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 of what’s distinctive , 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 , 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 or headlining) who else would you have on the bill?
Jay: Origin and Iggy and the Stooges.
Header photo by UncleFesterhouse
Maxdmyz: official | facebook | twitter | google+ | soundcloud | bandcamp | youtube
