Machine Head’s first three dates on its previously announced November/December 2025 Australian tour will go ahead as a three-piece lineup. The guitarist hired specifically for this run has had to step away from the trek because of a “family emergency”.
On Wednesday (November 26), Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn posted a video update explaining the situation (via Blabbermouth): “These are gonna be some pretty unique shows that we’re doing for the first three [Good Things festival] side shows in Australia because the guitar player that we had hired to do these six dates ended up having a family emergency. And so, as you know from before, Reece‘s [Alan Scruggs, former Machine Head touring guitarist] father was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, and so he’s staying home. [Machine Head producer] Zack [Ohren], who fills in [on guitar] for us sometimes, couldn’t make it out because he had a health issue. And then this guy had something going on.”
“So these first three Good Things festival side shows that Machine Head are doing are going to be played as a three-piece. It’s gonna be me, Jared [MacEachern, bass], and Matt [Alston, drums]. And it’s gonna be basically ‘Electric Happy Hour’ style, which is how Jared and I have been doing the livestreams for five years now. In fact, this isn’t the first time at all that we’ve played as a three-piece. The first time we did a secret show at Bloodstock [Open Air] festival, we played as a three-piece. It was just me, Jared, and Matt. Reece‘s first tour that he did with us, he had been given a very bizarre setlist, and we ended up playing about six or seven songs a night for the first two weeks as a three-piece, and it worked out cool,” he added.
Flynn went on to say: “So, I’m actually looking forward to it because it’s still gonna be an ‘An Evening With’ show where we’ve got a lot of songs to pull from. We’re gonna do some deep cuts, some fun stuff. And if you’re coming out to either Perth or Sunshine Coast, or Canberra, you’re gonna get a pretty, pretty unique, pretty once-in-a-lifetime viewing of Machine Head shows. So come on out, come hang out Saturday, Monday, and then Wednesday — Perth, Sunshine Coast, and Canberra. And we’re gonna be jamming. So check it out.”
The stripped-down trio of Robb Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern and drummer Matt Alston is set to perform the following Australian headline shows as a three-piece:
- 11/29 – Astor Theater, Perth
- 12/01 – The Station, Sunshine Coast
- 12/03 – UC Refectory, Canberra
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