Max Webster Forum

Max Webster

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In 1980 I was reading the review on "Universal Juveniles" & I faintly remember Circus Magazine listing Kim's age at 39. If so that would make him about 106 now. Yet I'm impressed! I saw the Max in Dubuque, Iowa 2/21/81. I was really blown away with their set. From "Check", "Oh War!", "In the World of Giants" through the encore of "Coming Off the Moon" my mind just didn't know what to do with this 'Maximum Exposure'! I got to meet Terry at breakfast the following morning & he was really being put out. Maybe that's Terry though. I know even I have my limits. I saw Kim pile out of a van that same morning dressed in the same rig he had on stage the night before. My friends & I thought "Wow! A rock star! Complete with empty beer cans!!!" Only years later did I find out about the underlying turmoil that would soon put the Max out of business. I was very sad when it happened. But! I was very tickled when I heard Terry, Kim, & Gary got together to jam. If for nothing else, just to let that water flow completely under the bridge & out of sight! Anyway, how old is Kim?

>>By Brian McIntosh (Saturday, 16 Nov 2002 19:23)

They are a Canadian institution. Any one over the age of 30 and are Canadian, chances
are they have either seen them live or owned a record. They were known for their crazed
antics on stage and mindbending lyrics and guitar riffs. Songs such as HANGOVER,
HIGH CLASS IN BORROWED SHOES, THE PARTY, A MILLION VACATIONS, CHECK!
AND BATTLESCAR(a duet that was recorded for Max's last studio lp with all the members
of Rush) had Max Webster quickly becoming one of Canada's best musical exports, but
lead singer and guitarist Kim Mitchell decided to call it quits after 6 gold or platinum albums
successful touring, and throngs of loyal fans. Mitchell has since gone on to be an even
more successful solo artist releasing 6 albums, all of which have gone gold or platinum
he has one several JUNO awards for best album of the year, male vocalist of year and
won the accolades of a whole new generation of loyal fans. Kim Mitchell still tours regularly
across his native Canada, selling out, wherever he plays.

>>By SCOTT HUGHES/Toronto (Sunday, 1 Dec 2002 06:07)

Max Webster is kick-ass. I am a guitar player of 25 years, mainly focusing on RUSH. I decided to pursue a degree and open a surveying business, but my heart is still lost somewhere in that 1980 tour. I would love to meet them, and jam out. I am a friend of Jeff Kollman (CHECK out his website, he's awesome), and also believe a collaboration between Kim and Jeff would be awesome. Although this would probably never happen, I still have the ultimate respect for the music Kim and the guys have produced. ROCK ON!

>>By Dallas Russell/SE Missouri (Wednesday, 18 Dec 2002 20:03)

I first became aware of Max Webster back in 1978 when I read a letter
by a fan of the band in Circus Magazine. Always being the type to get
into new artists and such, I decided to check out Max Webster. Being from South Florida it seemed impossible to find any of their albums.
Then one day while look through a record bin in K-Mart thee was Mutiny Up My Sleeve, needless to say after one listen I was hooked. The other
albums became easier to find after that, except for Hangover, I was never able to find. But luckily about 3 years ago I came across an
internet store called Metrocityrecords, and they had the whole
Max Webster catalogue including all of Kim's solo work. Needless
to say I bought everything and now can always pull one out to listen
to. My favorite album is High Class In Old Shoes, and my fav's songs
are High Class In Old Shoes, Gravity, Lip Services, Check and Hangover. I love Max Webster and would love to see a reunion.

>>By Don Ellis, (Monday, 6 Jan 2003 20:28)

Kim Mitchell is a ripping guitarist

>>By EDWARD VAN HALEN (Tuesday, 7 Jan 2003 22:46)

For those who may be interested in pictures and info, check out www.maxwebster.ca. There are also some mp3 samples of all the songs. You may also want to check out Kim Mitchell's web site at www.kimmitchell.ca.

>>By Scott Feeney/London. Ont. (Tuesday, 21 Jan 2003 15:08)

In 1977 I saw a review in the Dutch magazine Oor by Kees Baars. He reviewed "High Class In Borrowed Shoes".
I liked his descripion of the band and their music so much I decided to go out and buy the album.

I never looked back. Got all their albums as fast as I could. I am a fan since that day. I have just one wish:
to see the MAX LIVE!!! Well, one can alway's dream right?

