Maxs Kansas City Project

06/03/2026

Happy Pride Month! The month of June marks an extraordinary time in the year where we celebrate love and pioneers in self-expression.

Max’s Kansas City was a vital sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community by serving as an open, judgment-free hub for gender and sexual expression. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it nurtured New York’s countercultural arts, glam rock, and punk scenes, offering a platform where q***r artists did not have to “perform respectability” to be accepted.

Specifically, Owner Mickey Ruskin’s embrace of the underground made the club’s famous back room the de facto headquarters for Warhol and his inner circle. This q***r entourage of actors, models, and artists—including trans icons like Candy Darling, Jackie Curtis, and Holly Woodlawn—dominated the space, securing unprecedented visibility for trans and gender-fluid individuals in the arts.

Max’s Kansas City stands in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth and wants to make sure they are supported at any point in their lives. Make sure to visit Max’s Kansas City at https://maxskansascity.org/maxs-fearless-youth/

Pictured are unidentified man, Jackie Curtis, Richard Harris, Dorothy Dean, Jackie Curtis (again), Divine, Jim Jacobs, Danny Fields, Lou Reed, and Candy Darling.

Photo Credit to Anton Perich and Richard Bernstein.

05/08/2026

Today we are paying tribute to the late singer, songwriter and musician Tim Buckley🤍

Born on February 14, 1947, and gone far too soon on June 29, 1975, Tim left us at just 28. Yet in that brief time, he released nine remarkable studio albums, including “Goodbye and Hello,” “Happy Sad,” and “Starsailor”, records that continue to move listeners all these years later.

In these nine studio albums, he moved from folk to jazz, psychedelia, and the avant-garde, refusing to repeat himself. His 1969 album “Happy Sad” became his highest-charting release, and “Song to the Siren” went on to become one of his most enduring and beloved songs. Blessed with one of the most angelic and hauntingly beautiful voices in music, Tim possessed a rare combination of purity, incredible range, and deep emotional vulnerability. His voice could move effortlessly from delicate tenderness to soaring intensity, touching something profound in everyone who listened. Beyond his immense talent, he was remembered for a smile that could light up a room and a spirit that radiated warmth and artistry.

Tim Buckley’s music remains timeless, a powerful reminder of a gifted soul whose artistry continues to inspire and resonate with generations of fans around the world.

05/05/2026

To our beloved Max’s extended family, Happy Cinco de Mayo. 🥰

Today is celebrated in honour of Mexico’s unexpected victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, a moment that came to symbolise courage, resilience, and unity against the odds.

Wishing you a joyful day filled with warmth, good company, and a little celebration. Feliz Cinco de Mayo from all of us at Max’s Kansas City Project. ✨

No copyright infringement intended.

05/05/2026

Today we’re sharing a memorable moment from the wild and unforgettable world of Max’s Kansas City. 💫

Here’s a little story from Danny Fields, former record executive, music manager, publicist, author, and one of the familiar faces who often held court in Max’s back room.

One night, Danny brought in Jim Morrison, the magnetic lead singer of “The Doors” and,
well, the evening quickly became unforgettable.

As Danny quoted in “High on Rebellion” by Yvonne Sewall-Ruskin:
“Jim Morrison and I were sitting at a table in the back room, and he pees into a bottle of wine that we had been drinking. He gives it to the waitress and says, ‘Oh, by the way, this is very good wine. I saved some for you.’ What a card!”

The book “High on Rebellion” is currently available as an eBook via Open Road Integrated Media and Amazon. Although it is presently out of print, copies can often be found through eBay and ThriftBooks.

That was Max’s outrageous, unpredictable and full of stories that still make us shake our heads and smile.

Photo credit goes to Bob Gruen.

05/02/2026

Today we are giving a shoutout to Waylon Jennings.💫
Here are a few interesting facts about him:
Waylon was born in Littlefield, Texas (1937–2002), he was a singer/songwriter, and true original who helped shape the outlaw country movement with his bold, independent spirit.

He brought that energy to “Upstairs at Max’s” performing a six-night residency, an unexpected New York moment that helped cement his “outlaw” identity.

Over his career, he released more than 40 studio albums and wrote much of his own material, with classics like “Honky Tonk Heroes,” “Dreaming My Dreams,” and “Are You Ready for the Country.”
His life was as full as his music, married four times, and ultimately finding lasting love with fellow country artist Jessi Colter. Waylon Jennings didn’t follow the rules, he rewrote them. 🤍

Photo: Waylon Jennings with reporter “Upstairs at Max’s”
Photo credit: Raeanne Rubenstein
countrylegend

04/28/2026

04/25/2026

Our very first FUNraiser in celebration of Max’s 30th Anniversary and Mickey took place at the Gagosian/Castelli Gallery in Soho, January 1996 to support homeless people living with AIDS.

Every visual artist who frequented Max’s donated artworks including Yoko Ono and David Bowie for our silent auction and after party.
The room pulsed with an unrestrained spirit where art and humanity went hand in hand.

04/22/2026

All of us at the Max’s Kansas City Project wish you Happy Earth Day with a reminder that we need to pay attention to what the scientists have been warning us about global warming!
“The Earth is what we all have in common.”
— Wendell Berry

04/21/2026

In celebration of Max’s Kansas City’s 60th Anniversary🎊, we invite you to be part of a legacy that continues to shape and support the creative spirit. For over 25 years the Max’s Kansas City Project has proudly supported our Max’s extended family and artists across New York State, when they need us the most.

We are equally committed to empowering our youth through our MAXS FEARLESS YOUth arts programs, and our teen driven Youtube channel.

We rely on your generosity to keep the Max’s spirit thriving. A HUGE Thank you to all of you who have supported us over the years.
Your donations are tax deductible and acknowledged. www.maxskansascity.org

Photo by Bob Gruen

04/19/2026

Today we’re giving a shout out to Mark di Suvero.
A true force of creativity whose work has always invited the world to come a little closer and even climb right in.

Back in 1968, when Max’s was alive and buzzing, three deep at the bar and overflowing with energy, Mickey opened the Longview Country Club just across the street. It became a kind of sister space, a place for the spillover crowd, designed like an art gallery, filled with the same spirit of curiosity and connection.

And right there, greeting you as you walked in, was a remarkable sculpture by di Suvero; bold, industrial, and alive. Not something distant or untouchable but something you could swing on, move with, and experience. It brought a kind of magic to the room, blending art with motion, and turning a night out into something unforgettable.

His famous “Swing” sculptures, like the one in the second slide, invite people of all ages to become part of the artwork itself. And in doing so, he changed something, he blurred the line between the viewer and the art, making the experience physical, joyful and deeply human.