Max’s Kansas City 1976 & Beyond

max’s kansas city is the legendary New York City nightclub that became the focal point for the city’s hip artistic community from the late 60’s until the early 80’s.

In its initial period it was famously often populated by Andy Warhol’s Factory art crowd, and played host to new artists such as the Velvet Underground, New York Dolls, the Stooges, Bruce Springsteen and countless others. It became a base for jet-setters, glam rockers, artists and celebs, until the scene faded and it shut its doors at the end of 1974.

Reopened in 1975 under new management, Peter Crowley was hired as music director, and Max’s focus went to music. The new young bands he booked helped spawn, in tandem with CBGBs, the New York City punk scene.

In 1976 Peter compiled a studio album of acts associated with the club, ‘Max’s Kansas City 1976’, to help promote the club. It featured the first released recordings of Suicide, The Fast and Warhol-era veteran Wayne County, whose title-track gave a roll-call of many of the famous acts who’d regularly performed there. After a stint in London with the Electric Chairs, Peter returned to Max’s and continued to book interesting up and coming artists. The success of the album meant a Max’s label was now viable, and more artists were recorded.

Now the original album is to be reissued as ‘Max’s Kansas City 1976 & Beyond’, greatly extended to a selection of 25 tracks on a Record Store Day double-LP and 40 tracks on a double-CD. Additional tracks include many gems from the Max’s label and other releases of the era from both well known and unheralded Max’s scene bands.

As well as the aforementioned Suicide, Fast and Wayne County, the new extended album features the New York Dolls, the Stillettos, the Offs, the Senders, Philip Rambow, VON LMO, Iggy Pop, Knots, Cherry Vanilla, Nico, Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers and Sid Vicious amongst many others. It includes many rarities and previously unreleased tracks.