MACHINE HEAD has announced the rescheduled dates for the second European leg of its 25th-anniversary tour for the band's classic debut album, "Burn My Eyes".
The second run of dates, which was postponed due to a fast-spreading outbreak of the new coronavirus, was originally scheduled to kick off in Zaragoza, Spain on April 19, continuing across Portugal, Eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, wrapping in the U.K. with a Birgmingham show at the Academy on June 6.
Earlier today, MACHINE HEAD released the following statement: "Shout out to our booking agent Adam Saunders for for being able to reschedule a nearly 2 month long tour through a staggering amount of countries.
"While we are thrilled to announce these rescheduled dates and very much look forward to seeing you all, we will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure the reality of doing them. Of the utmost importance to us is the health and safety of the Head Cases. We will not put you or others at risk, during this unprecedented time.
"As is quite obvious, nearly all of the dates we've listed are still in a 'Shelter In Place' situation, with no public gatherings allowed over 10 people. We are all hoping that this will be sorted out by then, if that is not the case by August, will make a decision as to whether we will be allowed to proceed.
"Stay home, wash your hands, social distance, we will power through this friends."
Rescheduled European tour dates:
Oct. 08 - Pamplona, Spain @ Sala Totem
Oct. 10 - Valencia, Spain @ Republicca
Oct. 12 - Madrid, Spain @ La Riviera
Oct. 13 - Lisbon, Portugal @ Coliseu de Lisboa
Oct. 14 - Porto, Portugal @ Coliseu de Porto
Oct. 16 - Murcia, Spain @ Gamma
Oct. 17 - Malaga, Spain @ Paris 15
Oct. 18 - Barcelona, Spain @ Razzmatazz
Oct. 20 - Toulouse, France @ Le Bikini
Oct. 21 - Pratteln, Switzerland @ Konzertfabrik Z7
Oct. 23 - Hannover, Germany @ Swiss Life Hall
Oct. 24 - Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof
Oct. 26 - Ludwigsburg, Germany @ MHPArena
Oct. 27 - Hamburg, Germany @ Edel-Optics Arena
Oct. 28 - Prague, Czech Republic @ Forum Karlin
Oct. 29 - Bratislava, Slovakia @ Majestic Club
Oct. 31 - Bucharest, Hungary @ Arenele Romane
Nov. 01 - