Mad Max

Mad Max

Mad Max are a German heavy metal band from Münster, formed in 1981 and active to the present. They begin as a melodic hard rock outfit with vocalist Andreas Baesler, guitarists Wilfried Schneider and Jürgen Breforth, bassist Thomas Hoffmann and drummer Uwe Stark.

Early releases and line-up changes

The band records a self-financed debut album under its own name, which later appears again through Roof Music in 1983. They then sign to Roadrunner Records and issue Rollin' Thunder, with Michael Voss replacing Baesler on vocals. That album also receives a US release on Metal Blade. Jürgen Sander later takes over bass duties from Hoffmann, while Schneider and Stark leave and join fellow Münster band Carrie. Their 1985 album Stormchild features new members Roland Bergmann on bass, Axel Kruse on drums and Christopher Wegmann on guitar.

Roadrunner period and first split

In 1986 the band releases the single “Fox On The Run”, a cover of the Sweet song. Their final Roadrunner album, Night Of Passion, is produced by Dirk Steffens and arrives in 1987. To support it, the band tours across Europe with acts including Pretty Maids and Stryper. Mad Max disbands in 1989 after Voss leaves.

Reformation and later work

Jürgen Breforth and Michael Voss revive Mad Max in 2000 for Never Say Never, issued by Point Music. For that recording they use the Tanner rhythm section of Carsten Tischer on bass and Yogi Spittka on drums. In Japan the album is retitled Criminal Religion. The band returns again in 2005 with Night Of The White Rock on AOR Heaven. That album has an openly Christian lyrical theme. Mad Max then issues the mini-album In White, which includes acoustic versions of songs from Night Of The White Rock, a reworking of “Lonely Is The Hunter” from the debut album, the new track “Hello Father” and a cover of the gospel song “Open The Eyes Of My Heart”.

Tours, collaborations and related projects

Mad Max plays three shows with Deep Purple and Alice Cooper in February 2006 and later supports Axel Rudi Pell on his February 2007 European tour. Michael Voss also appears on two tracks on Beggar's Bride's debut album Boulevard Of Broken Hearts. Outside the band, Voss works with Michael Bormann in the project 20th Century Boys, whose album Beware Of The Rex consists entirely of T. Rex covers. Breforth and Ralf Heyne also form Tanner; Heyne later releases an eponymous album as Docheyne. Axel Kruse later plays with Jaded Heart, and Christopher Wegmann is among the later members listed for the band.