MACHINE HEAD

Robb Flynn started Machine Head in his hometown of Oakland, California, dealing drugs to fund the band. He shows us around the city that’s given him a survivor mentality

WORDS: STEVE APPLEFORD

PICTURES: JEN ROSENSTEIN

Just across the bridge from Oakland, California, Robb Flynn from Machine Head is climbing through a hole cut into a chain-link fence. He’s at the sprawling former Naval Air Station in Alameda, decommissioned nearly 30 years ago, and he scrambles onto the rock embankment that separates the ocean from a disused airfield and a marsh. He’s also moving fast, a heavy metal lifer in black marching toward the San Francisco skyline on the horizon, with hardly a look back.

The longstanding leader, singer and guitarist of Machine Head is also trespassing today. The discarded military base is largely open to public exploration, with miles of buildings boarded up and abandoned to graffiti and broken windows. It also happens to be prime waterfront real estate, and several airplane hangars have been revitalised as breweries and wineries, where Robb will be soon enough. But for the moment, he’s taking a stroll far past a fence meant to keep civilians out.

Metal Hammer is along for the ride on this impromptu tour of the Bay Area, the beloved once and forever home to the veteran musician. And several minutes later, a private security car rolls up to the hole in the metal perimeter and waves us back.

After returning to the fence, Robb walks over to the black security SUV and looks inside with a thumbs up.

“Are we good?”

The female guard doesn’t seem especially concerned, but says of the marsh, “If you fall, we’re not going to find you.” Hours earlier, we’re in the private studio he calls Robb’s Jam Room, a spot he’s had for the last seven years, created in the old meat packing district adjacent to Jack London Square. Dressed in layers of black denim, his black beard full and streaked with grey, Robb lifts up the baritone Flying V guitar in his hands, chipped and scratched from 15 years of recording and road work, and says proudly, “This is my main Flying V. It’s just beat to shit and been fricking dropped a hundred times and had beer and vodka poured all over it.”

Nailed to the blood-red wall behind him are banners commemorating 30 years of the band’s history, from Burn My Eyes to The Blackening to Of Kingdom And Crown. Down the hall is Shark Bite Studios, where Machine Head recorded some of those records along with parts of the new album, Unatoned.

Produced by Robb and Zack Ohren, it was recorded between July 2023 and December 2024, and played by the returning line-up of bassist Jared MacEachern and drummer Matt Alston, and is the first to feature the band’s newest member, former Havok guitarist Reece Scruggs.

“He’s done, like, 200 shows with us, so it doesn’t feel new,” Robb says. “He brought some killer riffs.”

Above the front door is a painting of Dimebag Darrell, a onetime drinking buddy and touring partner, depicted raising his guitar and accompanied by text recreating the Pantera songtitle, Strength Beyond Strength. He smiles and says, “We toured for three and a half months together. I had a lot of whiskey with Dimebag.”