Maximum Joy
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Bristol, England |
| Founder | Tony Wrafter, Janine Rainforth |
| Defunct | 1983 (initially) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2015 |
| Successor | MXMJoY (related project) |
| Headquarters | Bristol , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | International |
Key people | Janine Rainforth, Tony Wrafter, Charlie Llewellin, Dan Catsis, John Waddington |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
| Website | maximumjoy |
Maximum Joy is a post-punk group originating from Bristol, England, initially formed in 1981 and later reunited in 2015.
Pitchfork characterized their music as reminiscent of "the Slits supported by the Gang of Four," whereas PopMatters emphasized their fusion of intricate rhythms, horn sections, groovy bass lines, and English female vocals that merge elements of Afrobeat, reggae, avant-garde jazz, funk, and pop. Bandcamp regards Maximum Joy as a significant influence within post-punk history.
History
The band came together in 1981, spearheaded by Tony Wrafter (saxophone, trumpet, flute), formerly of Glaxo Babies, along with Janine Rainforth (vocals, clarinet, violin). They enlisted fellow ex-Glaxo Babies members Charlie Llewellin (drums) and Dan Catsis (bass), plus John Waddington (guitar) from The Pop Group.
Wrafter cited their inspirations as spanning jazz, reggae, funk, punk, soul, hip-hop (including the Last Poets, Afrika Bambaataa, the Sugarhill Gang), dub, and ambient music, highlighting their adaptable stylistic approach.
Their discography on Y Records includes three singles: "Stretch" (July 1981), "White and Green Place" (February 1982), and "In the Air" (July 1982). After the debut single, Kev Evans took over bass duties from Catsis. The 12-inch version of "Stretch" was licensed for release in the United States by New York's influential label 99 Records.
October 1982 saw the release of their album Station MXJY, produced by Adrian Sherwood.
Following this period, Jeremy Hirsch (trumpet, keyboards) replaced Wrafter and Nellee Hooper joined on percussion and backing vocals. This lineup recorded their final single—a Dennis Bovell-produced cover of Timmy Thomas' "Why Can't We Live Together," backed with "Man of Tribes." Rainforth departed before the single’s release; new vocalist Peta re-recorded the lead vocals. Released in April 1983 by Garage Records, the group disbanded shortly thereafter.
In 2005, the retrospective compilation Unlimited (1979-1983) was issued. Beat Records Japan re-released Station MXJY on CD in April 2008 with additional remixes and Rainforth’s previously unreleased vocal take on "Why Can't We Live Together."
A vinyl collection featuring singles from 1981 to 1982 titled I Can't Stand It Here On Quiet Night was issued in October 2017 by Silent Street Records—a joint venture between Blackest Ever Black and Idle Hands—marking Maximum Joy’s first UK vinyl reissue.
The album Station MXJY saw another reissue in February 2020.
Reunion
In May 2015, Janine Rainforth revived Maximum Joy and invited Charlie Llewellin and Tony Wrafter to rejoin her. On August 19, 2015, they announced a performance at Bristol’s Simple Things festival scheduled for October 24 that year. The reunion lineup included Marek Bero on bass and James Byron on guitar.
Subsequently, Rainforth established MXMJoY alongside Llewellin and new collaborators. They released their debut single "Can Man Conquer It All" from the album p.e.a.c.e, which was made available on February 22, 2019 via Bandcamp under London Fields Recordings (catalog number LDNFRD02).
Other projects
Janine Rainforth formed Leonard and the Cats with Ollie Moore (Pigbag) and Nick Sheppard (the Cortinas, the Clash), and currently performs as a solo artist under her own name.
Tony Wrafter contributed flute to Tricky’s 1995 record Maxinquaye.
Charlie Llewellin went on to play drums for Palace of Light, produced for Blue Aeroplanes, relocated to Texas in 1991, and co-founded The Gourds based in Austin.
Dan Catsis returned as bassist for the revived Pop Group.
John Waddington performed with Ammonites, Perfume, and U-BahnX.
Jeremy Hirsch released a solo single titled "First Step" in 2006.
Nellee Hooper gained recognition as a producer for artists such as Massive Attack, Björk, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Garbage among others. He produced six Grammy-winning albums for acts including Smashing Pumpkins, U2, Soul II Soul, and Sinéad O’Connor. In 1998 he received a BAFTA award for his arrangement of the score and soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s film Romeo + Juliet.
Personnel
- Current members (MXMJoY)
- Janine Rainforth – vocals, keyboards (1981–1983, 2015–present)
- Charlie Llewellin – percussion, keyboards (1981–1983, 2015–present)
- Marek Bero – bass (2015–present)
- James Byron – guitar (2015–present)
- Miroslav Haldina – drums, percussion (2015–present)
- Former members of Maximum Joy
- Dan Catsis – bass (1981)
- John Waddington – guitar (1981–1983)
- Kev Evans – bass (1981–1983)
- Tony Wrafter – saxophone, flute, trumpet (1981, 2015)
- Jeremy Hirsch – trumpet, keyboards (1982–1983)
- Nellee Hooper – percussion, backing vocals (1982–1983)
- Peta – vocals (1983)
Studio albums
- Station MXJY (1982; Y Records; reissued in 2008 by Beatink Records Japan; vinyl reissue in 2021 through 1972 Records)
Singles
- "Stretch" (1981; Y Records / 99 Records)
- "White and Green Place" (1982; Y Records)
- "In the Air" (1982; Y Records)
- "Do It Today" (1982; Y Records)
- "Why Can't We Live Together" (1983; Garage Records)
Compilation albums
- Unlimited (1979-1983) (2005; Crippled Dick Hot Wax!)
- "I Can't Stand It Here On Quiet Nights" (2017; Silent Street Records)