>>By Hawk in The Netherlands (Saturday, 25 Jan 2003 05:21)

one damn good band that I grew up listening to in the 70's

>>By unclejam2003 (Thursday, 13 Feb 2003 16:43)

I saw them open for Rush in 1981 Battle Scars is one of the best songs of all time Where can I find Universal Juveniles? Anyone who knows write me at hemight65@aol.com Thanks

>>By Ron in Dallas (Thursday, 20 Feb 2003 08:26)

Liked the Max Machine ever since seeing them with Rush, and even the post-Max period. First time was in Port Huron (sister city to Sarnia, Ont.) when Rush did a mini tour to work on/promote "A Farewell to Kings". I was impressed with the musicianship, lyrics and their attitude. Which brings to question why they may have failed to capture a wider audience. For one, they were always considered by the record company to be Rush's "little brother", even though it was Rush who always wanted them to tour with them, and both bands became good friends. Second, how do you translate the onstage antics/ vibes to the recordings ? Live Magnetic Air came close but not quite (one of the albums I still love playing guitar along with!!!) And third, I have never had the chance to talk to any of them, outside the time in Port Huron when one of the band members accidently threw a softball out into the parking lot. Mr. Tilka came out to get it, he thanked me, told me his name and the name of the band and to have a good time. Being so close to the Canadian border, I had always hoped to hear more press about the band, but never really did. From my wanderings on the Internet has lead me to the to come to the impression that Messrs. Mitchell and Dubois were difficult and distant to interview. I could be wrong, they might be great to hang out with and talk to given the right circumstances. Saw Kim at Harpo's in Detroit for the Akimbo Alogo tour, he was very jovial, was in the right frame of mind to kick ass on guitar, and the band was TIGHT. Whatever happened to that metallic baby-blue Strat he played/plays ? It 's awesome looking and had a lot of flexibility (wiring). The show was simulcasted by an old station WLLZ, and I set the timer and recorded it. Bad volume levels but I still enjoy listening to it, especially "Oh War", and "Welcome to the World of Giants". A few years later saw him at California's in Windsor for Rocklandwonderland, but he just didn't seem in good spirit. I tried to get a few/five minutes to go over guitar-speak quickly, he said he accepted and then backed out for reasons unknown to me. I hear he still occassionally makes the summer rounds at cottage villages in Ontario. I just feel its a shame that incredible talent and stage presence is only known by a few. Wouldnt it have been BALLS if he got Max back together and tour with Rush for Vapor Trails ?!?!? Though most of my stuff of theirs is vinyl, I plan on collecting everything on CD. Hey Windsor and Ontario is always a nice visit.

>>By RiverRougeRick (Thursday, 20 Feb 2003 21:54)

This is a cool place.I've only had this computer machine thing for a couple of days and this is one of the first things i found.Big Max/Kim fan since seeing them support Rush at the Colsten Hall,Bristol in sevety nine.I heard they had some sort of reunion gig at a college or something a few years ago(would have to have seen that).Great to see most of their stuff released on cd,my Max vynil's almost as worn out as my Rush albums.
Fave track:"Blue River Liquor Shine",and "Check".....beautiful,puts me right in that spot.(as you know).

>>By Call me Jim (Monday, 21 Apr 2003 01:57)

I grew up in the late seventies and early eighties listening to Max Webster's brand of hard-core Canadiana.
Love the band much more than Kim's solo efforts.
Never a little sister to Rush (also one of my faves)!

>>By sawmonkey (Wednesday, 30 Apr 2003 00:58)

i love max webster so much i could siiing

>>By dukeambuchica (Sunday, 4 May 2003 17:15)

Hi,
Im a die hard Rush and Kim Mitchell fan. I found Rush's lyrics and storytelling style along with great muisic appealing.

I recalled a few times in the mid 70's being on the Danforth walking abouts with my good buddy Ray. Looking up the street we saw this guy walking up towards us ..smiling and walking by ..we both looked at each other..then turned around realising it was Kim. He just turned back and waved lol. Im not one swamp and bother celeberties but i was a good treat to see him being comfortable walking down the street and mingling.

>>By bhash (Friday, 16 May 2003 15:45)

I had the good fortune of growing up and living in Guelph, Ont, a small uny city near Tornot. The Max Machine toured and earned their stripes playing clubs like the 'Chooch' in Guelph. The first time I saw 'Max' (a name of Kim's stodgy hs teacher) , we were standing out side the club -it was a nightclub then opened at 8pm. These crazy dudes came wandering up the street, one with a funky red chiffon floppy hat on- turned out the dudes strolling past us crowd WAS the band !!
Little did we know at the time they would go on to be one of Canda's main contributions to the Canadian style of rock music the world grew to crave-
I also saw acts like Saga, Rhinegold (LAwrence Gowan, solo and now with Styx), Ian Thomas, David Wilcox, and a great Tornot act named 'Santers'- a rock trio that seemed to vanish.
Anyway, I went on to see Max play countless times, at Maple LEaf Gardens in TO with Rush on New Years Eve was a tradition.

