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Phil Demmel

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Phil Demmel
Demmel performing in 2009
Demmel performing in 2009
Background information
Born (1967-04-02) April 2, 1967 (age 57)
Dublin, California, U.S.
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1985–present

Phil Demmel (born April 2, 1967)[1] is an American musician who played lead guitar in the heavy metal band Machine Head between 2002 and 2018, making him their longest running member in that position. He has also performed with other artists such as Vio-lence, Torque, Metal Allegiance, BPMD, Kerry King and Category 7, and briefly played with Slayer, Nonpoint, Overkill, Lamb of God and Testament[2] as a fill-in guitarist.

Biography

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In 1996, Demmel auditioned for lead vocals with Sepultura as the replacement for Max Cavalera, but lost that position to Derrick Green.

Demmel joined Machine Head shortly before the recording of the 2003 album Through the Ashes of Empires.[3] He began touring with Machine Head in 2002. He was long time friends with Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn, either since or before they both played in Vio-lence.

In 2007 Demmel appeared as a guest on the album DDP 4 Life with Chuck Billy's and Steve Souza's Dublin Death Patrol.[4]

Demmel has suffered from a loss of consciousness and fainting several times while playing live with Machine Head. At first believed to be a side effect of dehydration, Demmel has since said that an existing heart condition was the cause. On the subject of his collapse whilst playing in Bristow, Virginia, he said,

"I've suffered from episodes of Cardiogenic Syncope for the last 17 years or so but (doctors) ran a series of tests that came up inconclusive. I hadn't had it happen for a while until last December in Italy, when I passed out roughly about the time my father passed away back in the States. The incident in Virginia felt similar to what has happened in the past"[5]

Demmel announced his engagement to Bleeding Through's keyboardist Marta Peterson in January 2012. Before that, he had two children.[6][7]

Following Demmel's departure from Machine Head in November 2018,[8] musical outlets reported there were rumors that he would reunite with Vio-lence, who planned to do shows and possibly release new material "in the not too distant future".[9][10] A reunion of the band was officially confirmed on January 8, 2019, and it has been performing occasional live shows since then.[11][12][13][14][15] The band will release their first recording in 29 years, Let the World Burn, as an EP on March 4, 2022.[16]

In December 2018, Demmel joined Slayer for a few shows on their final European tour, filling in for his friend Gary Holt who left the tour to be home with his dying father.[17]

In summer 2019, Demmel joined forces with Overkill vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and two-fourths of Metal Allegiance (bass guitarist Mark Menghi and drummer Mike Portnoy) in the supergroup/cover band BPMD, which released its first album, American Made, in June 2020.[18][19]

In 2020, Demmel contributed a guest guitar solo to the song Drowning In My Head, by Scottish groove metal band Catalysis.

Demmel filled in for Dave Linsk (who was unable to perform) at an Overkill concert in New Jersey on November 13, 2021,[20] and two months later, he filled in for Willie Adler during Lamb of God's performance at ShipRocked.[21]

In April 2022, Demmel filled in as bass guitarist for Lamb of God, and in October of that year performed with the band as the first time they had ever played with three guitarists live.[22]

In January 2023, on ShipRocked, Demmel, Tyson Leslie of Vixen, and Jack Ivins composed the backing band for Living Colour's Corey Glover.[23][24]

Demmel performed on Kerry King's 2024 solo debut album From Hell I Rise,[25] as well as Category 7's self-titled debut album.[26]

Equipment

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Demmel performing with Machine Head in 2011

Since his days with Vio-Lence, Demmel has always used Jackson guitars. He first used Randy Rhoads models, then later in the 1990s he began using a white King V. When he joined Machine Head he had his white V and a Jackson Warrior which can be seen in the videos for "Imperium" and "Days Turn Blue to Gray". Around the time of The Blackening's release he had his own signature V with Jackson, named The Demmelition King V.

For amplification, he uses Peavey 5150 and 6505 amplifiers with Marshall 1960BV cabinet in the studio. When playing live, he turned to the AxeFX pre-amplifier for practical reasons.

