Max is a lifelong musical pioneer. Born and raised in the traditional rural culture of his Scottish-American elders, he has explored the worlds of jazz, classical, folk, rock, punk, post-punk, dance, West African, North African, Native American, electronic and indie music to discover new and unique resonances and fusions. His African-inspired 1987 recording of the old-time country standard "Rank Stranger" has been called an inspiration for the alt-country movement of the 1990s.

Although his musical experiments have ranged from ambient to what is now called post-rock, dance rhythms form the core of Max's work. His lyrics reflect his long search for experience, knowledge, and wisdom, from the nightmare of urban slums to the mysteries of nature and deep time in remote wilderness areas of the American West.

Max is largely self-taught on voice, guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, keyboards, saxophone, drums and percussion. Since childhood, he has organized and led a long series of bands and collaborative projects. In the late 1970s, in Los Angeles and San Francisco, he joined the post-punk underground and experimented with synthesizers, sampling and ambient noise. During the 1980s he worked with leading West African and North African artists and studied their roots in tribal music. In the 1990s he collaborated in Native American song traditions. His San Francisco band Terra Incognita headlined New York's Knitting Factory and was featured in the Village Voice.

Voice, electric & acoustic guitars, drums & percussion, bass guitar, banjo, saxophone, mandolin, keyboards

Projects

2008-present: Silver City, NM Solo

1993-1995: Oakland, CA: Leader of Wickiup

1981-1990: San Francisco, CA: As Max Klein, leader of Terra Incognita

1984: Los Feliz, CA: Roundhouse

1982-?: CalArts, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Mojave Desert: Didactyl Brothers

1981-1982: CalArts: Our Camp

1980: San Francisco: Poetry Attack

1970-1978: Wet Fur

1964-1965: The Roadrunners

Musical Heroes

Family: Uncle Wib Williamson, Grandma Stella Carmichael, Mamaw & Papaw Ludington, Mother Joan Green, Father Vern Ludington, Brother Jim Ludington

Friends: Mark Norris, Jon Spayde, Katie Rauh, Norman Salant, Benjamin Bossi, Michael Corbett, Reggie Benn

Legends: Ralph & Carter Stanley, King Sunny Ade, DJ Cheb i Sabbah, Alhadji Haruna Ishola, Joy Division, The Cure