The group did apparently have it's personality conflicts- I'm not sure if any of the others went on to music pergatory or what. Kim Mitchell is alive and well, and apparently living in Barrie , Ontario, Yes he still plays quite frequently, altho mostly low key gigs, he is divorced with two grown sons and was on a local talk shao last year talking about coming to terms with all of that. He seems to have 'matured' if that is the right term, and is quite comfortable to be in his own space now.

As far as little sister to Rush, the two groups did tour frequently together, probably because both recorded on 'Anthem' records, which back then anyways, was started and owned by Rush. so that may be where this little sister thing came from. (Geddy Lee produced records for a few TO area bands and released them on Anthem)

Kim Mitchell and co. started Max Webster to finance his university education away back when, . Kim was taking classical music ...

>>By Peet (Saturday, 24 May 2003 15:12)

"Max Webster? Who the hell are they?" was probably the most common reaction to the support band that dared to come on stage before Rush at Stafford's Bingley Hall here in the UK (circa 1979?). While most of the crowd were determined to give them a hard time even before they'd played a note, there were quite a few who'd changed their mind after a couple of songs. I warmed greatly to them and made a point of searching out their works and lent them to friends - and never them saw again! The albums I mean!

Summer 1980 - Sun Voices accompanied hot summers days revising for my O' levels - beautiful track whilst sunbathing .. I mean revising ... in the garden!! Hey, I passed all the exams!! Thanks boys.

I now have most of the albums on CD thanks to online retailers - I love the net!

Still a mega Rush fan ... max Webster R.I.P. :-(

>>By UK Beach Resort Researcher (Friday, 6 Jun 2003 13:15)

I thought I'd become a responsible human and stop doing stuff like putting on headphones and getting buzzed and rocking out. I'm getting too old for this shit. But Max still does it for me.

Sue, Nagoya, Japan.

>>By suesan (Friday, 27 Jun 2003 18:27)

Go here and nominate Kim to the Canadian Walk of fame!!

http://www.VoteKimMitchell.ca

>>By Johnnyo (Wednesday, 9 Jul 2003 18:14)

Man, I tell you that Max Webster is my favorite band of all time. Once I heard their music in 1979 I was hooked. I saw them in concert twice at the Civic centre in Ottawa. Max Webster music always reminded me of the good times during the summer in Canada...cottage life and such, growing up and experiencing life (beer comes to mind). When Max departed I was devistated. When Kim went solo I bought ' Shaking Like a Human Being ' and played it daily. Everytime I hear music by Kim I also relate it to good times during the summer...anytime, he is a ' wild party' ! I was overjoyed when Max got back together in the mid 90's and saw them play in Ottawa.
Now I am still trying to break grounds with my band. I understand now what can happens in a band that causes a break-up. In the early nineties the band I was in had a big break but things changed and a long split happened (6 years). Since late 2000 we have got back together and have been working on new music and playing around Ontario. Everytime I get ready to go on stage I remember the dreams I had to be a rock star while listening to 'Rascal Houdi' and ' Million Vacations'. I am still trying to make that dream a reality. Some day I hope to chat with Kim about life.
If anyone is interested you can check out our band 'The Adopted' at the following address:

www.theadopted.com -I am the bass player

Cheers!

>>By The Adopted (Tuesday, 22 Jul 2003 18:18)

I was first exposed to Max Webster at my FIRST concert when I was about 16... I thought it was '74 but, upon reviewing release dates for "Max Webster", the first album, which wasn't until '76, I guess my memory isn't as clear as I hoped ! :)

Anyway, this concert was phenominal as it was a three-act show; Ian Thomas Band (Mother Earth), Max Webster and Rush (2112 - I think ?) - ticket price ??? $4.50 CND !!! And to say I had a blast would be understated. My most favourite tune of the time was "Toronto Tontos" and, to this day, I still really don't understand it. But, being an avid upstart musician myself, learned the keys part on that and many other tunes. Since Max Webster, I have learned "Check", "Diamonds, Diamonds", "Patio Lanterns", "Hangover"... well, I could probably list them all !

Hopefully, I will be able to catch Kim and company the next time they come through our fair city (Ottawa)... they were here this past summer !

Definitely going to add my vote for the Walk of Fame !

Ciao...

Ron Oslund

www.rosyjo.com
www.raggedonline.com
www.ronoslund.com/thehouseband

>>By Crash (Sunday, 26 Oct 2003 19:41)

The discussion board is currently closed.