Max Cavalera
Max Cavalera |
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Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter originally from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He was the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the metal band Sepultura, before forming Soulfly in the late 1990s. Cavalera was also involved in a short-lived side project Nailbomb. Cavalera is currently performing with Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy.
Biography
Max has been nicknamed "The Bob Marley of Metal" due to his South American origins and for his consistent combination of experimental music. His father Graziano Cavalera was the Italian Ambassador to Brazil. Graziano and his family stayed in Brazil after his tenure as ambassador ended and Graziano himself is buried in Belo Horizonte. Max was only 9 when his father passed away.
Max's family were in a state of financial crisis and family turbulence when he formed Sepultura with Jairo Guedes, Paulo Pinto and his younger brother Igor Cavalera. Soon Sepultura would go on to be one of the biggest names in Heavy metal music.
In the early 1990s he relocated to Phoenix, Arizona U.S.A.. He did not begin to make "spiritual" music until after he quit Sepultura. His lyrics are influenced by religion and spirituality as a whole, though he is critical of many religions. His albums have all been dedicated to God, and he has often been depicted by the press as a man of religion, especially in America; something that Cavalera himself cannot understand. As he himself put it:
I do hate a lot of 'religion' but people like Christ - yeah they inspire me. I mean if you look at Christ, He was hanging around with the lowlifes, prostitutes and the losers you know, not going around with those high society motherfuckers you see trying to sell Jesus today![1]
When asked in an interview if he is a Christian/if Soulfly is a Christian band, he said:
No. I mean, if I was a Christian I would wear all these different kinds of omens. Because Christian people are so close minded. A priest would not accept that. So I don't like the concept of Christianity in terms of being so close minded. It is the same with music. Sometimes I compare preachers to close minded musicians or close minded listeners, who only like one kind of music. Some preachers are the same. And they don't tolerate Hindus, Buddhists or whatever. Only them. It's bullshit. So Soulfly is not a Christian band at all. Very much opposite. But we are very spiritual. Spiritual has nothing to do with Christianity anyway. It has been here since the beginning of time.[2]
He also stated that he does believe in God, "But it might be different than the God the preacher preaches about."
Dana Wells, also known as "D-Low", was Cavalera's stepson. He was killed in an automobile accident after the release of Roots in 1996. The songs 'Bleed', Pain and Tree Of Pain are tribute to Wells.
Max has recently stated that he has reunited with his brother Igor, in their new band Cavalera Conspiracy.
Max also wrote and performed on Soulfly's new album "Conquer", which was released in 2008.
Max still lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Gloria and his three children. However, he stated in an interview with Rock Sound magazine that he also owns secondary vacation dwellings in Dubai and Rio de Janeiro.
Instruments
Cavalera plays an ESP 6 String signature guitar, and in the past with Sepultura, a B.C. Rich Warlock. Designed to his specifications and based on the Viper design, the guitar features a Seymour Duncan SH6 Distortion pickup, and is adorned with his signature Brazilian flag graphic. A budget version is sold under the LTD moniker, which has a stock pickup and lacks the flag design. There is another signature guitar produced by ESP. This white guitar features Soulfly logo inlays and is based on the AX model.
While his signature guitars are shipped fully strung with six strings, Cavalera's own guitar is only strung with four, as he has claimed that he never used the highest two strings. He also used a series of Gibson SG guitars during his later years in Sepultura and on the first two Soulfly albums and the tours that supported them.
He also uses a berimbau, Brazilian national one-string instrument (cordophone family) and sitar.
Collaborations
He has collaborated with many different artists whilst in both Sepultura and Soulfly. Of late[update] he joined forces with former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl to produce "Red War" which appeared on the self-titled release of Dave Grohl's metal project, Probot.
Musicians
Besides the band members of Cavalera's own bands Sepultura, Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy he has worked with the following musicians:
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BandsCavalera has collaborated with the following bands: |
Cavalera also has appeared in The Scorpion King in an off-camera role. He provided the guttural screams for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. [2]
Discography
- Sepultura - Morbid Visions (1986)
- Sepultura - Schizophrenia (1987)
- Sepultura - Beneath the Remains (1989)
- Sepultura - Arise (1991)
- Sepultura - Chaos A. D. (1993)
- Nailbomb - Point Blank (1994); remastered re-release, with six extra tracks in 2004
- Sepultura - Roots (1996)
- Soulfly - Soulfly (1998)
- Soulfly - Primitive (2000)
- Soulfly - 3 (2002)
- Soulfly - Prophecy (2004)
- Soulfly - Dark Ages (2005)
- Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted (2008)
- Soulfly - Conquer (2008)
- Soulfly - TBA (2009)
References
External links
