By Simone Stenfors

 

SIRIUS TRIXON... ALL ROADS LEAD TO MAX'S KANSAS CITY !

Sirius Trixon & The Motor City Bad Boys, one of the most legendary rock bands to ever come out of the Detroit music scene played Max's Kansas City many times during the 70's. At one point, they recorded and released a "Live at Max's Kansas City" album and to top it off, lead singer / band leader Sirius Trixon got married "Live On Stage" to his home town sweetheart, the one and only Marshi Mellow at the legendary music venue. 30 years later, Sirius Trixon is here to answer a few questions . .

What can you tell us about Max's Kansas City?
Max's Kansas City was by far, the worlds greatest rock 'n' roll club with nothing but the coolest and hippest people on the New York scene hanging every night of the week. It was the most magical place on earth, it was the ultimate rock 'n' roll experience with the most colorful people, you could not find a better place, a better scene, if you searched the entire planet.
 

What year did Max's happen?
Mickey Ruskin, the original owner first opened the club in the winter of 1965. It soon became the place for the "In Crowd" to hangout. For most of New York City scenesters and hipsters, Max's became the center of the universe. There was no other place in the world like it, it became the hippest, coolest and most happening club on earth. By the mid 70's, Tommy and Laura Dean took over the club, they hired Peter Crowley to run operations, together they took it to a new level, from that moment on, all roads led to Max's.

Can you name some of the "So Called" Cool people hanging out night after night?
I spent many nights hanging out with people like Andy Warhol, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, The New York Dolls, Lou Reed, John Cale, Alice Cooper, David Bowie,Angie Bowie, Marc Bolan, Iggy Pop, Todd Rundgren, Bebe Buell, Alan Vega & Marty Rev (from Suicide), David Peel, Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen, Monty Rock III, Tiny Tim, etc...

Can you name some of the bands that played Max's?
The Velvet Underground, The New York Dolls, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Iggy & The Stooges, Aerosmith, Blondie, The B52's, Devo, The Dead Boys, Robert Gordon, Tuff Darts, Sid Vicious, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, Levi & The Rockats, The Stray Cats, The Patti Smith Group, Television, the list goes on and on . . oh my god, I almost forgot, believe it or not, Billy Joel played there too!

How often did you play shows at Max's?
I cant remember exactly how many times I played there, but I did play there many times.
 

What was it like to play Max's?
I loved playing there, it was my favorite club. It was by far the most electrifying club in the world, with the coolest of the coolest crowds, night after night.

You got married at Max's, tell us all about it?
Yes, I had a Rock 'N' Roll Wedding (May 21, 1977) "Live On Stage" ! The wedding was performed by The Rev. Stanley T. Mad Hatter, minister of The 1st. Rock 'N' Roll Church Of A
America. I had 5 best men, all the band members of The Motor City Bad Boys.

As a headlining act, you guys (Sirius Trixon & The Motor City Bad Boys) had people like Patti Smith, Television, The Misfits, The Dead Boys, play on the same bill?
In those days, it would be 2 and 3 headliners on the same bill. From a fans point of view, it was great thing, they got to see 2 or 3 happening bands for the price of one, how cool is that!

What can you tell us about Mickey Ruskin, Tommy & Laura Dean and Peter Crowley?
Mickey Ruskin was very much a patron of the arts type character, he was loved and respected by the local music and arts community, everyone, including me, liked him a whole lot. Tommy & Laura Dean made me feel like part of the family. When I got married, Tommy Dean walked Marshi Mellow, the bride to be, down the isle, he was sort of a father figure to both of us. Every so often, he would walk up to me and slip a couple hundred dollar bills in my pocket and tell me to take Marshi Mellow out for dinner, that's coming from a guy that owned a restaurant, how funny is that! Another thing, I never ever payed for anything, food or drinks. I remember Tommy Dean telling me, that if I ever needed to entertain music industry people, for me to bring them over to Max's, he would take care of everything. Peter Crowley was a very cool cat, he loved the music, he very much believed in the scene, he was very reponsible in helping some of the bands make it big. He was one of people that help create and expose the world to the downtown music scene.

You got to hangout with Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen?
Right after The Sex Pistols final tour ever, Sid & Nancy arrived in New York City, they moved right into The Chelsea Hotel on 23rd. street and immediately started to hangout at Max's Kansas City. I spent many, many nights hanging out with them both at Max's and at the Chelsea Hotel. I was there the night that Sid played Max's with Steve Dior, Arthur 'Killer' Kane and Jerry Nolan of The New York Dolls.
I ran into Sid & Nancy in the hallway of the Chelsea Hotel hours before the Nancy Spungen murder took place and they were their usual selves, stoned out of their minds, acting stupid, a pretty sad state of affairs.

 

What happened, how come Max's is no longer around?
At some point, all good things come to an end. As time goes on, things start to change, people get older, they move on, the scene starts to fade out and all we are left with are the memories. All I can say is Thank You Mickey Ruskin, Thank You Tommy & Laura Dean, Thank You Peter Crowley and Long Live Max's Kansas City !!!

 

 

Interview by Simone, Many thanks to Sirius Trixon for taking time to do the interview...Enjoy your stay in London and come back to see us real soon..So There!!

Check out Sirius Trixon on myspace - HERE