WestBam
Westbam | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Maximilian Lenz |
Also known as | Frank Xerox, It's 2 Hard, Mr. Y, Professor Taub-Karcher, Von Sternhagel, WB Loops |
Born | Münster, Westphalia, Germany | 4 March 1965
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | DJ, producer, remixer, label owner |
Years active | 1983–present |
Labels | Low Spirit |
Website | Westbam.de |
Maximilian Lenz (born 4 March 1965), known by his stage name WestBam, is a German DJ and musician.[1] He is the co-founder of the record label Low Spirit.
Career
Lenz started his musical career in 1978 in the
The origin of his DJ moniker Westbam is a homage to Afrika Bambaataa, thus Westphalia Bambaataa. He started his career as a DJ in 1983 in the Odeon club in Münster.[3] In 1984, he moved to his friend and mentor William Röttger in Berlin, where he released his first record called "17 – This Is Not a Boris Becker Song", which was co-produced by Klaus Jankuhn. WestBam, his brother Fabian Lenz, William Röttger, Klaus Jankuhn and Sandra Molzahn later founded their own label Low Spirit.[3]
In 1985 Westbam published his influential text "What is Record-Art?", in which he described DJ techniques and characterized the DJ as a musician, that composes tracks with records.[4] In 1988, the Goethe-Institut sent Westbam as part of the German art show Kunstdisco to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
He played at the first
In 1991, he organised the first
After several single records he released his first album named The Cabinet. In 1993, he played a number of rave events in the United Kingdom including Obsession Passion at the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes. In 1997, he released his first book, titled Mixes, Cuts & Scratches. It dealt with the art, the work and the life of a DJ.
In 2005, he released an album Do You Believe in the Westworld, with the first single being "Bang The Loop". Westbam presented this album live with a band, which consisted of a drummer, a bass player, Klaus Jankuhn on keyboards and a laptop for programming and Westbam performing as MC.
Westbam released his triple album A Love Story 89-10 in 2010 on Bass Planet / Kontor Records.[8]
2013 saw the release of his double album Götterstraße, on which Westbam collaborated with artists such as
Personal life
Westbam has three siblings. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick. His sister Seraphina Lenz is an artist.[9]
He is father of two sons and lives in
Discography
In popular culture
References
- ISBN 978-0-87930-628-1. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ a b c Was macht eigentlich Maximilian Lenz?, adamriese.info, retrieved 17 August 2010
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
- ^ The Age of the DJ-Mixer: 10 Jahre Low Spirit. Das Interview mit Westbam, Frontpage magazine 95/08, retrieved 17 August 2010
- ^ Westbam. Das Monumentalinterview in 2 Teilen (20.7 und 25.7.2010) (PDF; 102 kB), retrieved 18 August 2010
- ^ Westbam zur Loveparade-Katastrophe – das komplette Interview. Raveline, 2010
- ^ Westbam steigt bei der Mayday in Dortmund aus, derwesten.de, retrieved 5 February 2014
- ^ Westbam: A Love Story 89-10 (Kontor), Raveline.de, retrieved 14 August 2010
- ^ WestBam Radio-Interview Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, rbb-online.de, retrieved 27 September 2013
External links
- Westbam.de (in German)
- WestBam discography at Discogs
- WestBam at IMDb
- WestBam discography at MusicBrainz
- Westbam Profile on Fantazia
- Westbam Profile on Obsession