Max Collins (musician)

James Maxwell Stuart Collins (born August 28, 1978) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and bassist of the alternative rock band Eve 6 which he co-founded with Jon Siebels. He launched a solo career in 2013 called Marms + The Car Deaths. He has other musical projects including a band called Fitness, and more recently has created a singing Germanic alter-ego called Chevy Mustang.[1]

Max Collins
Collins in May 2012
Collins in May 2012
Background information
Birth nameJames Maxwell Stuart Collins
Born (1978-08-28) August 28, 1978
Occupation(s)Musician, producer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass, guitar, piano
Years active1995–present

Career

Max Collins (bass, lead vocals), Jon Siebels (guitar, backing vocals), and Nick Meyers (drums) formed the band formed in 1995 in La Crescenta, California first as Yakoo and then Eleventeen; the name Eve 6 was adopted later.[1]

The band issued the self-titled Eve 6 in 1998, attaining platinum success with hit singles "Inside Out" and "Leech," the former capturing the #1 spot on the Modern Rock charts and crossing over successfully to pop/Top 40 radio. More widespread recognition came with gold-selling sophomore effort Horrorscope (2000), with songs "Promise," "On the Roof Again", and Top 40 hit "Here's to the Night".

From mid-2004 until May 2005, Collins performed in a band under the name Brotherhood of Lost Dogs with the drummer from Fountains of Wayne, Brian Young, and bassist Joe "Bass" Howard formerly of The Posies. They played live shows in the Los Angeles area and never released any recorded material. In June 2005 Collins began a new project, The Sugi Tap, with a former band member in Eve 6, Tony Fagenson. In October 2007, The Sugi Tap was put on hold "indefinitely". The band had released an EP, formerly available at The Sugi Tap's website; now only the album art of the EP and a link to Eve 6's Myspace page is available.

Collins primarily plays Fender Jazz Basses. As of October 2007, Eve 6 officially said that they are returning minus Jon Siebels, who was replaced by a temporary guitarist, Matt Bair of "The Sequel". As of July 2011, Eve 6 has reunited with all three original members returning.[2] Their fourth studio album Speak in Code was released on April 24, 2012.

In early 2013, Collins began a barrage of songwriting which launched his solo career. With the support of his fans, he fully funded his album Honey from the Ice Box in an online campaign through PledgeMusic.[3][4] On September 6, 2013, the digital version of the album released early for his PledgeMusic supporters. In 2015, he collaborated with Pegboard Nerds, providing vocals for their track "Pink Cloud."

Collins started a new project with Eve 6 bandmate Ben Hilzinger and Kenny Carkeet of Awolnation called Fitness. In 2020, Collins launched his alter-ego, "Chevy Mustang", a complex artist/self-styled guru with a Germanic-sounding accent, and a following of students whom he refers to as disciples.[5] Chevy Mustang's first single[5] was "Because I Want To" - seemingly in response to the limitations of COVID restrictions. In June 2020, the next Chevy Mustang single, "Can I Be Your Friend"[6] featured Evan Rachel Wood and a version of this song became an electronic birthday card option[7] at JibJab on August 31, 2020.

From April to September 2022, Collins wrote an advice column named "Heart in a Blender" for the Input section of the online magazine Inverse, covering various topics such as mental health, toxic family members, and drug use.[8] As of November 2022, he relaunched the advice column on BuzzFeed News and is also working on a book with the same name that is due out in 2023.[9]

Personal life

On July 21, 2007, Collins married Victoria Misirli. Collins announced the birth of his daughter Isla (pronounced eye-la) Elizabeth Collins who was born on July 11, 2014.[10] Collins' second daughter, Zia (pronounced zee-a) Victoria, was born on November 4, 2016.[11] He and Misirli separated in 2019.[12]

