Maxim Reality

Maxim Reality
Maxim on tour in Washington, D.C.
Background information
Birth name	Keith Andrew Palmer
Also known as	Maxim
Born	21 March 1967 (1967-03-21) (age 44)
Origin	British
Genres	Big Beat, alternative Rock, electronic music
Occupations	Vocalist
Associated acts	The Prodigy

Keith Andrew Palmer (born 21 March 1967, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England), known by his stage name Maxim Reality or simply Maxim, is an English singer-songwriter and MC, famous for his work with electronica band The Prodigy.

Pre-Prodigy history

Maxim was born in Peterborough, the youngest of seven children, and he attended Jack Hunt School, also in Peterborough. He enjoyed writing poetry and verse and began MC-ing around the age of 14. He gained inspiration from his ten year older MC brother, Hitman, who introduced him into the Peterborough Reggae Soundsystem Scene. At the age of seventeen he had his first gig in Basingstoke. Ian Sherman, a fellow musician from Nottingham teamed up with Maxim and they formed Maxim and Sheik Yan Groove, where Sherman made the music and Maxim contributed with lyrics. After recording some tracks together and not getting any attention from the record industries, Maxim decided to disband and went on a three month travel throughout Europe and North Africa. Upon returning to England he moved to London to get more into the music and reggae scene of the metropol. Through a friend, Ziggy, he was offered a gig with a band called The Prodigy, which he accepted. He was planning to do just a few gigs with the band, but he later decided to stay.

MC of The Prodigy

Maxim on tour in 2009

Originally joined The Prodigy on their first ever show to make the live shows become more alive, Maxim's lyrical talents were later incorporated in the studio works of the albums after Experience from 1992 (although his vocal contributions were heard in the live track "Death of the Prodigy Dancers" on Experience). Maxim provided lyrics in the single "Poison" from Music For the Jilted Generation (1994), as well as in the hit single "Breathe" and the canned single release "Mindfields" both from The Fat of the Land (1997). However, on the Prodigy album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned from 2004, his vocal works were completely absent, apart from an appearance on the album's first single "Girls" in form of a remix called "More Girls" and the first song on the album, "Spitfire". He is still a full member of the band, though, performing in the live shows and, according to their official web site, recording material with Liam Howlett.

Solo projects

Due to the almost constant touring and recording with The Prodigy, Maxim rarely had a chance to make his own solo material. After the band started to take it easier after the intense touring to support The Fat of the Land in late 1998, he finally had the spare time to work and finish some of his projects. That year he released "Dog Day" on the XL promo Against the Grain, which also featured Howlett's "Dirtchamber Remix" of "Diesel Power" (from The Fat of the Land) and Maxim's cover version of the Rolling Stones' "Factory Girl". On 9 August 1999 Maxim released the EP My Web, which contained five tracks. In 2000 Maxim had a collaboration with Skin from Skunk Anansie on the song "Carmen Queasy", which remains his biggest solo success. It peaked at #33 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2000.^[1] A second single, "Scheming", was released 11 September and reached UK #53,^[1] and the album Hell's Kitchen, was released on 2 October 2000. He is currently working on a new album with producer Machine.^[2] Maxim's second solo album, Fallen Angel, was released in 2005 and spawned one single, "I Don't Care," which failed to chart. The album was released in multiple formats, including a limited edition CD.

Discography

Albums

• 2000: Hell's Kitchen (released 2 October)
• 2005: Fallen Angel (released 29 March)

Singles and EPs

• 1994: "Grim Reaper EP" (only 500 copies made; white label)
• 1999: "My Web" (released 9 August)
• 2000: "Carmen Queasy" (released 29 May)
• 2000: "Scheming" (released 11 September)
• 2005: "I Don't Care"

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 356. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
2. ^ Themachineshop.org

External links

• A web page dedicated to Maxim
• Fallen Angel (discography)
• Maxim Reality at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Reality, Maxim
Alternative names	Palmer, Keith Andrew
Short description
Date of birth	21 March 1967
Place of birth	Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England
Date of death
Place of death