Max Franken
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Max Franken | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Amsterdam, Holland |
| Genre(s) | Alternative rock, post-punk, experimental rock, post-rock |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Label(s) | swim ~, Crammed |
| Website | www.githead.com |
Max Franken was the drummer for Minimal Compact, an Israeli rock band to have achieved significant success outside the country. He is also a member of Githead along with Colin Newman, Robin Rimbaud (Scanner) and fellow Minimal Compact refugee Malka Spigel.
[edit] Biography
Minimal Compact (like Githead) started life as a trio without a drummer but also (like Githead) needed a live drummer for the ever-increasing number of gigs they were being asked to play. Franken, introduced to the band by Mecano's legendary Dick Polak, promised to fill the drum stool 'until they could find a proper drummer'! Very quickly, it became obvious that he was much more than a 'fill in'. In addition to rhythm, Franken provided a one-man support network for three Israeli exiles, broke and a bit lost in Amsterdam. European tours were reliant on Franken's series of ageing (and often unreliable) Citroën cars (which he still collects and drives). In spite of this, the band covered hundreds of miles from gig to gig, completely self-reliant due to Franken's transport.
Franken has a very solid and distinctive rhythmic style—committed and disciplined—yet having its origins in coming from a genuine non-musician. His kit is always cymbal-less and his attack on the drums is so heavy that Minimal would often refer to him as 'The Carpenter' for the pile of wood chips and broken sticks on the floor around his kit after a gig.
After Minimal dissolved in 1988, Franken returned to his long-term career as a psychiatric nurse. However, not only did he continue to practice the drums and play in many local Amsterdam bands, but he also taught himself to play the guitar, using it to learn about how music is structured. He has kept himself fit with a regime of weekly football matches (in the Amsterdam league) and playing squash. Franken has been able to put all this to good use by learning Githead's entire set and being able to fit straight in at the band's first rehearsal as a four-piece.
