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Plays: Custom Electric Guitar Nickel set, 10-13-20-32-42-58

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Machine Head is easily one of the hardest working bands in the American metal scene. With two decades of relentless playing and touring under their belts, they show no signs of slowing down. Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel is the latest subject of our Dunlop String: 5 Questions quiz…

 

When you were young, what artist and or song inspired you to become a musician?

 

Seeing KISS for the first time and being blown away by their theatrics made me want to be in a band. Listening to Angus Young and Randy Rhoads made me want to play guitar. They both expressed so much through the instrument, and it truly inspired me to do the same.

 

Out of all the music you’ve written, recorded or performed, which piece of music best represents you as an artist?

 

I wrote a song for my father just after he died. I was in the Frankfort, Germany airport waiting to fly home for his funeral, wrote his eulogy, and then wrote him a goodbye note that would become lyrics to a song called “Solace.” It’s the most meaningful and honest piece of music I’ve ever written.

 

When it comes to strings, what are the three most important things that help you decide on what Dunlop set to use?

 

Sustain, durability and feel. Dunlop strings have those qualities and suit my needs perfectly. Sometimes my guitar is more of a tool than an instrument and I need it and its components to work as hard as I do. Dunlop strings stand with me.

 

Which Dunlop set do you use?

 

Custom Electric Guitar Nickel set, 10-13-20-32-42-58.

 

What one thing about you, would surprise people the most?

 

I carried a pretty respectable 13 Golf Handicap not too long ago. Touring as much as we have lately has pumped that number up quite a bit, but that’s okay. I can golf when I’m hella old. Still lots of rockin’ left to do!

 

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Use the comments section below to tell us which Machine Head song is your favorite, and why, and you’ll be entered to win a 6-Pack of Dunlop Electric Guitar Nickel Strings, a Guitar Road Pro String Winder, and a Formula 65 Polish kit!

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Comments (26)

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Category: Artist News, Dunlop Strings

  • Tyler Robbins

    Crashing Around You all the way!!!!!! m/

  • Tyler Robbins

    Crashing Around You!!!! It shows the true story behind Machine Head in my opinion m/

  • Matt Richardson

    my favourite Machine Head song is hard to choose but if i had to it would probably be have to be Aesthetics of Hate because its such a catchy riff and the solos from Phil and Robb are godly!!!! also it has to be the best tribute to the one who has inspired everyone… Dimebag Darrell m/

  • http://profiles.google.com/sam.geese Sam Geese

    I’m with Phil on this one.
    “Solace”
    I can relate.

  • Larsonforrest

    Clenching the Fists of Dissent. My goodness, I still get chills at the end.

  • Devan Fechner

    Halo!  The piece is massive!  It’s got fast parts, slow parts, heavy parts, clean parts, sick shredding – its just the epitome of metal epicness!

  • Matt Weeks

    Solace- Just listened to it again today as I will be going to a couple funerals myself over the Holiday weekend. Very honest and heart-breaking song

  • Frank

    Halo, I relate to it due to a poor religious upbringing. Sweet solo too!

  • Partyzombie

    A Farewell to Arms! No words could describe how beautifully that song is constructed.

  • 23

    i’m hell.

  • Eviltwin1489

    Halo

  • Joeysrocks

    I really like Pictures of Home-its an awesome song!

  • Steve Parish

    Halo….. can relate to the lyrics.

  • ralf_caetano

    i know it’s not an original but i’m in love with their cover of message in a bottle seriously…  police mean nothing to me but these guys just made me gain a new perspective of their song and showed me how covers can really rock l..l, rock on machine head!!!! 

  • Wb

    Locust 
    for no reason whatsoever

  • Krismael

    Aesthetics of Hate….i wasnt a fan of Machine Head til later on and when i heard this one i inmediatelly recalled about that “journalist” that published that article with hatred words for Dimebag so i feel kinda related to this song.

  • Jakesnake598

    Halo, just because

  • gman128

    Davidian – Pure 90s Groove metal at its finest, has all the aspects of a great old school MH song – trademark harmonics, strong groove, pounding drums.

    oh and ..

    “Let freedom ring with a shotgun blast!!!”

  • mike

    darkness within

  • Thomas Bui

    Solace – the song is mellow

  • Jeffrey Vastine

    I would have to say that my favorite Machine Head song is Salace,, because it reveals more of Phil’s musicall ability and guitar prowess, it presents a versatility with the vocals not heard on other tracks, and the lyrical content is something that is touching and many can relate to. Plus I love ballads and Solace creates a peaceful and soothing feeling.

    Peace!

  • Daniel Thompson

    Imperium, because it just rocks so hard.

  • Michifischermail

    i like them all but i think the best one is Locust

  • Beshmonger

    Hard to choose but Solace is great because it’s so from the heart. A bit of a departure from the rest of the stuff but it doesn’t sound out of place.

  • Sean Asher

    Locust, that song has so much going on, and everytime it changers, it’s a smooth transition, which I love, and the solo is awesome! Pisses me off that they edited out the tapping section..nice arpeggios by the way.

  • Matt Iacobucci

    My favorite song is definitely “”Halo”" off of the blackening, because its its got a great main riff, awesome chorus, and that dual lead battle during the solo between robb and phil is just sooooooooooooo fucking beautiful. It puts my soul on a high!!!! m/