Interview with Phil Demmel, Guitarist for Machine Head

This interview with Machine Head Guitarist Phil Demmel follows the concert I went to for Machine Head/Lamb of God in Grand Rapids, MI. The concert was at the Orbit Room on March 17, 2007.

Machine head was founded back in 1992, by vocalist and guitarist Rob Flynn. They had their first release in 1994, Burn My Eyes, which included their first hit single and controversial "Davidian", which was released shortly after the Waco, Tx. incident. This debut album propelled their career, and subsequent tours with the likes of Slayer and Pantera ensued.

Through the years the band went through some trouble times with their label, Roadrunner records, and saw a few line-up changes. Nevertheless, even through the rough times, Machine Head still hammers on with a new CD release and current tour with Lamb of God. Future plans are another tour with Megadeth and Heaven and Hell, as well as a re-release of Burn My Eyes later in the year.

Scott: How's the current tour going?

Phil: It's going amazing. We are playing in front of sold out crowds every night, and there seems to be a lot of, you know, a couple thousand kids that haven't heard us before, so it's awesome to play for them.

S: I went to the show in Grand Rapids and I was blown away. Was this the first time you've played Grand Rapids?

P: Excellent. Hell yeah man. Yeah, we played there a couple times. We played there with Lamb of God back in '05 and Chimaira in '04.

S: What did you think of Grand Rapids this time around?

P: Amazing man. Good crowd, good show. The crowd in front of me was a little tame, but looking out in the crowd everyone was having a good time. I just love playing and seeing everyone having a good time.

S: Are you guys going to be coming back to Grand Rapids?

P: Oh yeah, definitely. It's a main stop on our tours.

S: Awesome. You guys have been around for over a decade now. How have you guys kept it together over the years, when some great bands tend to fall apart?

P: It's a matter of adapting. The band has taken the stance of not wanting to put out the same kind of album. It's about making new music and evolving.

S: I haven't had a chance to hear the new album The Blackening yet. I've heard great things about it.

P: Yeah, it's getting great reviews and we're excited to have it out. We are really pleased with it.

S: What were some of your inspirations for the new album?

P: Well, we are inspired by some of the music we all listen to, you know, the old school innovators of the genre.

S: What did you do different on the new album, The Blackening, to set it above the rest of your work? I've heard this new album being heralded as your best work to date.

P: Well, it's kind of where the band is at this point. I mean, I joined the band before the first record that we got to write as a foursome from start to end, and it shows. It shows that, you know, we took the same approach as we did on the last record as far as writing wise, and it's just like, hey...let's write for ourselves; let's not write for any outside agencies, i.e. labels, radio, and things like that. Just wrote for ourselves. If we want 10 minute songs, let's write 10 minute songs.

S: That's a great way to go. It's much better to let loose and do your own thing.

P: Yeah, for sure man, for sure.

S: A little about Roadrunner Records. I read that you had some problems with them awhile ago. It looks like you've mended ties with them.

P: Yeah, we severed ties for a bit and we were without a label. We were writing this record and we thought we would have to go somewhere else. RR International picked us up and we put it out for them in the 11^th hour and, you know, it's just a matter of being apart for a bit and now we've got a smooth relationship with them. We license our stuff to them...meaning we hand them the finished product and they put it out.

S: So it's a better relationship all around now?

P: Yeah, I mean before we had to approve videos, you know, everything...artwork and everything like that. This way we just get everything together and turn it over to them. We're more self contained with it.

S: Any plans on future releases?

P: Not right now, maybe after all this is said and done. We're kind of riding this wave as much as we can, and put out another studio album sometime in the near future.

S: Cool. Are we going to see a tour soon with Machine Head as the headliner?

P: Probably early 2008....January or so.

S: Cool man. Well good luck with the rest of the tour and we look forward to seeing you guys back around here in '08.

P: Great. Thanks man, take care.

You can catch Machine Head on their current tour with Lamb of God, and an upcoming tour with Megadeth and Heaven and Hell in late spring/early summer. Pick up Machine Head's new album The Blackening, out now and available everywhere.