The TMD crew was born in late 1996, started by two prolific Auckland writers, Phat1 and Addict. Initially it was just MD, which stood for ‘Maximum Dose’ but after some thought the ‘T’ was added, making it ‘The Maximum Dose’. At the time, TMD was a West Auckland crew made entirely of artists from the New Lynn Wall Of Fame project tutored by DLT, Opto and Daniel Tippet, funded by the Waitakere City Council and the Tag-Out Trust. Phat1 and then partner in crime Dan (Just One) took all the knowledge and technique taught to them on the course and went all-city with two-man trackside productions, street tags and throw-ups. Their dedication and consistency marked the entrance of a mid-school generation of New Zealand writers who ultimately solidified the foundation of what the local scene is today.

-Phat1 age 12 in 1992 on the first Wall Of Fame project.

-Early Phat1 piece.

As TMD’s reputation and notoriety grew, so did its numbers. Writers who were on top of their game from all over the city were inducted into the crew’s ranks. Plenty have come and gone but between 1997 and 2001, many of the key members were put down including Dyle52, Diva, Acre, Exist, Askew, Pest5 and Deus. Some of these artists had been former members of rival crews and brought that sense of both positive competition and camaraderie that allowed TMD to progress and raise the bar rapidly.

-Crew shot from around 2005. Plenty of people missing.

The underlying proponent that has kept TMD a healthy and long-lasting force in the writing scene is the strong sense of family that exists separate from anything art related. As many of the artists matured and started families, a new focus was found whilst doing things like celebrating children’s birthdays and taking trips to enjoy New Zealand’s beautiful beaches. It’s easy to mistake this crew for another all-star ensemble of famous names but essentially this aspect became secondary to the importance of good friendship. TMD has unified this eclectic bunch of individuals who embody a broad range of skills, professions, ideals, faiths and approaches to art. This element in particular was a major appeal to German artists Can Two, Atom, Wow123 and Sinae who joined the ranks after many visits and good times with the crew. In 2006 Sirum from Melbourne was also put down, extending crew membership over the Tasman and strengthening the New Zealand and Australian connection.

-TMD members from NZ and Germany and friends in Itzahoe, Germany 2006. Atom and Wow123 painting in East Auckland, 2003.

TMD has continued to grow and expand to include writers who both connect with its ethos and bring fresh inspiration and skills to the crew. The Current line up consists of Acre (NZ), Addict (NZ), Askew (NZ), Atom (GER), Berst (NZ), Can Two (GER), Deap (NZ), Deus (NZ), Dyle52 aka Saves (NZ), Exist (NZ), Kost (NZ), Lady Diva (NZ), Mark aka Dskyes (NZ), O’che (NZ), Pest5(NZ), Phat1 (NZ), Rimoni (NZ), Ryze (NZ), Sinae (GER), Sirum (AUS) and Wow123 (GER).