David J. Widmann

“Our first gig was in April 2002, and since then we’ve travelled Canada three times over,” says Keith Maurik, rhythm guitarist for Toronto five-piece Maximum RNR. “We put out a seven-inch every time. This time we put out the six-song CD instead of the seven-inch. We got a lot of mileage off those six songs.”

Maurik has also gotten a lot of mileage out of his van, learning that when you’re a rock and roll band touring the country, you’re fair game for bored traffic cops along the Trans Canada Highway.

“We’re pretty fucking unlucky when it comes to cops,” he says. “We don’t speed, because we know if they can see us coming along, we’re pulled over for no reason. The second time we were going out west, we were doing the drive to Thunder Bay. It’s such a long drive, and the dudes in the back were like: ‘Fuck man, I’m going to have a beer.’ I’m like: ‘Yeah, whatever, go for it.’ We get pulled over. The first thing the cops ask me is how much I’ve had to drink. I’m wondering why, and then it hits me. The whole van reeks of booze because of the guys in the back. They were fucking loaded. The cops pulled us out of the van, and all the empties fell out. They started grilling us about drugs and shit. Our drummer, who has never done drugs in his life, took over at that point and said: ‘Drugs, what drugs? We’re a beer-drinkin’ band. We don’t do drugs.’ We all just nodded. I had a half-ounce of pot on me, so I stayed quiet.”

“Anyway, we got a $215 ticket for illegal conveyance, or whatever they call it. Open liquor. I paid it off, then got the cheque back with a little note saying the ticketing officer had never submitted the ticket. We got off. It was crazy.”

That van has also served as home for Maurik, lead guitarist Keith Carman, vocalist Louie Durand, bassist Mike Sydney and drummer Mike Childs for those long tours. Maurik says that bunking out the van so they can get sleep on the road has helped Maximum RNR juggle the demands of touring and day jobs.

“Sleeping in the van is a little hard, but if you’re tired enough or drunk enough you’ll pass out,” Maurik says. “Many a time, we’ve driven to Halifax and back to Toronto all through the night Saturday, and all day Sunday to show up Monday morning at 9:30 and go straight to work. We’ve done that quite a few times. Our singer Louie used to work on weekends at 7:00 in the morning. Often, we’d dump him off at work right after a gig.”

“It’s been a long, steady grind,” says Maurik about the progress of his band. “It seems to be growing organically, like a cottage industry. We’re having to put in less and less money. At first, you have to buy a van, get your instruments, blah, blah, blah. Once we had the merchandise going and the releases coming, money started coming back.”

This is why Maximum RNR has opted to put off shopping around for a major label deal for the time being.

“I don’t want to be distributed by Universal,” Maurik says. “I don’t want the stigma that’s attached to that.”

If you’re looking to catch some ear-splitting, heart-pounding, whirlwind rock and roll any time soon, check out Maximum RNR’s web site (http://www.maximumrnr.com) for upcoming shows.