Kevin Max

Adopted as a baby to Max and Elaine Smith, Kevin Smith was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan.{{Cite web|date=2010-08-22|title=Grammy-winner Kevin Max, formerly of Christian group dcTalk, makes his way back home to Grand Rapids|url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2010/08/grammy-winner_kevin_max_former.html|access-date=2021-06-03|website=mlive|language=en}} Kevin went to high school at Grand Rapids Baptist (now Northpointe Christian). He went to college at Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia.{{Cite web|title=Kevin Max {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kevin-max-mn0000768017/biography|access-date=2021-06-03|website=AllMusic|language=en}} Kevin Max Smith legally changed his name to "Kevin Max" in 1997 as a tribute to his adoptive father, Max Smith.{{Cite book|title=Unfinished Work|publisher=Thomas Nelson|year=2001|isbn=978-0785266303}}

While at Liberty University, he met fellow dc Talk bandmates Toby McKeehan ("tobyMac") and Michael Tait. They formed DC Talk in 1988 and went on to achieve great success in both Christian and mainstream music, winning numerous Dove Awards and Grammys. The band went on to win four Grammy Awards and 16 GMA Dove Awards. The band went on hiatus in 2000 as each member pursued their own solo careers.

Max's first solo album, Stereotype Be, released on August 28, 2001, was praised by Allmusic for "[combining] pop, rock, and world music to create a versatile and intriguing project.".{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r546280|pure_url=yes}} |title=Stereotype Be Review |first=Ashleigh |last=Kittle |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=January 2, 2010}} Artists Adrian Belew and Tony Levin of King Crimson, Larry Norman and drummer Matt Chamberlain contributed to the album along with Max's collaborator Erick Cole. It became a turning point in Max's career, as the project was a foreshadowing of Max's own brand of alternative music.

While Stereotype Be has developed a considerable cult following, it was not well received in the Christian music market. Soon after its release, Max was dropped from his Christian label, ForeFront Records. Undeterred, Max began to slowly build his solo career through live shows and word-of-mouth. He released independent albums via his website, including Between the Fence & the Universe and a spoken-word collaboration with Adrian Belew, Raven Songs 101, both in 2004.

In fall of 2004, Max's word-of-mouth strategy finally began to pay off. He played the title role in the Visalia Theatre Company / Hutson-Cavale Productions revival of the classic Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Later that year, he signed a new deal with Northern Records and released a second full-length album, The Imposter on October 11, 2005. He released a Christmas album, Holy Night, in time for the 2005 Christmas season.

In April 2007, Infinity Music announced that Max had been signed to their label for his next project. The Blood was released on December 26, 2007. According to Max, "The Blood is not a classic hymns cover project or a white/homogenized version of black gospel or soul music. It's a sensitive and stylized adaption of the music that was at the root of rock and roll, blues and popular culture."{{cite web |url=http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist/max_kevin |title=Kevin Max |publisher=Yourmusiczone.com |access-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080401060520/http://www.yourmusiczone.com/go/ymz/music_artist/max_kevin |archive-date = April 1, 2008}}

Max has attempted to create a name for himself apart from DC Talk. While he does not shy away from vocally defending his faith, he has expressed a desire to create art with a universal appeal. He insists, "My music is for a Christian and a Buddhist to pick up and still enjoy, as well as for an atheist. But it is there to prod and ask questions: What is my worldview? What do I believe in, and why do I believe it?"{{cite web |title=Kevin Max Ready to Release 'The Blood' This Fall |publisher=Soul Shine magazine |date=April 20, 2007 |url=http://www.soulshine.ca/news/newsarticle.php?nid=4392 |access-date=July 16, 2008 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716060015/http://www.soulshine.ca/news/newsarticle.php?nid=4392 |url-status=dead }}

