We managed to get a few brief, but very entertaining, words out of London industrial me(n)tallers Maxdmyz recently. Wrap your cybernetic seeing-organs around this lot:
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Jay: London, England.
How did you meet?
Vortex: Schmoozing round local clubs and gigs, through friends of friends.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
Roger: In this particular incarnation, around 18 months.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
Twister: Nah, it’s always a pleasure – it was coined by a dyslexic founding member – no idea what it means.
What are your influences – individually or as a band?
A’Zedd: So, in no particular order, The Beatles, Slayer, Black Sabbath, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Morbid Angel, Squarepusher, Deep Purple – and Morbid Angel, again – oh, and Miles Davis. Velvet Underground and Martha and the Vandellas.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Twister: I wouldn’t claim uniqueness for any human artefact or endeavour, we all build on what has come before, even if only in the act of rejecting it – but the variety of humankind being what it is, no other combination of personalities could create the music we create. In terms of what’s distinctive about us, I would say, a receptiveness to change and experiment, and a commitment to one another as people and musicians – Maxdmyz always has been and always will be a creative enabler. I bet you wish you’d never asked…
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Vortex: Sex, death, love, luxury, truth, wisdom, stupidity, romance and mental illness – oh, and the irreconcilable antagonisms engendered by cultural difference.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Jay: We stopped counting at 300 – of course, I think our live shows are the best thing since the sliced stuff – exciting, raw insane…
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Twister: Cunnilingus at the Underworld in London – I’m not even sure that qualifies as wild. That’s done, not seen, by the way.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
A’Zedd: Sans amp bass di driver, big muff overdrive, boss flanger, and a big, fat Ampeg.
Vortex: Novation Mininova, Emu Xboard61.
Roger: Sans amp, TC electronic G major, Engel power amp and Marshall 4× 12 1960 cabinet.
Jay: Mapex kit, Zildjian and Sabian cymbals and raw fucking drummer power.
Twister: Whatever they throw at me at the studio or venue – I do own a Shure SM7B though – it’s nice!
What are your plans for 2016?
Roger: A couple of festivals, including Indusfest in France, and other live shows across the UK. We’re also going into the studio in June to record our first EP with this current line-up.
If you could be part of any 3-band line-up (as support or headlining) who else would you have on the bill?
Jay: Origin and Iggy and the Stooges.
Header photo by UncleFesterhouse
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