Here’s a little pic of Machine Head in happier times. No smiles anymore as bassist Adam Duce is fired after 21 years in the band, a move frontman Robb Flynn says has left him in tears. Maybe not a big deal stateside but this band are far far bigger in Europe then over here. Their last 2 cds have been a critical and commercial success, it kinda helps when James Hetfield said The Blackening infleunced him when writing Death Magnetic.
The thing I find odd in his statement is how he hoped Duce had resigned from the band saying the bassist hadn’t had his heart in it for many years. How did the band function as a unit for so long and still produce great music. How much better would they have been with a bass player who was all in. This wasn’t a Motley Crue or Poison where each member had a seperate bus. They are like all bands now, it’s tour tour tour and more tour. Share everything.
So why then wasn’t he fired years ago. Hoping that the guy gets so miserable that he resigns can’t be good for the band. If as he says Duce’s heart wasn’t in it why wasn’t he fired 3 years ago or 5 years ago or a decade ago. Flynn says Duce was sick of caring but looking the other way hoping everything will go away is not a good move especially when the guy is right next to you on stage.
I like the band, I’ve seen them live a couple of times and they always put on a great show. Does Duce have a reason to be pissed off because the band were never as big as they should have been? Maybe so but they trend hopped with The Burning Red and Supercharger so they are not entirely blameless. They were one of the fortunate ones to get a second bite at the cherry and resurrect their career and for that they have the fans to thank. There may not be as many out there to Duce’s liking but they have always been there, the band should be eternally grateful. Machine Head will soldier on, all bands that lose members always do nowadays. A little less airing of the dirty laundry in public would be nice though.
Richie.
