Robb Flynn
Robb Flynn (born Lawrence Matthew Cardine; July 19, 1967) is an American heavy metal musician, primarily recognized as the founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and chief songwriter of the band Machine Head.[1][2] Originating from Oakland, California, Flynn formed Machine Head on October 12, 1991, inspired by a Metallica concert, drawing from his earlier experiences in the Bay Area thrash scene with bands like Forbidden Evil.[3] The band's aggressive groove metal sound, blending thrash influences with hardcore intensity, propelled their debut album Burn My Eyes (1994) to commercial success, highlighted by the track "Davidian," which later earned recognition on Rolling Stone's list of top metal songs.[4] Machine Head's subsequent albums, including The Blackening (2007), solidified their status in heavy metal, earning critical acclaim and awards such as the Metal Hammer Golden Gods for Best Album, while Flynn's songwriting emphasized themes of personal struggle and resilience.[5] Flynn has maintained sobriety since overcoming heroin overdose and alcohol dependency, founding the "No Fuckin' Excuses" recovery program to support musicians battling addiction, reflecting his commitment to mental health advocacy within the metal community.[6][7] Over three decades, Flynn's leadership has sustained Machine Head through lineup changes and industry shifts, producing influential works like Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014), which charted at No. 21 on the Billboard 200, underscoring his enduring impact on the genre.[8]
Early Life
Childhood and Upbringing
Lawrence Matthew Cardine, who later adopted the name Robert Conrad Flynn, was born on July 19, 1967, in Oakland, California.[9] He was adopted shortly after birth into a family with no musical inclinations, and Flynn has recounted having no knowledge of his biological parents.[10] Growing up primarily in Oakland and across the broader Bay Area, he experienced the region's gritty urban environment during a period marked by socioeconomic challenges in the East Bay.[5] This upbringing in a working-class, non-artistic household provided little early exposure to music-making, though the area's vibrant cultural undercurrents would later influence his path.[10]Initial Musical Influences and Formative Experiences
Robb Flynn, born Lawrence Matthew Cardine on July 19, 1968, in Oakland, California, was initially exposed to music through his parents' preferences for The Beatles, along with R&B and soul artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire and The Commodores.[11] This early environment laid a foundation in melodic and rhythmic styles before he encountered heavier genres.[11] His introduction to hard rock occurred in childhood when a friend acquired albums including AC/DC's Highway to Hell, Kiss's Destroyer, and Black Sabbath's Paranoid, which Flynn later described as a pivotal shift toward aggressive, guitar-driven sounds.[12] Black Sabbath emerged as his most enduring influence, shaping his appreciation for heavy riffs and dark themes.[13] In his teenage years, growing up in Oakland's vibrant yet turbulent Bay Area music scene, Flynn delved into thrash metal, citing bands like Slayer and Exodus as lifesaving amid personal struggles with methamphetamine addiction and daily alcohol use by age 18.[14] He also explored punk rock, hardcore, and hip hop, which contributed to his formative musical journey by emphasizing raw energy and DIY ethos.[15] These influences converged in Flynn's early band experiences, where he developed his vocal style, including screaming techniques honed during stints in pre-Machine Head groups connected to the local thrash circuit, such as early iterations involving members of Forbidden and Vio-lence.[16] The Bay Area's thrash legacy, marked by high-speed aggression and social commentary, instilled a commitment to intensity that persisted through his career.[14]Musical Career
Pre-Machine Head Bands
Flynn co-founded the thrash metal band Inquisitor in 1985 while attending high school in Fremont, California; the group soon renamed itself Forbidden Evil, later shortened to Forbidden.[5] He served as guitarist from 1985 to 1987, contributing original compositions including "Chalice of Blood" and "Forbidden Evil," which appeared on the band's 1988 self-titled debut album Forbidden Evil after his departure.[17] His exit from Forbidden stemmed from internal conflicts and personal struggles with heroin addiction, which he later detailed as derailing his early commitments.[12] Following Forbidden, Flynn joined the Bay Area thrash band Vio-lence as a guitarist around 1987, aligning with a core lineup that included vocalist Sean Killian, guitarist Phil Demmel, bassist Deen Dell, and drummer Perry Strickland.[18] During his tenure, Vio-lence released Eternal Nightmare in 1988 on MCA Records, featuring aggressive tracks like "Serial Killer" that showcased the band's raw, high-speed thrash style influenced by local scenesters such as Exodus and Testament.[19] The follow-up Oppressing the Masses EP emerged in 1990, incorporating more groove-oriented elements amid lineup tensions and label issues, with Flynn's riffing contributing to songs like "World in a World."[18] Flynn departed Vio-lence in late 1991 amid escalating drug problems and creative frustrations, prompting him to channel efforts into his side project that evolved into Machine Head.[18] These early thrash experiences honed his guitar technique and stage presence within the competitive Bay Area metal underground, where bands vied for slots on local bills and limited recording opportunities.[12] Despite limited commercial success for either group during his involvement—Forbidden's debut sold modestly, and Vio-lence grappled with MCA's lack of promotion—Flynn's roles established him as a fixture in the thrash revival, with lasting ties evident in later guest appearances, such as joining Forbidden onstage in 2023 to perform "Chalice of Blood."[20]Formation and Rise of Machine Head
