The earliest formation of the MC5 can be traced back to 1964 in Lincoln Park, Michigan, where guitarist Wayne Kramer met local vocalist Rob Tyner.  The musical partnership would prove fruitful as the eventual five piece (christened the MC5 - Motor City Five - by Tyner, in honor of their hometown roots) would soon begin to earn a reputation as one of Detroit’s most prominent live acts, eventually earning the band a contract with Elektra records in 1968. 

The MC5 had gained a fervent live following in the Detroit area, but had not released any material since they had no studio experience.  They were thought of as largely a live act. 

Wayne Kramer explains: “Playing live was what we did best. Most bands did three albums and then a live album, so we thought we’d be revolutionary and break out with a live album first. It also worked better for the label.  MC5 didn’t know how to work in the studio, so a studio record could have cost Elektra a fortune and been a lengthy, grueling process.”

“We first used the phrase “Kick Out the Jams” when we were the house band at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit.  We played there every week with either another local band or when we would open up for other bands that were touring.  We got in the habit, being the sort of punks we are, of screaming at them to get off the stage.  We'd yell at them, 'Kick out the jams or get off the stage, motherf--ker!'  Finally, one day we said, 'I like that expression.  We should use that as the title of a song.”

Consequently, the song was written by Kramer & Tyner and the Kick Out the Jams album was recorded live at the Grande Ballroom across two nights on October 30 and 31 (Devils Night and Halloween), 1968.

This was likely the first rock song on a major label to use the word f--k in the lyrics (it was also printed in the liner notes, written by John Sinclair). It proved very provocative, but also drew attention away from other storylines, like their furious live shows and role in defining the Detroit rock sound.

Various Sources