hall, so their chances are remote...

They deserve to be in.  A bit over the top, but very influential both then and later on.

Should absolutely be in and I feel will get in soon with the inductions of Patti Smith, Ramones, Sex Pistols...

Not my cup of Tea, but I do like

Kick Out the Jams MotherF*%$#ers 

I guess that would depend on your personal opinion as to just exactly what "punk" music is. I ascribe to a reasonably broad interpretation of the genre. For instance, I think that "Communication Breakdown" by Led Zeppelin is a "punk" song but, not because of its antisocial or politically motivated lyrics because there are none. I consider it "punk" because of its musical approach and stripped down barbaric quality. The MC5 had both the stripped down approach to rock music and the sociopolitical lyrics. And they were true pioneers and 60's radicals. "Kick Out The Jams!"

Like 'em or not ... MC5 was the original punk band. Their perfect venue was the 1968 Democratic National Convention which turned the "summer of love" into "the summer of getting the shit kick out of you."

A no brainer. They oughtta be in there.

neih

They invented HEAVY!! They were the local Rock Gods. They Ruled! Save the Grande! Kick Out the Jams! -craig portman

Along with The Stooges and New York Dolls, this band should join the Velvet Underground as one of the founders of Punk.

Along with the Stooges, NY Dolls and Lou Reed, they were the founders of what has come to be known as "Punk Rock." I venture to say that the average person today has probably never heard of them, but at their best, there was no one better, or more intense. Their greatest music ("I Can Only Give You Everything", "Kick Out The Jams", "I Want You Right Now") was seething and blistering in a way that practically nothing was then, and precious little has been since. The only problem I ever had with them as a group was that their work could be distressingly uneven...vacillating between cheesy pop ballads and the harshest and most incendiary of hard rock anthems (which probably had a lot to do with what kind and quantity of drugs they were taking at any particular moment). They lived hard, played hard, and some of them have died hard, but the best of their music will live forever as long as people the world over revere great rock music.

Nothing but noise.

A Seminal Pre-Punk band! Linked in with radical underground leftist but all they really wanted was to get laid and party!

Of course the MC5 belong in the R&R HOF.Three classic elpee releases:Kick Out the Jams, a guaranteed leasebreaker and one of the great truly live records; Back in the USA ,chock full of great concise tunes and the template for the Ramones but with cool solos,and High Time their best elpee.A great live band with a rarely matched tag team of Sonic Smith and Wayne Kramer on guitars,the great drums of Dennis Thompson with Mike Davis holding the fort,and the great Rob Tyner on vocals.And in the true spirit of R&R a threat to the status quo and a highly influential band as well...see Aerosmith,Ramones,Pistols,Damned,BOC...

KIck Out the Jams, Motherf#ckers!

lack the longevity but man they are the most explosive thing ever. probably wont get in, thus rendering the Rock and Roll HOF limp in my eyes.