In February 2008, Max starred in the independent film The Imposter.{{cite web |url=http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.Artist-Kevin.Max/Article-277_1939.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722014132/http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.Artist-Kevin.Max/Article-277_1939.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |title=Kevin Max Starts New Year With New Movie, New Album and Rave Reviews |publisher=BREATHEcast.com |date=January 28, 2008 |access-date=January 3, 2010 }} In the film, Kevin plays a character named "Johnny C", a singer who becomes addicted to OxyContin and loses his family and job as a Christian music star. The movie also features Tom Wright and Troy Baker.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175292/ |title=The Imposter |publisher=IMDb |access-date=January 3, 2010 }}

In 2009, Max released Crashing Gates through dPulse records. It was critically praised as returning to his experimental side in the rock and pop genres.{{Cite web |url=http://www.soul-audio.com/album-reviews/12-08-2008/kevin-max/ |title=Soul-Audio » Album Reviews » Kevin Max |access-date=September 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425082005/http://soul-audio.com/album-reviews/12-08-2008/kevin-max/ |archive-date=April 25, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

In February 2011, Max formed a supergroup with Broadway singer Tony Vincent and longtime collaborator David Larring. The band was tentatively named "Bad Omens". The three were writing songs when Vincent decided to drop out to pursue theater interests, leaving the new band in a state of pause. A song, "Control", can be heard on Max's SoundCloud.{{cite web|url=http://listenin.org/player/playpost.aspx?PostID=17040 |title=Playing: Kevin Max speaks about his new band, The Bad Omens (...his birth father's band) . • . interviews . • . . • . • . listenin.org . • . • . this is where rock stars SPEAK . • . • |publisher=Listenin.org |access-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316051458/http://listenin.org/player/playpost.aspx?PostID=17040 |archive-date=March 16, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://christiangospelmusicdaily.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/broadway-singer-tony-vincent-collaborating-with-ex-dctalker-kevin-max/ |title=Broadway singer Tony Vincent collaborating with ex-dcTalker Kevin Max « Mark Weber presents Christian Music Makers |publisher=Christiangospelmusicdaily.wordpress.com |date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012}}

On February 27, 2012, Max released Fiefdom of Angels-Side One, the first of two albums to coincide with the forthcoming novel series of the same name. The overall project were chosen covers of well known 80's rock songs, with one Kevin Max original and a Muse cover set to lush orchestration. Ology Magazine describes the work as "a new wave mix-tape played at full volume through the Sistine Chapel".{{cite web|last=Zaratan |first=Ruiz |url=http://www.ology.com/music/album-review-kevin-max-fiefdom-angels-side-one/03052012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130200718/http://www.ology.com/music/album-review-kevin-max-fiefdom-angels-side-one/03052012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |title=Album Review: Kevin Max - 'Fiefdom Of Angels: Side One' |publisher=Ology |date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 }}

In August 2012, Max became the new lead vocalist in a reunited Audio Adrenaline.{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2012/08/21.Kevin%20Max%20Is%20The%20New%20Lead%20Vocalist%20For%20Audio%20Adrenaline!.asp |title=Music News, August 2012: Kevin Max Is The New Lead Vocalist For Audio Adrenaline! |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012}} He continued with the band until June 2014, when the band opted to take a different creative direction.{{Cite web|url = http://theundergroundsite.com/kevin-max-to-step-down-as-lead-singer-of-audio-adrenaline/?hvid=3qv722|title = Audio Adrenaline announces new lineup with Josh Engler at the helm|date = June 4, 2014|access-date = June 4, 2014|website = The Underground|archive-date = January 8, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160108041013/http://theundergroundsite.com/kevin-max-to-step-down-as-lead-singer-of-audio-adrenaline/?hvid=3qv722|url-status = dead}}

Max has also contributed vocally to other artists projects including Mark Heard, Jonathan Thulin, Marc Martel, Michael McDonald, 3kStatic, and many others.

