Maxim (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maxim
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Maxim on tour in Leeds, 2022
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Keith Andrew Palmer |
| Also known as | Maxim Reality |
| Born | 21 March 1967 Peterborough, England |
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Keith Andrew Palmer (born March 21, 1967), known as Maxim, is a British musician. He is famous for being a singer and performer in the electronic music band The Prodigy. He was previously known by his stage name Maxim Reality.
Contents
Maxim's Early Life and Music Journey
Keith Andrew Palmer was born in Peterborough, England. His parents were from Jamaica. From a young age, he loved writing poetry and song lyrics. He started performing as an MC (Master of Ceremonies) when he was about 14 years old.
Maxim was inspired by his older brother, Hitman, who was also an MC. His brother introduced him to the reggae music scene in Peterborough. When Maxim was 17, he had his first live performance in Basingstoke.
Later, Maxim teamed up with another musician named Ian Sherman. They formed a group called 'Maxim and Sheik YanGroove'. They recorded some songs, but they didn't become very famous. After this, Maxim traveled around Europe and North Africa for three months. When he came back to England, he moved to London to get more involved in the music and reggae scene. His stage name, "Maxim Reality," showed that he liked to write lyrics about real-life topics.
Joining The Prodigy
Maxim lived close to Keith Flint, who was a big fan of Liam Howlett. Keith Flint convinced Liam Howlett to start a band. Flint then suggested Maxim as a manager because of Maxim's experience in the reggae scene and his music contacts.
Maxim didn't show up for their first planned meeting. However, he surprised them by joining their next live performance. He started improvising lyrics on the spot, and that's how he became a part of the band.
After joining, Maxim started adding his own lyrics to The Prodigy's studio albums. His voice was first heard on a live track called "Death of the Prodigy Dancers" from their 1992 album, Experience. He also wrote lyrics for popular songs like "Poison" from Music for the Jilted Generation (1994) and "Breathe" from The Fat of the Land (1997).
Maxim was not on The Prodigy's 2004 album, Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned. Liam Howlett felt the band needed a fresh start without vocals from Keith Flint or Maxim. Despite rumors that the band might break up, they didn't. Maxim used this time to work on his own music. He returned as a vocalist for the 2009 album, Invaders Must Die, and the band went back to their original way of working together.
Maxim's Solo Music Projects
After The Prodigy's busy tours for The Fat of the Land, Maxim began focusing on his own music. In 1998, he released a song called "Dog Day." He also covered a song by The Rolling Stones called "Factory Girl."
On August 9, 1999, Maxim released an EP (a short album) called My Web, which had five songs. In 2000, he worked with Skin from the band Skunk Anansie on a song called "Carmen Queasy." This song became his biggest solo hit, reaching number 33 on the UK singles chart in June 2000.
Maxim released another single, "Scheming," in September 2000. It reached number 53 on the UK singles chart. His first full solo album, Hell's Kitchen, came out in October 2000. His second solo album, Fallen Angel, was released in 2005. It had one single, "I Don't Care," but it didn't become a hit.
Maxim also performs as a DJ. In 2013, he had his first DJ tour in the United States. He enjoys DJing because it's a new challenge and lets him play the music he loves. He said, "I love the spontaneity, its freestyle form." Maxim's DJing was inspired by trap music. In 2014, he worked with Cianna Blaze and producer Blaze Billions to create new songs for his DJ sets. They released these songs under the name 'We Are Noize'. Maxim explained that 'We Are Noize' was a 'collective' of artists, not a new band.
In September 2019, Maxim signed a deal with Peermusic for his music publishing. This deal also included a partnership for his own publishing company, "Red Room Arts." In December 2019, Maxim released his third solo album, Love More, on the Red Room Arts record label.
Maxim's Art
Maxim also creates mixed media artworks using the name MM (Double M). His art often includes unusual materials like pills, blades, needles, and bullets. His first art exhibition was called "Lepidop Terror." It took place in September 2011 at INC Space in London's Covent Garden. Some of his artwork can be seen online at the Taylor Barnes Gallery.
Maxim has also used his art to help raise money for good causes. In 2020, he donated pieces to the "heART & Soul Auction" for "Arms Around the Child." He also contributed to an online anti-racism exhibition called "United for Change." This exhibition raised money for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust in the UK and other organizations in the US.
Discography
Albums
- 2000: Hell's Kitchen (released October 2)
- 2005: Fallen Angel (released March 29)
- 2019: Love More (released December 16)
Singles and EPs
- 1994: Grim Reaper EP (only 500 copies made; white label)
- 1999: "My Web" (released August 9)
- 2000: "Carmen Queasy" (released May 29) – UK #33
- 2000: "Scheming" (released September 11) – UK #53
- 2005: "I Don't Care"
With The Prodigy
- What Evil Lurks (1991)
- Experience (1992)
- Music for the Jilted Generation (1994)
- The Fat of the Land (1997)
- The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One (1999)
- Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (2004)
- Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005 (2005)
- Invaders Must Die (2009)
- World's on Fire (2011)
- The Day Is My Enemy (2015)
- No Tourists (2018)
See also
In Spanish: Maxim Reality para niños
