Max Webster (Official Thread)

[LG]

Max Webster Official Website

Albums:

1976 Max Webster
1977 High Class in Borrowed Shoes
1978 Mutiny Up My Sleeve
1979 A Million Vacations
1979 Live Magnetic Air
1980 Universal Juveniles
1981 Diamonds Diamonds
1989 The Best of Max Webster


My Max Webster CD collection.

Max Webster, High Class In Borrowed Shoes, Mutiny Up My Sleeve

A Million Vacations, Universal Juveniles, Diamonds Diamonds.






Formed in the mid 70's Max Webster is a hard band to really put a label on. Some scorching rockers, laid back ballads, quirky tongue in cheek songs all done in their own unique style. Kim Mitchell was the undisputed leader of Max, he is an amazing live performer and went on to success as a solo artist when Max Webster was retired. Although Max was a 4 piece band, their main lyricist was Pye Dubois, the unofficial 5th member, his trademark warped sense of humor is evident on all the albums he was part of and helped separate Max from pretty much any other Canadian band out there. They were very successful here, but never really got noticed internationally except for a few cities like Buffalo which is hooked into the Canadian music scene given it's proximity to Toronto.

My good forum friend Bucky is a more qualified Max Webster fan than I am so I have left most of the details for him to add when he sees I finally got this thread done.

Here's a collaboration Max Webster did with Rush off the album Universal Juveniles, it is probably the Max song most people are familiar with, "Battle Scar".

​

 

[runtfan]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

Yeah, I love Max Webster. I first heard of them when "Battlescar" came out - loved the song and was intrigued by their association with Rush. I bought the Universal Juveniles album and was knocked out. I went on to get High Class In Borrowed Shoes and Best of Max Webster...mostly all excellent stuff. Some of my favorite tunes...

April In Toledo
Blue River Liquor Shine
Juveniles Don't Stop
Drive And Desire
The Party
Hangover
On The Road
Rain Child
In Context Of The Moon
Go For A Soda ( Kim Mitchell solo)

 

[That 70s Guy]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

WTF is Kim Mitchell wearing?

 

[LG]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

^^I have no idea 70's Guy, and I don't want to know either.......


Glad to see you know and like them RF...I still have my vinyl copy of Universal Juveniles.

 

[joe]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

This band brings back a lot of memories for me. The s/t debut, High Class And Borrowed Shoes, Diamonds, Diamonds and Live Magnetic Air I have on vinyl. Live Magnetic Air is a fantastic live album. I think it would of been a lot of fun to see these guys in concert back in the day.

Here's my fav tune from the band:

 

[LG]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

I never picked up "Live Magnetic Air" Joe,,,but I did hear it was a very good live album capturing the essence of a Max concert.

 

[joe]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

It's been a long time since I've listened to it. My fav album from the band. Just might throw it on the turntable today.

 

[LG]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

^^I'll spin Universal Juveniles on the platter later myself...

 

[rtbuck]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

“We’re all here to be Reckless…!!!” Wow, what an opening line that is! Especially, that being the first vocal I ever heard spewed from the mouth of Max Webster Lead Vocalist/ Guitarist Kim Mitchell which is followed by “We’re all Sleazy & Easy to Please…Dreamers & schemers on the Loose…!” If that’s not in your face Rock & Roll than I don’t know what is. Those lyrics are from Max Webster’s “The Party” & I’ll always remember how that song just blew me away (especially the short 7 second guitar riff which ends the song!) when a friend made me up mix tape while I was in High School



Max Webster's sound & style is progressive hard rock with some of the strangest lyrics written, by band lyricist Pye Dubois. The band started out in 1973 in Sarnia, Ontario with Kim Mitchell (guitar & vocals),Mike Tilka(bass), Terry Watkinson(Keyboards), & Paul Kersey(drums). Gary McKracken became the regular drummer for the band shortly after the release of their debut album & later Dave Myles took over bass. From what I had heard (rumors from a very reliable source!)…after Tilka left the band they were without a bass player for their ‘Mutiny Up My Sleeve’ album so supposedly Billy Sheehan played uncredited bass on the album. The album lists & has a photo of Dave Myles on bass (who was actually in a jazz rock Trio with Gary McKracken called Zing Dingo). Terry Watkinson is an incredible Keyboardist & after leaving Max Webster he went for his degree in Medical Illustration & became quite an accomplished artist.



Anyway, after hearing “The Party” I seen Max Webster open for Rush in May of 1980 & I remember being both amazed & a bit confused seeing singer/ guitarist Kim Mitchell kicking ass on guitar while playing in a nightgown. The one song which stood out that night was “Beyond the Moon” because Kim introduced it as being titled “Cocaine Colored Computer Cards Coding Cosmic Zipper Skies”. That’s another great tune & even after Max split up Kim always did (& still does) add the ending guitar solo from that song on another tune such as “Lager & Ale”.

I just seen Kim this past Saturday & he basically did a whole Max Webster show! I reviewed it at our forum: http://www.classicrockforums.com/forum/f45/kim-mitchell-buffalo-ny-11-2010-a-11449/#post219189

Here’s the setlist :

Hangover
Check
Waterline
In The World of Giants
On The Road
In Context of The Moon
Oh War
A Million Vacations
Diamonds Diamonds
Beyond the Moon
Toronto Tontos
Battle Scar
High Class in Borrowed Shoes
Here Among The Cats (2 verses just for fun)
Paradise Skies
The Party
Encore:
Rock 'N' Roll Duty
Go for Soda
Lager & Ale

Great thread LG! I'll be writing more especially on Kim Mitchell's solo career






(at the end of this version of Lager & ale he adds the ending solo from Beyond the moon!)

 

[LG]

Re: Max Webster/Kim Mitchell Official Thread

Excellent post Bucky, I remember that tidbit about Terry Watkinson being an accomplished medical artist now. Kim still tours out here every few years, and his shows sell out in a hurry. His reputation as a fantastic live performer is well established, but it would be nice if he came out west and did a "Max.." show like the one you just attended.