Machine Head was founded on October 12, 1991, by Robb Flynn, who had recently parted ways with the thrash metal band Vio-lence amid internal disagreements, alongside bassist Adam Duce.[3][17] Guitarist Logan Mader and drummer Tony Costanza soon joined, though Costanza was replaced by Chris Kontos prior to the band's first recordings.[21] Drawing from influences like thrash, groove, and hip-hop rhythms, the group honed a heavy, aggressive sound in Oakland, California, reflecting the gritty urban environment.[21] The band recorded a self-titled demo in 1993, which impressed Roadrunner Records executives and led to a signing that year.[21] Burn My Eyes, their debut album produced by Colin Richardson at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, was released on August 9, 1994.[21] The record featured intense tracks like "Davidian" and "Blood for Blood," blending precise riffs with raw aggression, and marked a shift toward groove metal's evolution amid the 1990s scene dominated by acts like Pantera and Sepultura.[22] Burn My Eyes achieved immediate commercial success, becoming Roadrunner's best-selling debut album until Slipknot's 1999 release, with strong sales driven by critical acclaim for its revitalizing impact on heavy metal.[21][23] The album's momentum fueled extensive touring, including European dates opening for Slayer in late 1994, which exposed Machine Head to wider audiences and solidified their reputation as a touring powerhouse.[23] By the mid-1990s, these efforts had elevated the band from local obscurity to global metal prominence, setting the stage for sustained career growth.[3]Key Albums and Commercial Peaks
Machine Head's debut album, Burn My Eyes, released on August 15, 1994, achieved the band's initial commercial breakthrough, selling over 400,000 copies worldwide and marking Roadrunner Records' best-selling debut at the time.[24] The record was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry on December 4, 2020, for exceeding 100,000 units in the United Kingdom.[25] In the United States, it surpassed 135,000 copies sold.[26] Follow-up releases like The More Things Change... (1997) and The Burning Red (1999) sustained momentum but with diminishing returns, the latter moving approximately 60,000 units overall.[26] Supercharger (2001) accumulated 250,000 worldwide sales amid label disputes and lineup shifts. The band's commercial resurgence peaked with The Blackening, released March 27, 2007, which sold over 100,000 copies in the United States and earned silver certification in the United Kingdom for 60,000 units.[27] [28] It debuted with around 16,000 first-week U.S. sales and charted strongly in Europe, reaching number 12 in Germany and number 16 in the UK.[29] [30] Through the Ashes of Empires (2003) laid groundwork for this revival, selling about 100,000 units in the U.S. despite a modest debut of under 12,000 copies.[26] [31] Later albums solidified Machine Head's chart presence: Unto the Locust (2011) entered the Billboard 200 at number 22 with 17,000 first-week sales and reached 100,000 U.S. copies by 2013.[31] Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014) marked their highest U.S. chart entry at number 21, driven by 18,200 initial sales.[31] These peaks reflected sustained fan loyalty in the heavy metal niche, though broader mainstream crossover remained limited compared to nu-metal contemporaries. By 2002, the band had sold over 1.3 million albums globally cumulatively. Declines appeared with Catharsis (2018), peaking at number 65 on the Billboard 200 amid polarized reception.[32]| Album | Release Date | U.S. First-Week Sales | Billboard 200 Peak | Notable Certifications/Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burn My Eyes | August 15, 1994 | N/A (pre-digital tracking) | N/A | >400,000 worldwide; UK Gold (100,000)[24][25] |
| The Blackening | March 27, 2007 | ~16,000 | ~54 (inferred from sales context) | >100,000 U.S.; UK Silver (60,000)[29][27][28] |
| Unto the Locust | September 27, 2011 | ~17,000 | 22 | 100,000 U.S. by 2013[31] |
| Bloodstone & Diamonds | October 31, 2014 | 18,200 | 21[31] | N/A |
Lineup Changes and Challenges