In late 2014, Max released two singles, "Infinite" and "Light Me Up". On March 10, 2015 the album Broken Temples was released.{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/BrokenTemples.asp |title=Broken Temples review |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com |date=March 10, 2015 |access-date=March 11, 2015}}

In 2015, Max released another studio album of covers of pop standards Starry Eyes Surprise. Max released Playing Games With the Shadow in 2016, Serve Somebody in 2017, and both AWOL and Romeo Drive in 2018.

In 2020, Max released spoken word album Radio Teknika with electronic pioneers 3Kstatic and in the same summer released Revisiting This Planet a tribute to legendary rock artist Larry Norman. Later that year, Max announced a new indie rock band called Sad Astronauts.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-05 |title=Kevin Max And Erick Cole: Sad Astronauts |url=https://hmmagazine.com/podcast/kevin-max-and-erick-cole-sad-astronauts/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=HM Magazine |language=en}}

In 2022, Max released the album FANTASY with co-production by Old Bear Records, Chris Hoisington. Singles Pure Imagination and David Bowie's As The World Falls Down were also released.

A Kickstarter campaign was successful in supporting the new album Winter Woods to be released before December 25, 2022.

In a statement made on his Facebook page, Max announced that he would be creating an album with Father John Misty Bassist, Eli Thomson in the spring of 2023. Elijah Thomson was also featured on Max's album The Imposter.

In 1997, Max married Alayna Bennett. They divorced in 2003. In April 2005, he married Amanda Lynn MacDonald,{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Kevin_Max_The_Imposter/21535/p1/ |title=Kevin Max: The Imposter? |work=Cross Rhythms |date=May 10, 2006 |first=Mike|last=Rimmer |access-date=July 16, 2008}} but stated in an interview that earlier the two had "a secret wedding and marriage vows were spoken and we had binding agreement together in front of a spiritual leader, but we decided to go with the public ceremony a little bit later."{{cite web |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/kevin_max_the_imposter/21535/p2/ |title=Kevin Max: The Imposter? |page=2 |work=Cross Rhythms |date=May 10, 2006 |access-date=August 22, 2008 |author=Mike Rimmer}} They have four children. In August 2010, Max and family moved back to Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2016, Kevin Max bought a farm an hour southwest of Nashville in Centerville, Tennessee, and called it "Blind Thief Farm and Studio".{{Cite web|url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=1644|title=Kevin Max Bought the Farm (And You Can Rent It!)|website=newreleasetoday.com|access-date=April 18, 2020}} In 2018, the Max family moved to the Westhaven community in Franklin, Tennessee. The Max family frequently tours the states in a Winnebago/Mercedes RV titled Bilbo Waggons.

Max became vocal on social media about his politics and spiritual deconstruction in 2019 and 2020 during the pandemic. On the song "Shock Ra" from his 2020 album Radio Teknika, he proclaims himself a "gothic, hippie, inclusive, Jesus freak wanting peace", alongside other political commentary on the album.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-03 |title=Kevin Max - Radio Teknika |url=https://hmmagazine.com/kevin-max-radio-teknika/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=HM Magazine |language=en}} Politically, Max has identified as an anarchist{{Cite web |last=Dennill |first=Bruce |date=2016-10-29 |title=Interview: Kevin Max - To The Max, Or We Need To Talk About Kevin |url=https://www.brucedennill.co.za/to-the-max-or-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=pARTicipate |language=en-US}}{{Cite tweet|number=1160613456120352776|user=kevinmax|title=As for my political affiliation I am an Anarchist. Going back to the time before Kings, Queens, dictators & presidents/self governed but with understanding of natural law, under God- I'm simpatico with the teachings of Christ but believe in the individual right to self-govern.|access-date=2022-10-04}} and expressed support for a number of left-wing causes.{{Cite tweet|number=1394422919854534658|user=kevinmax|title=Anti-war, Pro-Peace, Anti-Hate, Pro-Love, Pro-LBGTQIA, Pro-BLM, Pro-open mindedness Anti-narrow mindedness Pro-Utopia, Anti-White Nationalist Agenda, Pro-equality, Pro-Vax, Pro-Music, Anti-1%rs, Pro-poor, Pro-misfit, Pro-Jesus, Etc....}} By 2021, he specifically identified as an "exvangelical", though he rejected claims that he was no longer a Christian and said that he followed "the Universal Christ".{{Cite tweet|number=1393440477714788352|user=kevinmax|title=Hello, my name is Kevin Max, and I'm an #exvangelical|author=Kevin Max|date=14 May 2021|access-date=2022-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530093415/https://twitter.com/kevinmax/status/1393440477714788352|archive-date=May 30, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Law |first1=Jeannie |title=DC Talk's Kevin Max says he's an 'exvangelical': 'Deconstructing' and 'progressing' |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/dc-talks-kevin-max-reveals-hes-an-exvangelical.html |access-date=18 May 2021 |work=Christian Post |date=18 May 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Goins-Phillips |first=Tré |date=2021-05-18 |title=DC Talk's Kevin Max Is Now 'Exvangelical,' Says He's Been 'Progressing' for 'Decades' |url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2021/may/dc-talk-rsquo-s-kevin-max-is-now-lsquo-exvangelical-rsquo-says-he-rsquo-s-been-lsquo-progressing-rsquo-for-lsquo-decades-rsquo |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=CBN News |language=en}}

