Robb Flynn announced during a Facebook Live video that longtime band members guitarist Phil Demmel and drummer Dave McClain would be leaving the band after one last tour.
Bassist Jared MacEachern’s status with the band is uncertain. Flynn noted he initially quit the band but the morning that Flynn recorded this message, MacEachern said he was sticking around.
For his part, Flynn makes no bones about why McClain and Demmel are leaving during the video announcement. “We have grown apart as people. Musically we’ve grown apart. I have held onto too tight to the reins of this band and I have suffocated those guys.”
Flynn noted that he has "some rough edges," adding "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 is nothing but complimentary to his former bandmates, noting any band would be lucky to have them.
Flynn goes on to say he is uncertain about the future of Machine Head, and plans to do a bit of soul-searching.
The band's upcoming tour will proceed as scheduled, and will be a celebration of the current era of “this era of music” and “what may be the best era of Machine Head ever, and may be the best line-up that this band ever has.”
Here are the dates:
10/04 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
10/06 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma
10/08 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theatre
10/09 – Edmonton, AB – Union Hall10/10 – Saskatoon, SK – Louis
10/12 – Winnipeg, MB – The Garrick
10/13 – Minot, ND – The Original
10/15 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *make-up date*
10/17 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre *make-up date*
10/18 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s *make-up date*
10/19 – Kansas City, MO – Truman
10/20 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
10/22 – Cleveland, OH – Agora *make-up date*
10/23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection
10/24 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre *make-up date*
10/26 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Clyde Theatre
10/27 – Columbus, OH – Newport
10/29 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE *make-up date*
10/30 – Hartford, CT – The Webster
10/31 – Huntington, NY – Paramount
11/02 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland
11/03 – Richmond, VA – National
11/04 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage
11/07 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
11/09 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
11/10 – Nashville, KY – Exit In
11/11 – Charlotte, NC – Underground
11/13 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
11/14 – Tampa, FL – The Ritz
11/16 – New Orleans, LA – House Of Blues
11/17 – Austin, TX – Emos
11/18 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s
11/20 – Tuscon, AZ – Club X
11/21 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
11/23 – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues
11/24 – Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst
[via MetalSucks]
