Oct 12, 2011
At "Day On The Green" #19, featuring Metallica, Queensrÿche, Faith No More, Soundgarden, I started Machine Head.
Well, sort of... it was more of a figurative thought as I didn't have a band yet, but after watching / being blown away by Metallica for the umpteenth time, I decided that I was going to start a side project, as I was unhappy in my then-current band Vio-Lence. Later that night backstage (or maybe while Metallica was still playing and we were watching from the stage-right backstage bleachers?) I turned to my friend, partner-in-crime and long time Vio-Lence fan Adam Duce, and said I was going to start a then-unnamed side project and asked if he would like to play bass. He eagerly agreed.
I had two songs written by then, the heavily Godflesh-inspired "Death Church", and "Blood For Blood", both songs that I had already brought to Vio-Lence, but they were not interested in jamming either of them. Vio-Lence had gone through numerous label changes, were unsigned again, thrash was dead, and the vibe in the band at the time was that the new tunes were going to take a more heavy rock / grunge approach which seemed a bit crazy to me. Though I wasn't thrilled with our new direction, I said I would stay on, and though no one seemed happy about me doing it, starting a side project seemed fairly reasonable considering our circumstances.
4 months later following a (thoroughly documented) AM/PM gas station brawl after an Unjust / Deftones show (Deftones opening) at the Omni in Oakland, I quit Vio-Lence and focused on Machine Head full time. But that was still 4 months away, and for now, it was just a thought, an idea, a dream, that metal could be taken to a different, heavier place.
Did I think that 20 years later Machine Head would be a Top 25, Top 10 or Top 5 charting band throughout the world? Hell no.
Did I think Machine Head would even be going 20 years later? God no!
Did I think that we could become one of the best American metal bands on the planet? Yes.
20 years ago on this very day (October 12, 1991), Machine Head was born.
Happy Birthday, Machine Head.
- Robb
Upcoming Dates
- Spokane, WA US Jun 24
- Portland, OR US Jun 26
- Fresno, CA US Jun 28
- San Bernardino, CA US Jun 29
- Mountain View, CA US Jun 30
- Boise, ID US Jul 02
- Auburn, WA US Jul 03
- Phoenix, AZ US Jul 05
- Albuquerque, NM US Jul 06
- Denver, CO US Jul 07
Leave a comment (20 Responses)
Leonardo Cabrera // October 23, 2011 10:32:09 PM UTC
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS MACHINE HEAD!!!!!EL VIERNES TOCARON EN ARGENTINA,TREMENDO CONCIERTO ME VOLARON LA CABEZA!!!!!!MACHINE HEAD ES UN SENTIMIENTO NO LO PUEDO PARAR OLE OLE CADA DIA TE QUIERO MAS!!!!!!!
Leonardo Cabrera // October 23, 2011 10:30:09 PM UTC
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS MACHINE HEAD!!!!!EL VIERNES TOCARON EN ARGENTINA,TREMENDO CONCIERTO ME VOLARON LA CABEZA!!!!!!MACHINE HEAD ES UN SENTIMIENTO NO LO PUEDO PARAR OLE OLE CADA DIA TE QUIERO MAS!!!!!!!
Leonardo Cabrera // October 23, 2011 10:29:07 PM UTC
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS MACHINE HEAD!!!!!EL VIERNES TOCARON EN ARGENTINA,TREMENDO CONCIERTO ME VOLARON LA CABEZA!!!!!!MACHINE HEAD ES UN SENTIMIENTO NO LO PUEDO PARAR OLE OLE CADA DIA TE QUIERO MAS!!!!!!!
Leonardo Cabrera // October 23, 2011 10:25:55 PM UTC
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS MACHINE HEAD!!!!!EL VIERNES TOCARON EN ARGENTINA,TREMENDO CONCIERTO ME VOLARON LA CABEZA!!!!!!MACHINE HEAD ES UN SENTIMIENTO NO LO PUEDO PARAR OLE OLE CADA DIA TE QUIERO MAS!!!!!!!
kapu99 // October 18, 2011 9:04:15 AM UTC
"I decided that I was going to start a side project"
Many thanks for this decision!
DAWAN // October 18, 2011 3:30:16 AM UTC
Vamos a tomarnos unas cervezas en chile....a celebrar el cumpleaños de MH y Mr. McClain.......
Rhythm // October 15, 2011 7:41:55 AM UTC
Happy Birthday, Guys!!! You are best fucking metal band of the world!
With the best wishes from Ukraine!
VV6 // October 14, 2011 5:10:55 PM UTC
Happy Birthday Machine Head! The first 20 years were amazing. The next 20 years will be AWESOME! CHEERS!
BurningBlack // October 14, 2011 12:52:42 AM UTC
Robb, been listening since just after "More Things Change", and I was excited for the "Burning Red", and wasn't let down. I LOVE everyone of you and the guy's albums differently. I always tell me friend, who is also a long tim MH fan, that I classify you as "Motivational Metal". Keep it up, PLEASE.
Much Love from, Chicago.
SnowBum78 // October 13, 2011 5:48:06 PM UTC
Happy 2 decades Robb and friends!!!!! I have never been so proud of a band in my 33 years on this earth the feeling I get from your music cannot be described. It is no shit my fuel to charge on and LIVE!!!! January 30, 1995 2 friends and I were fired up to see Slayer in Denver, decided it would be a great idea to eat acid before we went in. I was tripping my face off and this band came out and blew my fucking mind, had a blast and bought burn my eyes the next day to see if it was the trip or were these guys the real deal!! almost seventeen years later and countless live shows my dedication to this band is stronger than ever. I love every album in different ways. I cherrish and LOVE them!! Congratulations on it all.. now may all the tone def Americans who never embraced anything but hot steamy piles of metal shit bow down as we cut your god damn heads off for not praising Greatness!!!! see ya in Denver Fuckers!!!
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