By Despite the heat wave, heavy metal fans are still wearing their best black attire and are attending the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival throughout the summer, across the country. And in that heat, the Daily 49er sat down with metal rockers Machine Head’s lead guitarist Phil Demmel at the first stop of the Mayhem Festival tour in San Bernardino on July 9, to discuss the excitement and expectations of the tour.
Daily 49er: What was [Machine Head’s] reaction to being asked to be a part of this festival?
Phil Demmel: We were stoked. It’s always a pleasure to be a part of something that’s so cool. We were on the first Mayhem tour and it was the most fun I’ve ever had. We knew that we had a good slot being on the main stage for the first night show and then rotating on the other stages is really cool.
49er: How do you expect the audience to be for your set?
Demmel: I think it’s going to be good. I think that Machine Head needs to be seen in front of a main stage crowd. A lot of these people don’t even go to the side stages, they wait until the main stage starts to see the bigger names.
49er: How do you feel about opening the main stage [to Godsmack, Disturbed and Megadeth]?
Demmel: It’s gonna be awesome. I’ve seen some festivals as to where opening the main stage is kinda like ‘eh’; a lot of people just sitting there or not a lot of people in there. But I think [the Mayhem Festival staff] worked it well enough to where they shut down the side stages and flow everybody in there.
49er: Are you a fan of the other bands [on the other two stages]?
Demmel: I know the guys in Suicide Silence and Unearth; Jamie and Kirk from Kingdom of Sorrow; the Inflames dudes and the Trivium guys are friends of ours; All Shall Perish is a fucking awesome band. The lineup is great; I recommend them all.
49er: Have you been able to watch them perform?
Demmel: I haven’t. We’ve been doing signings so I haven’t had time to do anything yet. It’s [Los Angeles] and it’s the first show, so this is madness.
49er: How are you reacting to it being the first day of the tour?
Demmel: L.A. is tough because it’s such a big market and everyone wants to come out. It’s a hectic day as it is. I think I would have rather warmed up in Idaho or in Seattle, like in previous years, and work our way down here.
49er: How are you spending your time before your set?
Demmel: I’ve got my little boy and my girl down here with me, so it’s like trying to make sure that he’s alright. Every minute that I’m not doing press or something I’m spending time with them and making sure they’re okay, like watching cartoons on the bus or something.
49er: What are you anticipating the most about the festival tour?
Demmel: Just playing in front of the main stage crowd that we normally wouldn’t see and winning over the fans. Playing the new songs and getting ready for the record to come out.
49er: Have the fans taken to the new music?
Demmel: They love it. It’s doing really well. Our new song [“Locust”] has been on the Sirius show and it’s one of the number one requested on the Devil’s Dozen. It’s a little bit different for Machine Head, but it’s still us.
49er: What can we expect from your set?
Demmel: We get 35 minutes but we have long songs, so we’re working on a four-song, maybe a five-song set. You’re gonna get every ounce of energy that we have packed into that set.
49er: What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen at the festival?
Demmel: I don’t know if I’ve really seen anything ridiculous. It’s all been pretty normal for heavy metals’ sake. Fires, I guess, but that’s pretty normal.
49er: How are you preparing yourself to react to the summer tour?
Demmel: We’re playing a little bit later than we have in the past, so we’re just trying to figure it out as we go.
49er: What are three things you cannot do without while on tour?
Demmel: My cell phone for one, it keeps me connected; gotta keep connected with my girl back home. Water. And my hat. I don’t go anywhere without a hat.
49er: How would you rate this festival as a whole?
Demmel: It’s the best summer festival for metal, for sure. From everyone I’ve talked to, this is the one. It’s run so smoothly and so conducive to the artists and the bands and the fans. It’s here to get everybody connected. And it’s not charging fucking outrageous prices to meet the bands.
49er: Do you have any advice for future attendees on the rest of the tour?
Demmel: Hydrate! Visit the tents, get some water and pace yourself!
