MACHINE HEAD Guitarist PHIL DEMMEL: 'It's Simply Time For Me To Step Away And Do Something Else Musically'

Phil Demmel has commented on his decision to leave MACHINE HEAD, saying that “it’s simply time” for him “to step away and do something else musically.”

MACHINE HEAD announced on Friday (September 28) that the band’s upcoming U.S. tour would be the last one to feature its current lineup: Demmel (guitar), Robb Flynn (guitar, vocals), Dave McClain (drums) and Jared MacEachern (bass).

Flynn broke the news of MACHINE HEAD‘s plans in a 10-minute Facebook Live video in which he revealed that Demmel left the band on Wednesday (September 26), followed by McClain‘s exit a day later.

In a new post on his Instagram account, Demmel thanked fans for their support and explained that MACHINE HEAD‘s fall 2018 tour “will give us an opportunity to say goodbye as a group and have a sense of closure to an incredible run.”

The guitarist, who first played with Flynn in VIO-LENCE in the late 1980s and early 1990s, wrote: “Thanks to all who have reached out and offered such positive support.

“15 years in MACHINE HEAD is a long time, let alone the almost 32 years since Robb and I first started playing music together.

“I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to be in this band and I’m proud of my contributions over that time. It’s simply time for me to step away and do something else musically. People naturally grow apart over time and it’s no one’s fault. It’s amazing, and we’re so fortunate to have been able to it for so long.

“This last run will give us an opportunity to say goodbye as a group and have a sense of closure to an incredible run.

“I wish the MACHINE HEAD camp and [McClain] well as we see what is next.

“I have so much left to express musically and pretty soon, I’m gonna need a jobber-job!!! Hoping you’ll all stick around for the next chapter. Much love and gratitude.”

In his video message, Flynn blamed Demmel and McClain‘s departures on the fact that he and his bandmates “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.” He went on to say that his “rough edges” have given MACHINE HEAD the success that it has, 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,” he said.

Flynn, who is the sole remaining original member of MACHINE HEAD, insisted that he doesn’t hold any grudges against his soon-to-be-former bandmates.

“I ask that you respect Phil and Dave‘s decision, as I respect their decision,” he said. “I wanna say that I’m honored and grateful for everything that they’ve contributed to MACHINE HEAD, which is a lot. 15 years with Phil, 23 years with Dave.”

Flynn went on to say that he doesn’t “know what the future holds.” He added: “We’re all a little scared. I’m scared, and they’re scared. But if you’re looking for a drummer or a guitar player, you can find no better people to have [than Dave and Phil].”

Personally, Flynn plans to “do a little bit of soul searching here in my life and take a long, hard look at myself, as I’ve done in the past. I’ve done 20 years of therapy at this point, and apparently it wasn’t enough,” he laughed. “I guess I need to do about 20 more.”

Flynn later clarified in a separate video message that “this is the farewell tour of this lineup, this era of MACHINE HEAD. This is not the farewell tour of MACHINE HEAD,” he said.

MACHINE HEAD‘s final tour with the current lineup will kick off on October 4 in Sacramento, California and conclude on November 24 in Santa Cruz, California.

The band’s latest album, “Catharsis”, was made available in January via Nuclear Blast.

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Thanks to all who have reached out and offered such positive support. 15 years in MH is a long time let alone the almost 32 years since Robb and I first started playing music together. I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to be in this band and I’m proud of my contributions over that time. It’s simply time for me to step away and do something else musically. People naturally grow apart over time and it’s no one’s fault. It’s amazing and we’re so fortunate to have been able to it for so long. This last run will give us an opportunity to say goodbye as a group and have a sense of closure to an incredible run. I wish the MH camp and @alienhead65 well as we see what is next. I have so much left to express musically and pretty soon, I’m gonna need a jobber-job!!! Hoping you’ll all stick around for the next chapter. Much love and gratitude, PD. (Thanks @ashnewellphotography for the pic)

A post shared by Phil Demmel (@demmelitionmh) on Oct 2, 2018 at 6:33am PDT