MACHINE HEAD PAIR LEAVE THE BAND

Machine Head have announced the departure of guitarist Phil Demmel and drummer Dave McClain.

Band mainman Robb Flynn made the surprise announcement in a Facebook Live video. He confirmed that Demmel, who has been in the band for 15 years, left on September 26, with McClain quitting the next day after 23 years with the band. “Jared (MacEachern, bass)   kind of quit, but didn’t know if he was quitting for sure,” added Flynn.

However, Demmel and MCclain are to stay with the band for their upcoming American tour, which will be a farewell for this era of Machine Head. As for the reasons the pair have decided to leave, Flynn said: “We have grown apart as people. Musically, we’ve grown apart. I have held on too tight to the reins of this band, and I have suffocated those guys. “I’ve got some rough edges. I’m kind a barnacle. And those rough edges have given us the success we have, but they’ve also hurt the people around me. I’ve got a lot of drive, but I’ve got a lot of anger and rage. And that drive of mine has alienated folks in the band.”

Flynn also confirmed that Machine Head will carry on with a new line-up.