Exactly, you’re right. Because it’s all about influence and inspiration, that’s exactly why the Beatles are considered so important and mc5 less so. Because Helter skelter came out in 68 and tons of people listened to it. MC5 were obviously important but their first concert outside of Michigan was also in 68 and their first album wasn’t out until 1970. Only a live album and some singles before that. So they’re a lot less influential no matter how you look at it. The first metal song could’ve actually been written in 1961 but if it’s some demo that only 5 people have ever listened to, it doesn’t really matter, does it? (Unless one of those 5 people was Tony Iommi or something xD)

I’m not a Beatles fan, but too many musicians credit them as inspirations so they were obviously important.