Discography

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Vio-lence

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Torque

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Machine Head

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BPMD

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Category 7

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Kerry King

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References

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  1. ^ Wildenberg, Norman van den (April 2, 2022). "Happy birthday Phil Demmel". Rockmuzine (in Dutch). Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Kennelty, Greg (May 24, 2023). "ALEX SKOLNICK To Sit Out Part Of TESTAMENT's European Tour". Metal Injection. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Through The Ashes Of Empires". Road Runner Records. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  4. ^ "REVIEW: Dublin Death Patrol – DDP 4 Life". Tartareandesire. August 15, 2008. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  5. ^ "Machine Head | Heart Condition Caused Rocker's Collapse". Contactmusic. August 21, 2008. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  6. ^ "MACHINE HEAD Guitarist Engaged To BLEEDING THROUGH Keyboardist". Blabbermouth.net. Road Runner Records. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  7. ^ Graham Hartmann (January 2, 2012). "Machine Head's Phil Demmel Engaged to Bleeding Through's Marta Peterson". Loudwire. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  8. ^ "Machine Head Played Their Final Show With Phil Demmel & Dave McClain. This Is What They Sounded Like". Ultimate Guitar.
  9. ^ "Vio-Lence: Will There Be a Reunion Now That Phil Demmel Has Left Machine Head?". Ultimate Guitar.
  10. ^ "VIO-LENCE Reunion In The Works?". Metal Addicts. November 26, 2018.
  11. ^ "VIO-LENCE To Reunite For One Show In Oakland; 'Eternal Nightmare' To Be Performed In Its Entirety". Blabbermouth.net. January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "Vio-lence Announce Second Reunion Show". The PRP. January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  13. ^ "Resurrected VIO-LENCE Announce Second Reunion Show, Rumored To Be Opening For OVERKILL Later This Year". Metal Addicts. January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  14. ^ "Reunited VIO-LENCE To Play Exclusive European Show At Belgium's ALCATRAZ HARD ROCK & METAL FESTIVAL". Blabbermouth.net. February 16, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  15. ^ "SACRED REICH And VIO-LENCE To Join Forces For Special Los Angeles Concert". Blabbermouth.net. February 27, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  16. ^ "VIO-LENCE To Release New EP In March; Lyric Video Posted For First Song In 29 Years, "Flesh From Bone"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  17. ^ "GARY HOLT To Miss Rest Of SLAYER European Tour; Ex-MACHINE HEAD Guitarist PHIL DEMMEL To Step In". Blabbermouth.net. December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  18. ^ "BOBBY 'BLITZ' ELLSWORTH, MIKE PORTNOY, PHIL DEMMEL And MARK MENGHI Join Forces In BPMD: 'American Made' Album Due Soon". Blabbermouth.net. January 31, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "BPMD Feat. BOBBY 'BLITZ' ELLSWORTH, MIKE PORTNOY, PHIL DEMMEL And MARK MENGHI: 'American Made' Album Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  20. ^ "Former MACHINE HEAD Guitarist PHIL DEMMEL To Fill In For DAVE LINSK At OVERKILL Concert". Blabbermouth.net. November 2, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  21. ^ Blabbermouth (January 25, 2022). "LAMB OF GOD's WILLIE ADLER Sits Out SHIPROCKED Cruise, Ex-MACHINE HEAD Guitarist PHIL DEMMEL Steps In". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  22. ^ Blabbermouth (October 8, 2022). "LAMB OF GOD Performs With Three Guitarists For First Time Ever". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Phil Demmel on Instagram: "Definitely one of THE coolest things I've been a part of. Backing band for Corey Glover while holds court and delivers a sermon for the ages in the middle of a boat out to sea was something I'll never forget. Thank you Tyson, Jack and Corey for taking this metalhead with you for that walk. 🖤🖤🖤"". Instagram. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  24. ^ Addict, The Travel (February 2, 2023). "ShipRocked 2023 Day 5 and 6 Recap and Photos". The Travel Addict. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  25. ^ "KERRY KING Announces Lineup Of Solo Band, Shares First Single 'Idle Hands'". Blabbermouth.net. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  26. ^ "CATEGORY 7 Feat. OVERKILL, EXODUS, ARMORED SAINT And Ex-MACHINE HEAD Members: Debut Album Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
Preceded by Machine Head lead guitarist
2003–2018 		Succeeded by
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