He is the nephew of actor Stephen Collins.[13] His brother was in a band, Controlling the Famous.[14] In December 2020, multiple media outlets took note of the fact that Collins had become a prolific poster to Eve 6's official Twitter account,[15] which was "quickly becoming a trove of internet comedy,"[16] including queries to various public figures asking if they "like the heart in a blender song,"[17][18][19][20] "choice tidbits ... about his fellow washed stars," and "generic observations about wallet chains, weight gain, and merch with palm trees on it, as well as a running bit about not knowing the difference between Vertical Horizon, Dishwalla, Matchbox 20, et al."[21] Loudwire crowned Collins the "new king of Twitter" and "the anti-Trapt of Twitter,"[22] the latter contrasting Collins' celebrated output with that of Trapt lead singer Chris Taylor Brown.

Discography

For Collins' work with Eve 6, see Eve 6 discography.

Studio albums
  • Honey from the Icebox (2014)

References
  1. Smith, Graeme (June 26, 2020). "Video: Chevy Mustang & Evan Rachel Wood – Can I Be Your Friend". Yorkcalling.co.uk. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  2. Bosso, Joe (March 22, 2012). "Interview: Eve 6's Max Collins on early success, reunion, new album Speak In Code". Musicradar.com.
  3. "Max Collins". PledgeMusic. Archived from the original on July 26, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  4. Hart, Ron (June 12, 2013). "Eve 6's Max Collins, 'World on Fire': Exclusive Song Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  5. Dominic, Serene. "The Seven Worst Accidents in Rock 'n' Roll History (Including One in Arizona)". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  6. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Chevy Mustang - Can I Be Your Friend ft. Evan Rachel Wood". YouTube.
  7. "JibJab". Jibjab.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  8. "Heart in a Blender". Input. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  9. Collins, Max. "The Eve 6 Guy Is Reviving His Advice Column And Wants You To Write Him With Your Problems". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  10. @MaxCollinsMusic (July 12, 2013). "I'm a Dad. Isla (eye-la) Elizabeth Collins. Born 11:44 pm 7-11-13. She's incredible" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. "Victoria Collins on Instagram: "Sisters meet! Zia Victoria Collins born today 11-4-16 at 12:12am. 8 lbs and thriving. We are already home. ❤️"". Instagram.com.
  12. "Eve 6's Max Collins Is More Than Just the King of Music Twitter". Spin.com. December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  13. @StephenCollins (September 5, 2013). "My insanely talented nephew Max Collins' (#Eve6) solo Album drops Friday! via @MaxCollinsMusic" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. @Eve6 (February 1, 2022). "the guy who started this company is named rory felton. he's been in the industry for a long time and he literally signed my brother's band Controlling the Famous to indie label The Militia Group in the early 2000s. this keeps getting weirder" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. Hudson, Alex (December 21, 2020). "Eve 6 Are Suddenly Relevant Again Thanks to Their Wild Twitter Account". Exclaim.
  16. Caffrey, Dan (December 21, 2020). "We implore you to follow Eve 6 on Twitter". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  17. Ehrlich, Brenna (December 22, 2020). "Eve 6 Wants to Know Whether You Like Their 'Heart in a Blender' Song". Rolling Stone.
  18. Garro, Adrian (December 22, 2020). "Eve 6 is Turning Twitter Inside Out with '90s Rock Trash Talk & Endless Queries About 'The Heart in a Blender Song'". Rock Cellar Magazine.
  19. Rosenbaum, Marty (December 23, 2020). "Eve 6 is on an epic Twitter tear, asking everyone if they like the 'heart in a blender' song". Radio.com.
  20. Aniftos, Rania (December 23, 2020). "Eve 6 Wants to Know if Twitter Likes 'Inside Out'". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  21. Deville, Chris (December 22, 2020). "Eve 6 Guy Is Spilling The '90s Alt-Rock Tea On Twitter". Stereogum.com.
  22. Hartmann, Graham (December 22, 2020). "The Dude From Eve 6 Is the New King of Twitter". Loudwire.com.
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