Max Motherfucker – Christmas – Uber Rock Interview Exclusive
Written by Johnny H
Sunday, 13 March 2016 03:00
Later this month German punk rockers Christmas get to tour their superb ‘Lose Your Illusion’ album here in the UK via dates in Northampton, Derby, Wigan and Abertillery. I recently caught up with frontman Max Motherfucker to discuss new band members, the art of making messy music videos, why beer sucks, and why rockin’ out with your cock out can instantly win you new friends. Read on then to find out about one tour you really do not want to miss…..
Hi Max, great to catch up with you again. You are about to hit the UK for four shows – what can the people of Northampton, Derby, Wigan and Abertillery expect from you guys this around?
Hey good to speak with you. These dates will be like usual for us. People can expect a pretty sweaty show with a whole lotta flesh. Also I will turn 28 in the middle of April, so there’s not much time left for me in club 27. Let’s do a last tour in full throttle! (Laughing)
Three of those places you played on your last UK jaunt…what memories do you have of that tour?
The last UK tour was absolutely ace. Abertillery was our first show on your island and when we played the second song three punks were swinging their penises to the beat. (Laughing) We immediately knew we are at home. (Laughing) We live in the countryside too and the people there know way better how to party than the city kids.
Derby was on a Sunday and usually the club is closed Sundays so the great point was that they opened specially for us. In Wigan the people have been freaking out absolutely. I guess you can only live in this town if you are a total maniac. We love maniacs! Also someone told me it was the best attended show in the last seven years there. Let’s go even wilder this time, okay?
What have you heard of Northampton? That’s a new one for you isn’t it? I seem to remember Carlsberg opened their first brewery outside of Denmark in Northampton…
I don’t like beer, so no extra point for Carlsberg. Northampton people better attract me with whiskey or red wine. Joking aside the Northampton show is connected to our friend Arthur from the band Boycott The Baptist. I have heard of the town before, but have never been there. I’m always looking forward to see new cities on tour and see how other people live. As cool as it is to meet old friends again if you return to their places, it’s also amazing to meet new people and dip into their life for one day.
I see you are taking Bristol boys UK’s Lowest up to Wigan with you, do you know who else will be sharing stages with you on this set of shows?
Yeah, In Abertillery we will share the stage once again with Trigger McPoopshute, I think. At least Darrel told me he will make sure that they will join the night. In Wigan its Hollywoodfun Downstairs from New Zealand and the local heroes of Riggots will be playing as well. I just booked a tour through Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy for Riggots. I love those boys!
It’s been a year since we actually got ‘Lose Your Illusion’ from you guys. What have you been up to otherwise?
Ever since the release of our debut ‘Appetite For Selfdestruction’ in December 2013 we haven’t stopped touring at all. In two years we played about 150 shows in 13 countries…. I think. One tour followed the next one, almost each weekend we have spent on the road and next to the touring we worked in our jobs and wrote new songs that got recorded for the ‘Lose Your Illusion’ record. Now after three month offstage we are hot as hell to play again.
You just launched the video for ‘Crack Song’ – you must be very pleased with it.
It’s one of my favourites off the new record. It’s a kinda tribute to one of Tommy’s favourite bands Choking Victim. Two of our friends made the video as part of their bachelor graduation work. In the end two litres of black paint ended on my body. It was a really funny day and the results are awesome.
It’s seems kinda poignant now that ‘Crack Song’ actually ends with a bit of a Motorhead steal…was that intentional at the time?
Lemmy Kilmister always knew how to win people over and he was a big influence for us. Even if he was still alive this was already a tribute to the biggest motherfucker ever to hit a stage.
Looking back at ‘Lose Your Illusion’ a year on how do you feel it stacks up with where you are as a band now?
One of the most important points for us is that Alex was pretty new in the band when we wrote the record. We didn’t know him very well, now he is part of the Christmas family, a good friend and an important part of our sound. He is pushing everything forward. He’s the best drummer a band could get.
I seem to remember singling out ‘Coal Workers Slavery’ during my review of the album as being a very clued in song. What was the inspiration behind that song?
The area where we live was well known for the steel and coal industry. They closed the coalmines some years back and offered people to move to the Ruhr district, which is like 250km away from us. Long live the economic dictatorship.
And ‘Moustache’ (laughing) having personally spent quite some time in Gran Canara I know your fellow countrymen like to sport a nice moustache and mullet combo, but surely writing a song about respecting moustaches is taking things to the limit??
Actually we don’t take everything too serious, mostly I don’t even take myself serious at all. If you go back in time people that wanted to show authority had a moustache, but actually they looked like fools, don’t they? (Laughing)
So back to the tour and will you bringing copies of the ‘Lose Your Illusion’ vinyl with you to sell at these shows, plus will we get to hear any new stuff from you soon?
Sure we’re bringing the new record to your island, someone has to bring good music to the UK, and who else should if not us? (Laughing) I think we also will have a new song in the set list. After the tour we will start with doing some demos for some singles or a 10″ maybe.
Anything you want to say to your UK fans ahead of these shows that we haven’t covered already?
Everybody, show up! We bring good times to you and even a Wednesday night will feel like a Saturday night! We are hot!! Don’t tell me you got something better to do, your TV is not going to run away.
Thanks again Max for taking the time to talk with me today.
Mate, thank you for listening!!
https://www.facebook.com/Christmas666/?fref=ts
https://christmas66606.bandcamp.com/album/lose-your-illusion