• (1989) DC Talk (ForeFront Records)
• (1990) Nu Thang (ForeFront Records)
• (1992) Free at Last (ForeFront Records)
• (1995) Jesus Freak (ForeFront Records)
• (1997) Live in Concert: Welcome to the Freak Show (ForeFront Records)
• (1998) Supernatural (ForeFront Records)
• (2000) Intermission: the Greatest Hits (ForeFront Records)
• (2001) Solo (EP) (ForeFront Records)
• (2002) Free at Last: The Movie (ForeFront Records)

Studio albums

Compilation albums

• Frozen in Time Since Two Thousand and Nine (2023)

• (1994) At the Foot of Heaven: a Mini Audio Book (spoken word, Starsong)
• (2010) Traveler (Mora Brothers Remixes) (dPulse Recordings)
• (2010) Unholy Triad (dPulse Recordings)
• (2010) Unholy Triad Remix (dPulse Recordings)
• (2015) Same Wavelength (Kevin Max & Service Unicorn) (Blind Thief Recordings)

• (2013) Kings & Queens (Fair Trade Services)

• (1995) In the Bleak Mid-Winter from Noel, (as Kevin Smith), produced by Steve Hindalong & Derri Dougherty{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Noel/release/3429490|title=Noel (1995, CD)|year=1995 |access-date=May 19, 2021|via=www.discogs.com}}
• (1996) Lonely Moon (from Strong Hand of Love: A Tribute to Mark Heard)
• (1996) Louie's Solo Petra cover with Passafist, from Never Say Dinosaur)
• (1997) The Canticle of the Plains, (musical written by Rich Mullins)
• (1998) Save Me (from Awesome God: A Tribute to Rich Mullins)
• (1998) Birthday The Beatles cover, from ForeFront Records' Ten: The Birthday Album)
• (1999) There's Something About That Name (with Sonicflood, from Listen Louder)
• (2002) Just an Illusion (from Songs For a Purpose Driven Life, Maranatha! Music)
• (2003, 2009) Raven Songs 101 (collaboration with Adrian Belew, Blind Thief Publishing)
• (2006) Help Me Rhonda (from Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson)
• (2006) The Day Is Dawning (with Jill Phillips), from The Prayer Of Jabez...A Worship Experience
• (2007) Blue (feature appearance for Manic Drive, Whiplash Records)
• (2009) Sugar Evolver (with 3kStatic, from Evolver, Sony Music)
• (2010) Come Together Now (Music City Unites for Haiti) (charity single, relief effort led by Michael W. Smith)
• (2011) I Am Second (feature appearance for Newsboys on God's Not Dead, Inpop)
• (2011) A Name, A Day (from "of Shadows and Scars"] with Atlantic
• (2013) Man On Fire (feature appearance for Newsboys on Restart: Deluxe Edition, Inpop)
• (2013) The Living Years (feature appearance for Newsboys on Restart, Inpop)
• (2019) Love One Another (feature appearance for Newsboys on United, Fair Trade)
• (2020) Under Pressure (feature appearance with Marc Martel)
• (2022) You Did Not Have A Home (from Bellsburg album release) Old Bear Records)

