Now that longtime guitarist Phil Demmel and drummer Dave McClain have left the band, Machine Head have begun holding auditions for new members.
After it was announced that longtime guitarist Phil Demmel and drummer Dave McClain were leaving Machine Head, many fans wondered what was next for the band. Now, it appears that Machine Head have made the first step toward a new beginning, as frontman Robb Flynn announced that they would begin holding auditions for new guitarists and drummers this week.
During an Instagram livestream, Robb revealed that auditions were being held at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California. Along with the band is engineer Zack Ohren, who produced their most recent release, last year's Catharsis.
Robb Flynn described the audition process as "been awesome, really good; in fact, really confusing", and mentioned that some "ridiculously talented" people have already tried out. While he doesn't name names, Robb does say, "You might not know some of these guys...some of [them] you may."
"[I] don't know where we are going," added Robb. "We've got some thinking to do."
This makes sense, given that during the emotional video post announcing Phil and Dave's departure, Robb seemed unsure of Machine Head's future, and blamed himself for the issues plaguing the band, saying, "I have held on too tight to the reigns of this band. And I have suffocated those guys. I got some rough edges, I’m kind of a barnacle, and you know, 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," Robb continued, "but I’ve got a lot of anger and rage, and that drive of mine has alienated folks and the band. I ask that you respect Phil and Dave’s decision, as I respect their decision."
Phil Demmel has also gone on the record saying that he was not a fan of Catharsis: "“I hate the last record...There’s moments of what I wrote that I like. I wrote most of the music to California Bleeding, but then [Robb] wrote the lyrics on top of it that I just wish that… Me and Dave talk about it, like, ‘Fuck! I wish I could take my riffs back! No, that isn’t what we want them used for.’"
That said, just last month Flynn announced that the band had "new heaviness in store", so one hopes the audition process is going as well as it can.
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