- published: 04 Jan 2011
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WestBam, real name Maximilian Lenz (born 4 March 1965, Münster, Westphalia, Germany), is techno DJ in Germany. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick.
The origin of his moniker is a homage to Afrika Bambaataa, thus "Westphalia Bambaataa". He started his career as a DJ in 1983 in his birth city Münster. In 1984 he moved to Berlin where he released his first record called "17 - This Is Not a Boris Becker Song", which was coproduced by Klaus Jankuhn. He played at the first Love Parade rave party in 1989 at Ku'damm Berlin. Around that time, the DJ culture made a breakthrough in Germany. After several records he released his first album named The Cabinet. In 1991, he organised the first Mayday rave in Berlin. With over 5000 people, it was the biggest techno party in Germany at the time. Since then, Mayday has been vital to the German techno scene. Westbam is still an organiser of the party, and he is also a part of Members of Mayday, the producer of the Mayday-Anthems.
In 1993, he played a number of rave events in the United Kingdom including Obsession Passion at the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes.