Max Webster

S

tarted by guitarist Kim Mitchell who had worked with various bands over the years, including Alice Cooper and MC5, the Max Webster band was backed by Dave Myles (bass), Terry Watkinson (keyboards) and Gerry McCracken (drums) to release Max Webster (1976), High Class In Borrowed Shoes (1977), Mutiny Up My Sleeve (1978), the platinum winning A Million Vacations (1979), Live Magnetic Air (1979) and Universal Juveniles (1980).

Their 1980 single Paradise Skies (featuring guest appearances by members of fellow Canadian act Rush) was an attempt to crack the British market, and it worked by giving them a 43, their only international charting, but as the subsequent tour proved, that market was a hard nut to crack when they were forced to cancel much of the tour due to lack of interest.

The final album, Diamonds Diamonds (1981), the only album to not achieve gold or platinum, managed to impress some but it wasn't enough and the act split in 1982; Mitchell continued on with a successful solo career to also become a DJ on Toronto's Q107 radio station. It is important to note, except for the one UK number, all charting and awards were in Canada only.