• Marc Martel - "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkhUQXqx0Us Under Pressure] "
• Michael McDonald – "Ain't That Peculiar"
• Audio Adrenaline – "My World View"
• Manic Drive – "Blue"
• Jimmy Abegg – "These Daughters of Mine"
• Rich Mullins – "To Tell Them"
• TobyMac – "Atmosphere (Remix)" on 2004's Welcome to Diverse City
• SONICFLOOd – "Something About That Name"
• Raze – "Forgive Me"
• Newsboys – "God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)", "I Am Second", "Man on Fire", "The Living Years", and "Love One Another"
• Michael Sweet - "This Time" on 2014's I'm Not Your Suicide
• tobyMac – "Love Feels Like" on 2015's This Is Not a Test
• Philippa Hanna – "Embers" on 2016's Speed of Light
• TobyMac – "Space" on 2022's Life After Death

Music videos

• (2001) Existence (ForeFront Records)
• (2003) Seek (Live) (Northern Records)
• (2010) Carry On My Wayward Son (with Kerry Livgren of Kansas) (Unknown)
• (2015) Moon Over Bourbon Street (Blind Thief Recordings)
• (2016) Girl With the Tiger Eyes (Blind Thief Recordings)
• (2018) Moonracer (Blind Thief Recordings)

Film

• (2010) The Imposter
• (2014) As Dreamers Do {{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3402880/fullcredits/|title=As Dreamers Do|date=April 17, 2014|publisher=IMDb}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.waltmovie.com/|title=As Dreamers Do - The Amazing Life of Walt Disney|website=walt|access-date=May 19, 2021}}

• (1994) At the Foot of Heaven (poetry/artwork, Starsong)
• (2001) Unfinished Work (autobiography, T. Nelson)
• (2002) Slip of the Ink
• (2003) The Detritus of Dorian Gray (poetry, Blind Thief Publishing)
• (2004) Divine Erotica
• (2005) PO/ET/RY (poetry, Blind Thief Publishing)
• (2014) Fiefdom of Angels

{{portal|Poetry}}

• dc Talk - Christian Band, 1988-2001 with tobyMac, Kevin Max and Michael Tait
• tobyMac - Christian artist of former band dc Talk
• Newsboys - Christian band with lead singer Michael Tait (as of 2009)
• Adrian Belew - guitarist, producer, frequent collaborator
• Tait - Band of former dcTalk member Michael Tait.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Kevin Max}}

• {{Official website|http://kevinmax.com/}}
• [http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=93 NewReleaseTuesday.com Between The Fence And the Universe Interview]
• [http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=107 NewReleaseTuesday.com Exclusive The Blood Interview with Kevin Max]
• [http://www.wreckedfortheordinary.com/index.asp?filename=the-blood Interview with Kevin Max About The Blood with Wrecked for the Ordinary]{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Kevin Max}}

{{dc Talk}}

{{Audio Adrenaline}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Max, Kevin}}

Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:21st-century anarchists

Category:American anarchist writers

Category:American Christian writers

Category:American male poets

Category:American male singer-songwriters

Category:American performers of Christian music

Category:American rock singers

Category:American rock songwriters

Category:American socialists

Category:Audio Adrenaline members

Category:Christian anarchists

Category:DC Talk members

Category:Former evangelicals

Category:Liberty University alumni

Category:Musicians from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan