Genre: 90s artists

A perennial favorite as the craziest DJ in the world according to fans, Mental Theo has been a part of Hollands dance scene from the heady days of disco through to the global clubland of the new millennium, with temporary pit stops covering, Acid, Electro, Happy Hardcore, Hardcore and the immense rave revolution of the middle ’80s & late ’90s. That large span of time has undoubtedly affected his choice of records, since Mental Theo routinely detours through breakbeat, gabber house, and the dance mainstream during his usual sets of hard techno and harder styles. Perhaps the best testament to his performance is his immense love for music and fans.

Mental Theo was born in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in 1965, Theo began DJing family get-togethers at the age of ten, selecting records from his parents’ stack of soul 55s. He was buying his own records soon after, (album ABBA) and owned his first pair of turntables at the age of 14. The rest of his teens was making spare money at any job he could get to sell records, though Theo studied electrical engineering in college, he quit after several years and began working various jobs until he could become a full-time DJ

Mental Theo had followed the musical trends from disco to rare groove on to hip-hop during the late ’70s and early ’80s, he even worked for a hip hop magazine, but the introduction of house into Holland during the middle part of the decade convinced him that he had found his niche. His reputation bloomed during the gabber house explosion of 1990-1993; Mental Theo played on wicked party’s together with dj Rob Janssen from Parkzicht Rotterdam. Later on at world’s biggest events : Nature One, Fantazia (Scotland), Mayday (Finland), Love Parade (Berlin), Thunderdome (Holland), Newyears Rave (Australia), Goliath (Austria),Streetparade (swiss), Decibel (Holland), In Control (Holland), Mistery Land (Holland), Resurrection (UK), Overdose (France), Limelight (USA), XTC (USA) and many more, that signature built him into one of the top DJs of the early ’90s.

In the early ’90s Theo worked for Arcade Records and created the biggest Hardcore compilation in the world ever, (Thunderdome), later on Theo signed a production deal with Master Maximum Records, a label together with Charly Lownoise. Later on they scored world wide hits with there debut single, “Wonderful days” and sold millions of records. Eleven hit singles followed.

After the hit singles, Mental Theo started his own television production company and produced several tv shows for MTV and TMF in The Netherlands. 6 years of crazy tv, wicked shows and mostly outragiest items made Theo cool down and go back to his music.

Early 2002 Mental Theo started his radio career at Slamfm in Holland with The Creepshow.

A product of Mental Theo: Bazzheadz, with a smashing major release on The Ministry of Sound Label, together with Basshunter, 5 Weeks Nr ONE in the UK ! Big Hit all over Europe. Follow up was called : Heaven & Say you’ll Stay – From Bazzheadz ft Sebastian Westwood. Early 2013 Theo released a track together with Paul Elstak – Raving Beats (a new style Happy hardcore), Sept 2013 released Theo “I’m gonna live tonight” great track new style Happy & Hardstyle incl Dubstep en dance mixes. Sept 2013 Big release worldwide with Planet Punk Music in Germany : SUNBURN with a killing sexy video, Okt 2013 Big Electro tune: “We kick a hole in your speakers” with Rob Q.(also Planet Punk Music)

M.C. Hammer, is an American rapper, dancer. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the late 1990s. Remembered for his rapid rise to fame, Hammer is known for hit records (such as “U Can’t Touch This” and “2 Legit 2 Quit”), flashy dance movements, choreography and eponymous Hammer pants. Hammer’s superstar-status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip hop icon. He has sold more than 50 million records worldwide.

A multi-award winner, M.C. Hammer is considered a “forefather/pioneer” and innovator of pop rap (incorporating elements of freestyle music), and is the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album.

Burrell became a preacher during the late 1990s with a Christian ministry program on TBN called M.C. Hammer and Friends. Additionally, he starred in a Saturday morning cartoon called Hammerman in 1991 and was executive producer of his own reality show called Hammertime which aired on the A&E Network during the summer of 2009. Hammer was also a television show host and dance judge on Dance Fever in 2003, was co-creator of a dance website called DanceJam.com, and is a record label CEO while still performing concerts at music venues and assisting with other social media, ministry and outreach functions.

Throughout his career, Hammer has managed his own recording business. As a result, he has created and produced his own acts including Oaktown’s 3.5.7, Common Unity, Special Generation, Analise, One Cause One Effect, Teabag, Dom Kimberley, Geeman, DRS, Pleasure Ellis, B Angie B, Stooge Playaz, Ho Frat Hoo and Wee Wee, among others.

Hammer has occasionally released singles over the past few years.

Maxx (short for Max-imum X-tasy) is a famous ’90s eurodance duo act best known for the hit singles: “Get-A-Way,” “No More (I Can’t Stand It)” and “You Can Get It.” The duo act achieved widespread popularity and success in Europe due to their creative mixture of ragga style rap, female singing and high energy dancefloor beats.

The most recognized lineup of Maxx during the ’90s included British singer Linda Meek and German rapper Gary Bokoe (Gary B.). The project was first formed late in 1993 by A&R music executive David Brunner (The Hitman) and music producer Juergen Wind (George Torpey) in Berlin, Germany.

Prior to forming Maxx, Wind had already achieved noteable success producing the 1993 Summer hit “Another Night” for his other successful dance music project, M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy (Real McCoy). He produced both projects with support from his co-producer Frank “Quickmix” Hassas (Dakota O’niel). As a producer duo team, they wrote and produced Maxx under the team name “The Movement” instead of their usual production team name ‘Freshline Records.’

Brunner received Wind’s executive producer credit for Maxx under his Maxx alias “The Hitman.” In reality, Brunner was responsible for the publishing, marketing, promotion, branding and distribution of the Maxx music in Europe. While developing the chorus lyrics and producing the music with Hassas, Wind enlisted the help of songwriter/producer Bruce Hammond Earlam to write the ragga rap lyrics for Maxx. For unknown reasons, Earlam was never officially credited for his songwriting for Maxx. Bokoe instead received Earlam’s songwriter credits while also getting false producer credits. Real McCoy rapper Olaf Jeglitza also received false credits for Maxx under the name ‘Dawhite’ due to his connections to the Freshline Records team.

German singer Samira Besic originally sang vocals for “Get-A-Way,” but for unknown reasons she was forced to depart the project shortly after recording vocals for the song. For the music video, a dancer/model named Alice Montana was hired to mime Besic’s vocals for the video and star in her place. She also took Besic’s place alongside Bokoe for the early promotional material for Maxx. The debut single “Get-A-Way” became a Top 10-hit in Germany upon release in October 1993 and almost overnight became a popular dance floor hit in night clubs across Europe.

In Februrary 1994, British singer Linda Meek was recruited into Maxx as a replacement for Besic. Upon joining the act, she recorded vocals for the followup single “No More (I Can’t Stand It).” The single debuted in March 1994 and became an instant Top 10-hit across Europe like it’s predecessor. The single reached No.5 on music charts in France and in Israel, and No. 8 in the UK. By mid 1994, “Get-A-Way” reached a sum total of 1.1 million in European record sales.

The major commercial success of both singles, motivated Wind and Brunner to release a new Maxx album titled “To The Maxximum.” The album charted at No. 22 in Germany and at No. 10 in Sweden and at No. 6 in Finland. Unfortunately, the album had still failed to perform well in critical territories like the UK only charting at No. 66. The album track “You Can Get It” was then picked to be the third single and was released in September 1994. The single reached No. 21 in the UK, No.13 in Finland and achieved commercial success in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. However, the single did not reach the same level of commercial sales as “Get-A-Way” and “No More (I Can’t Stand It).” In October 1994, “Power of Love”, an uptempo Christmas themed dance track by Maxx, was released exclusively on a special Christmas iteration of the popular German compilation CD series titled Bravo Dance X-Mas.

By 1995, Maxx had begun to struggle to produce new dance hits on the music charts. The album track “I Can Make You Feel Like” was selected to be the fourth Maxx single in May 1995. The single failed to chart in critical territories and only reached No.56 in the UK. The final Maxx single titled “Move Your Body” was released in October 1995. The single heavily sampled the hit “I Like to Move It” by Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman. The single charted in Austria peaking at No.18 and in Finland at No.16. but failed to chart in other critical territories. Due to declining record sales and major conflicts within the group behind the scenes, Maxx officially disbanded late in 1995.

Beginning in Summer 2017, Linda Meek (known today as ‘Elyse’) made her official return to live performing as Maxx with an all new rapper and now tours worldwide.