In 2002, guitarist Ahrue Luster departed Machine Head citing creative unfulfillment after contributing to albums like The Burning Red (1999) and Supercharger (2001).[33] The band operated briefly as a trio before recruiting guitarist Phil Demmel in 2003, who joined Flynn, bassist Adam Duce, and drummer Dave McClain for the recording of Through the Ashes of Empires (2003) and subsequent releases.[34] A significant shift occurred in December 2013 when Flynn dismissed founding bassist Adam Duce following persistent personal and professional differences that had escalated over years of collaboration.[35] Machine Head continued with touring bassist Jared MacEachern, who became a permanent member, maintaining momentum through albums like Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014). The most publicized challenges emerged in 2018, when Demmel and McClain announced their departures on September 28, effective after a farewell tour. Demmel described the decision as primarily personal, stemming from a "shift in the dynamic" and nights of stress discussed with his wife, emphasizing that people grow apart without fault.[36][37] McClain similarly avoided specifics, stating it was simply "time to leave" and that fans did not need detailed reasons.[38] Flynn acknowledged his role, admitting he had gripped the band's direction too tightly, leading to musical and personal rifts that "suffocated" the others.[39] These exits prompted a reconfiguration, with Machine Head enlisting guitarist Wacław Kiełtyka (Vogg of Decapitated) and drummer Matt Alston by 2019 for Catharsis (2018) touring and new material.[35] Flynn later downplayed the frequency of such changes in a 2020 interview, noting only a handful over nearly three decades despite the band's evolution.[35] The transitions underscored recurring tensions over creative control and interpersonal dynamics, though the core songwriting vision under Flynn persisted.Recent Projects and Developments
In 2023, Machine Head began recording sessions for their eleventh studio album, Unatoned, with Flynn handling production duties at his Jam Room, Sharkbite Studios, and Drop of Sun Recording; the process extended through December 2024.[40][41] The album, released on April 25, 2025, via Nuclear Blast Records and Imperium Recordings, features tracks like "BØNESCRAPER," accompanied by an official music video premiered on April 3, 2025.[42][43] Flynn described Unatoned as among the band's heaviest efforts in recent years, emphasizing its epic scope and drawing comparisons to Queen's structural complexity while maintaining Machine Head's aggressive groove metal foundation.[44][45] Supporting the album's promotion, Machine Head announced a North American headlining tour for spring 2025, featuring support from In Flames, Lacuna Coil, and Unearth, with dates commencing in April.[46] Additional international touring followed, including the "Slaughter The Martøur" dates in Australia during 2024 and extensions into late 2025 across venues like Metro City in Perth on November 29 and the Good Things Festival in Melbourne on December 5.[43][47] These efforts marked a continuation of Flynn's focus on live performances emphasizing the band's catalog, including anniversary playthroughs such as the Electric Happy Hour event revisiting Ashes and Requiem for a Dream on October 24, 2025.[47] No independent solo projects by Flynn were reported during this period, with his creative output centered on Machine Head's revival following lineup stabilizations and prior releases like the 2022 EP Of Kingdom and Crown.[48] Flynn's involvement extended to personal reflections in interviews, such as addressing childhood trauma and band evolution, underscoring the thematic depth in Unatoned's songwriting.[49]Musical Style, Technique, and Equipment
Guitar Playing and Vocal Style
Robb Flynn's guitar playing centers on aggressive rhythm work, emphasizing relentless downpicking to drive Machine Head's groove metal riffs, which has visibly worn grooves into his custom baritone guitars.[50] He exclusively uses baritone-tuned instruments to achieve the band's signature thick, low-end tone, constructing riffs that blend thrash-derived speed with deliberate hesitations and stops for rhythmic intensity, as heard in tracks like "Become the Firestorm" from the 2022 album Øf Kingdøm and Crøwn.[50] Thrash influences, including Gary Holt of Exodus and Kirk Hammett of Metallica, inform his approach to riff brutality paired with melodic vocal lines.[50] A hallmark technique involves rapid natural harmonics, discovered accidentally in his youth on a rented undistorted guitar—mistaking the chimes for feedback—and refined through early inspirations like Celtic Frost's Morbid Tales and D.R.I.'s Dealing with It!.[51] This pinch-harmonic style punctuates key riffs in songs such as "Davidian" from 1994's Burn My Eyes and "Arrøws in Wørds Frøm the Sky" from 2022.[51] Flynn's vocal style is versatile, spanning guttural screams, growls, and clean passages, evolving from his pre-Machine Head guitar-focused roles in thrash bands like Vio-lence.[16] He developed his aggressive delivery by drawing on death metal, hardcore, and crossover thrash influences after assuming frontman duties, prioritizing raw power over formal training.[16] Live performances reveal his voice strengthening mid-set after extended warmups, enabling endurance in grueling "evening with" shows exceeding three hours; by 2022, at age 55, Flynn reported heightened vocal capability compared to earlier career stages.[16] This adaptability allows seamless shifts between roared aggression in tracks like those on The Blackening (2007) and melodic cleans in later works, contributing to Machine Head's dynamic sound.[16]