Max bangwell got his first drum set at 16 from a neighbor who was going away to college. he learned how to play by listening to the radio through head phones and playing along.

Over the next few years he went in and out of many rock bands and wedding bands. One winter night in 1972 max took a date on a 40 mile trek south from cleveland to a jazz club in akron to see the kinsman dazz band. The dazz cancelled that night and robert lockwood jr was filling in for them. That was Max's introduction to the blues.

Lockwoods drummer seemed lazy to Max. On their break, Max walked up to Lockwood and said, "You don't know me Mr. Lockwood, but I'm going to play drums with you.". Within a year, and for the next ten years, Max was touring the country with Robert Jr. There was no better school for blues than that.

Max played with every blues great alive in those years; Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, B.B King, Johnny Shines, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bob Dylan, Little Brother Montgomery, Sunnyland Slim, Junior Wells, Pinetop Perkins, and so many more. Max became pals with legendary Chess Studio drummers Fred Below, Odie Payne, and Earl Christian and learned immeasurably from these great masters.

In 1987 Max moved to L.A.. where he toured and recorded with robert lucas for three years. Max also toured the world with "Weird Al" Yankovic, playing harp and managing merchandise. In 1992 Max formed the Max Bangwell Band playing the finest venues in southern california and beyond for the next 12 years.

In 1993 Max joined up with Jimmy Rip to help launch the House of Blues record label, playing on Rip's record "Way Past Blue" with Mick Jagger as guest artist. From that meeting Max and his band were hired to play at Jagger's birthday/oscar party at Greta Garbos pink mansion with every movie and rock star in attendance.

Max has remained close to Jimmy Rip and when Rip produced a video session for Jerry Lee Lewis, he hired Max to play drums. In 1995 max returned to Cleveland for a few months to perform in the original cast of the tony award winning play "It Ain't Nothin But The Blues".

Max remains busy and active on the scene and can be found in the best places.