Fantastic Max

**Fantastic Max** was a American alternative metal group formed in Baraboo, Wisconsin in 1983 by all members of the group. They're known for their third album *Dar She Blows* which sold 40,000,000 copies on it's first day. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

## Fantastic Max

### Genres

Alternative metal, Nu metal, Heavy metal, Thrash metal (early)

## Members

### Past members

Lynn Ryker, Justin Cassidy, Kassie Asher, Ethan Rose

## History

Lynn, Justin, Kassie and Ethan met each other at a local Best Western in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The four of them thought of forming a band that summer, Lynn then offered to do lead guitar on vocals while Kassie takes to rhythm guitar. Offering to kill two birds with one stone, Kassie agreed. They practiced at Ethan's house and were signed to Justin's dad's label Targeted Recordings. In 1984, the band released their self-titled debut album which, despite featuring James Hetfield doing backup vocals on the eighth track, got a cold reception. The band briefly toured across arcades and malls in Wisconsin. In 1986, the band released their second album *Eat the Fungus* which did improvements on reviews but still got a lukewarm reception.

However, according to a interview by Lynn in 1988, a burgeoning alternative metal scene was beginning to emerge in the La Crosse area starting with his brother's band Nexus, Lynn decided to tune down his guitar to drop G and Justin and Kassie began tuning down to drop G bass and rhythm guitar tuning, apparently, people in La Crosse loved it, so the band distanced themselves from the thrash metal sounding. They left Targeted Records as a new free agent on the La Crosse alt-metal scene. Eventually, one of the shows Fantastic Max did managed to impress Stephen Ray Cooper, Scott's acquaintance and a representative from Pinnacle Records, who signed the band in 1989. In 1990, the band released their third studio album *Dar She Blows*, which was a example of the saying "Third time's a charm", as Dar She Blows was a smash hit as it helped Scott's band pioneer nu metal. The band opened for Helmet to which Page Hamilton called the band "The Pantera of alt-metal music". The band released their fourth album in 1992 called *V8 Blowjob* which did get some controversy on release day, but the controversy died down when it was revealed as a term that the band coined when someone yelled that phrase a Chuck E Cheese's in California. They went on a co-headlining tour with Nexus with Korn as the opening act in 1993 to help promote V8 Blowjob and Nexus's then upcoming fourth studio album Note To Self.

In 1995, the band recorded their fifth album. This album, 1996's *Shadow Play* featured a more darker and brooding nu metal influence, with some critics saying it's the most darkest alt metal album ever recorded. Shadow Play was the first album with Dreamworks Records, after the band was signed in early 1996. In 1997, the band went on tour with Hardwire as the opening act. In 1999, the band released their self-titled sixth album which was praised for it's ability to shift from serious, brooding and twisted to silly, light-hearted and goofy. The band then recorded their seventh album *Plucking Flowerstrings* which released in 2001. During their 2002-2003 tour to promote Plucking Flowerstrings, Lynn Ryker was tackled by a fan in attendance at the Milwaukee show, Lynn then walked off stage and said angrily "This is the final Fantastic Max show ever! Go home!" They later cancelled the remainder of their tour. Then in 2003, the band called it quits, with Lynn shifting to a country career, Justin starting a cover band, Kassie Asher leading a high school teacher life and Ethan focusing on a EDM career. However, what Lynn had thought in 2003 saying the band would never play a show again proved to be what lead to two performances in April and July 2018, one with joining a Brendon Urie fronted Nexus reunion show and another at the annual Xerofest in Waukesha, Wisconsin with the likes of Jagged Overdose, Hardwire, Underoath, Soulfly and I Prevail.

## Members

Lynn Ryker-lead vocals (1983-2003, 2018; his death) \*had 8 different Shure microphones\*, lead guitar (1983-2003) \*played a Gibson Heritage Cherry SG guitar with ProCo Rat pedal\*

Justin Cassidy-bass (1983-2003, 2018) \*played a B.C. Rich Mockingbird bass\*

Kassie Asher-rhythm guitar (1983-2003, 2018; died 2023) \*played a Fender Metallic Green Performer guitar\*

Ethan Rose-drums (1983-2003, 2018) \*played a double bass 8 piece drum set by TAMA and MEINL\*

## Discography

*Fantastic Max (1984)*

*Eat the Fungus (1986)*

*Dar She Blows (1990)*

*V8 Blowjob (1992)*

*Shadow Play (1996)*

*Fantastic Max (1999)*

*Plucking Flowerstrings (2001)*