Tuesday 11 June 1996
Le Capitole, Quebec City, QC

Max Webster is back!

Kim Mitchell is careful not to indulge in nostalgia when he invites all those who witnessed the heroic days of the Electric Circle to come and meet Max Webster at the Capitol on June 11. "It's like a high school reunion," he explains with amusement.

Max Webster! Some will fondly remember the weeks when the band set up for a series of concerts at the now-defunct Côte d'Abraham nightclub, THE rock club in Quebec City in the 1970s.

Almost every Quebec and Ontario rock band of the era performed at the Cercle Électrique: Morse Code, Brutus, Lips (now Anvil), and Max Webster, who, led by Kim Mitchell, presented a completely crazy show, where improvisation played a major role.

This eclectic and original rock (inspired by Zappa, Captain Beefheart, and Led Zeppelin) almost spread beyond Canadian borders, especially when the band recorded a song, Battle Scar, with Rush. "It was a damn good time, and Quebec City was one of our strongholds," Kim Mitchell says convincingly in an interview. "It was always nice to come to Quebec City. A city where people are open."

Don't believe, however, that the guitarist, who has been pursuing a solo career for 15 years now, is deeply nostalgic. This summer tour with his friends Terry Watkinson (keyboards) and Gary McCracken (drums), he explains, is conducted for the simple pleasure of playing together again.

"For fun": this expression will come up often during this conversation, which—no surprise when you know the man—will touch as much on the return of Max Webster, the ups and downs of a musician's life as on raising children and the possible return of an ice age in North America! "But what's going on? The trees are almost afraid to bring out their leaves!"

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

The idea of ​​getting together for a few concerts began seven or eight months ago and came to fruition last Christmas, with two concerts they presented with bassist Peter Fredette, a longtime partner of Kim Mitchell. Two more shows were added later. Then, to the musicians' great surprise, several more.

"We quickly found ourselves receiving offers from all over the place. It all ultimately led to a cross-Canada summer tour. Something that wasn't on our agenda at all," explains Kim Mitchell, a little surprised by this turn of events. After all, the band hasn't existed since 1979! For this tour, Mitchell, who is in the middle of a writing period, is putting his solo career on hold. He also specifies that he doesn't necessarily write for a solo album. "When I write, I write. Period. I don't want to limit myself by thinking I'm writing for my next album. I prefer to let myself go. Afterward, you sort things out. A country song might suit someone other than me. That's the pleasure of writing. It's like making love to yourself! You enjoy yourself without thinking about anything else," the guitarist comments with a burst of laughter.

What surprised Kim Mitchell most when it came time to rehearse with his teammates was that most of these pieces still seemed very relevant today.

"It's funny, looking back, to realize that Max Webster was, so to speak, alternative for his time. As a composer, I can better understand why certain songs were popular. But there are others where I really don't get it," the colorful guitarist adds with humour.

And what will happen once the tour is over? Will there be a follow-up to this "just for fun" reunion? "To be honest, I have no idea," replies Kim Mitchell. "We'll see in August. It's like a reunion of old students. We see each other, we reconnect, we have fun, we laugh." We have fun on stage, just like the people in the audience. But then everyone goes back to their own business. Everyone has their own life. I'm not ruling out a possible record, but frankly, it would surprise me greatly. I prefer to take it one day at a time. It's one of the things I've learned over all these years as a musician. A life that involves so many possible changes and instability, it's better to enjoy the present moment."