I spent most nights of my young adulthood at Max's (Circa' '70-'74) What the Algonquin Round Table was to the '20s Max's was to the late 60's early 70's. A hotbed of creativity, crazy and subterranean adventure.
I'm so chuffed to have met Viva in Vienna a few years ago. She has always been my idol and to have actually met her has been a life long dream come true.
my aunt( 8 years my senior) used to check out Max's KC after a hard night at Once Upon a Stove" a french joint over on 3rd. I lived on 22/2nd at the time not old enough to go to see the acts. I'd get stories from her about real music etc etc... I never went there....seems like good tunes were played in the joint though you'd have to be 60 to have seen them.
i absolutely loved max's -- it didn't matter if i was alone or with friends -- i always had a fantastic time --- even got to hang out in the infamous back room...and loved seeing bands upstairs too
Today I was in the deli that now occupies this spot. The cash register is along the right as you walk in, a hot buffett is in the center and the back is a dining area. It seems the upstairs is now a private residence.
We spent many nights there in the back room, and some time at the bar, too. I remember taking my cousin Mary to Max's in the early afternoon. There were two Great Danes leashed to the radiator in the front room by the bar. This was normal for Max's. I remember having dinner in the back room with Gilman and Jerene. A puppeteer came to the table, did a quick skit and disappeared, once again, quite normal for Max's.
The dogs you mentioned may not have been Great Danes, but Afghan Hounds. I've been raising this breed of dog since 1976. Also, if you remember, the original owner of CBGB's used to have his Afghan Hound walking around the club. Just saying.
@babiisiah its not weird. its mine too. i think if you are a 70s fan or vintage rock fan or both like me, its only natural to feel that. this place was THE place to hang out for rockers fans and enthusiasts in the 70s and its been vividly described in many biographies. too bad i was born in the 80s (great decade too) but i wish i had been a rock chick in the 70s!
Please do your research. There exist color footage by Anton P. The photographer that has Candy , Jackie, Mary woronov, Tiger Morse , Taylor mead and many more.
can someone please tell me something? what used to happen in the back room of maxs kansas city? i mean why is it so infamous? big 70s fan here but born in 1981... thanx!
Bands set up and played in the upper floor, though that was later (around the early 70s; when Max’s opened in 65 said floor was either not yet Ruskin’s property or he didn’t have it in use)
I spent most nights of my young adulthood at Max's (Circa' '70-'74) What the Algonquin Round Table was to the '20s Max's was to the late 60's early 70's. A hotbed of creativity, crazy and subterranean adventure.
Wow
The light in the back room was provided by a Dan Flavin
neon light installation. It made the food look green.
Weird.
I'm so chuffed to have met Viva in Vienna a few years ago. She has always been my idol and to have actually met her has been a life long dream come true.
Wow! thanks for this!! My boyfriend in the 76-77 played upstairs many times so I knew that space better, but this is the legendary backroom .. Fun!
This is an incredible video, it brought back many memories
my aunt( 8 years my senior) used to check out Max's KC after a hard night at Once Upon a Stove" a french joint over on 3rd. I lived on 22/2nd at the time not old enough to go to see the acts. I'd get stories from her about real music etc etc... I never went there....seems like good tunes were played in the joint though you'd have to be 60 to have seen them.
I use to go there in the 70's as a 23 year old such fun xoxo
i absolutely loved max's -- it didn't matter if i was alone or with friends -- i always had a fantastic time --- even got to hang out in the infamous back room...and loved seeing bands upstairs too
Bob Gruen shot some fantastic footage of the New York Dolls at Max's...
Wow, can't imagine how sinister this all was in red
I played so many gigs here and it was always such a privilege...
tell us more!
ua-cam.com/video/mIDCYPITZWA/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/Yl5s53UzChk/v-deo.html
@bikewhiz - The last time I was there it was a mini-supermarket.
It's called "Evergreen Gourmet Deli".
i loved max's !!!
RIP, Mickey.
Today I was in the deli that now occupies this spot. The cash register is along the right as you walk in, a hot buffett is in the center and the back is a dining area. It seems the upstairs is now a private residence.
There’s footage in Carter Stevens’ 1977 movie called Punk Rock! The R rated version on Tubi.
@superemposed There is a mini supermarket at 213 Park Avenue South today, the location of Max's back in the day.
This is wher I spent My childhood, this all looks like it was filmed downstairs?? the gigs where up stairs
checked it out yesterday a deli
We spent many nights there in the back room, and some time at the bar, too. I remember taking my cousin Mary to Max's in the early afternoon. There were two Great Danes leashed to the radiator in the front room by the bar. This was normal for Max's. I remember having dinner in the back room with Gilman and Jerene. A puppeteer came to the table, did a quick skit and disappeared, once again, quite normal for Max's.
The dogs you mentioned may not have been Great Danes, but Afghan Hounds. I've been raising this breed of dog since 1976. Also, if you remember, the original owner of CBGB's used to have his Afghan Hound walking around the club. Just saying.
Remember the chickpeas!
oh wow thank you for this
Love this
@babiisiah its not weird. its mine too. i think if you are a 70s fan or vintage rock fan or both like me, its only natural to feel that. this place was THE place to hang out for rockers fans and enthusiasts in the 70s and its been vividly described in many biographies. too bad i was born in the 80s (great decade too) but i wish i had been a rock chick in the 70s!
Please do your research. There exist color footage by Anton P. The photographer that has Candy , Jackie, Mary woronov, Tiger Morse , Taylor mead and many more.
thank you
can someone please tell me something?
what used to happen in the back room of maxs kansas city? i mean why is it so infamous? big 70s fan here but born in 1981... thanx!
Drugs, and sex in the bathrooms.
Ruby Lynn Reyner is the original Max’s Kansas City superstar.
Thanks!
It's magic!
This is obviously cut off - how much more footage/commentary exists?
It's from the DVD extras of Ciao Manhattan. Maybe there is more somewhere. It would be great to see upstairs. Very obsure.
have you scanned and posted any of your stills?
Where did bands set up?
Back room to the right?
Someone mentioned that the live shows were upstairs somewhere in this thread.
Bands set up and played in the upper floor, though that was later (around the early 70s; when Max’s opened in 65 said floor was either not yet Ruskin’s property or he didn’t have it in use)
Who are the couple next to Viva, 1:41 - 1:55?
Looks like '66 or '67. It's definitely pre-rat fur.
You sure it wasn't "Harold's Place"
What was the vibe like by the time Madonna played at Max's?
There was no such thing as Madonna at Max's
So is there an a-roll?
The crowley era was a rat's nest of loserss
"Didn't they have any black friends?" lol
Ruby and the Rednecks live at Max’s Kansas City brought me here