If you were to ask most teenage boys what they want to do with the rest of their lives, many would respond with a resounding “I don’t know.” After all, they aren’t even allowed to drive yet, let alone have any idea what they want to be when they “grow up.” But for one Apex teen, his goal is clear and he has his sights set on being the best.
When Max Frye was just 12 years old, he went to Rock Harbor Grill in downtown Apex (this location is now closed) with his mom to listen to some blues and enjoy an evening out. But Max got much more out of that visit than he, or anyone else, could have imagined. Rock Harbor was known for having talented live musicians, and fortunately for Max, this night was no exception. That night, Max realized what he wanted to do and what his true passion was, music. But not just any music, heavy metal and hard rock. It was while he was at Rock Harbor for an open mic blues jam that he found himself drawn to the hypnotic sounds of the guitar. Up until that point, Max had never seriously played the guitar, and now, just three years later at the ripe old age of 15, Max is playing some of the most iconic rock songs on some of the largest stages around. “When you look at [guitar players], you can see that they can express themselves without even speaking. I always thought that was pretty cool,” Max said.
It didn’t take long for Max to begin pursuing his passion seriously. In fact, his first performance was where it all began for him, at Rock Harbor, just a few weeks after the open mic night he attended with his mom. “It was a little scary, but I went out and people really liked it.” So there he was, at 12 years old, playing Nirvana to a live audience. As amazing as that first experience was, nobody could have predicted how much Max’s life would change over the next three years. This performance cemented the passion for Max, and he began watching other guitar players and learning from them. “I realized that if they could do it, there was no reason I couldn’t do it,” he said. Max’s mom, Brandy, knew immediately that this was what he wanted to do. “I knew the first time I saw him playing in open mic; when you see somebody that really has a passion for something you know, and I knew that was what he loved.”
Max devoted himself to mastering his craft. Practice schedules went from one hour per day to six hours per day (he attends high school online). He has a dedicated studio at home that is a rock enthusiast’s dream. Posters of bands from years before Max was even born, such as Black Sabbath, Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden and the band that got him into heavy metal, Metallica, line the walls amid guitars and old school vinyl records.
From here, Max knew that he wanted to be part of a band. “After I started playing for a while, I realized I wanted to have a band and play actual shows with them,” he said. It was shortly after this that Max’s dad sent him a Craigslist article about an Ozzy Osbourne tribute band who was looking for a guitar player. “After I got the article from my dad, I went and auditioned and joined their band,” he said. The band he joined was Ozzmosis, a local Ozzy tribute band. Max was with Ozzmosis from June of 2017 until February of 2018. But this was just the beginning for Max.
While attending a music festival called Jamestock in Creedmoor, Max met Tony Dio. Tony was friends with a musician called Little Ozzy. Little Ozzy is the front man for a band with the same name. The band, Little Ozzy is, like Ozzmossis, a tribute band for Ozzy Osbourne. The band plays venues around the country and now Max was a part of this world. Max was aware of Little Ozzy before he was part of the band. “I had actually seen him on America’s Got Talent when I was probably around 8 years old, and I reached out to him on Facebook to let him know I thought he was really good,” Max said. What Max didn’t realize was that Little Ozzy was a fan of his as well. “He told me that Tony Dio had sent him my video and he said that he wanted to talk to me and he gave me his number. It was definitely meant to be,” Max said. Max’s place with Little Ozzy started as a fill-in guitarist when needed, and has transitioned into a permanent place with the band as lead guitarist. The band travels primarily up and down the east coast performing anywhere from two or three times per month to five or six times per month.
Max’s mom said that there was little to no hesitation on her part when Max told her of Little Ozzy’s interest in him. “I was really excited for him. There was maybe a moment of wondering how is this going to work, but we figured it out,” she said. For Brandy, the most important thing is that her son is doing something that he loves and that makes him happy. “When you see your kids find their passion, there is nothing like that.”
But it isn’t just Max’s mom who sees his passion and potential. Max is currently working with the former guitarist for David Lee Roth, Bart Walsh. “One of my friends is friends with Bart from L.A. and he invited Bart down to watch me play. He came and watched us and we talked. Now he is teaching me and we have been writing music together.” Bart approached Brandy and said that he wanted to mentor Max, and now the two spend hours at a time together talking about their shared passion for music, writing and of course playing music together.
Much like an Olympic athlete preparing to compete, Max takes time before his performances to get into his “zone.” He has a playlist that he listens to before he performs, and as soon as he steps foot on the stage he transforms. When you meet Max, you notice immediately how soft spoken and mature his is for his age. But once he is on stage, he is no longer a 15-year-old boy from Apex, he is a rock superstar in every sense of the word. He is passionate about his music, from writing lyrics and music to performing, and Max has no intentions of backing down. He knows what he wants to do, and he is determined to get there. With the support of his mom, Brandy, and the guidance of such musical legends as Bart Walsh, there is no doubt that Max will be one of the greats, and we can all say we knew him when…
If you would like more information about Max Frye and follow his rising star, go to www.maxfrye.com