The Up 1967-1973

Formed in Detroit, U.S.A. in early 1967, The Up  were close to MC5, and lived with members of the MC5 on John Sinclair's commune, home to the White Panther Party, and along with fellow proto-punks MC5, and the Stooges, were one of the house bands at the Grande Ballroom. In May, 1968, Sinclair moved to a commune in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and both bands followed. The Up served as support act for the MC5 at a show in September of 1968, at Ann the University of Michigan's Union Ballroom in Ann Arbor. The show was attended by Elektra Records president Jack Holzman, and was impressed with the MC5, as well as the Stooges, (who were opening as well) and offered both bands recording contracts. The Up never got signed to Elektra, and never secured a major label's interest.
The Up continued to play the Grande Ballroom and other local venues. In 1969, the MC5 ended their association with John Sinclair, and the White Panther Party, and the Up moved into place as the main musical outlet of the party's propaganda.
The band disbanded in 1973, and faded into deeper obscurity. In 1995, a retrospective album was issued titled "Killer Up!" and contained all of the Up's recordings. Including all of the band's singles, and songs from a recording session at Head Sound studios.
John Sinclair notes in the liner notes: "It's common to name the MC5 and the Stooges as the forefathers of what they call punk-rock, but it was their associates in a third band The Up, who could more accurately be identified as the real precursors of Punk"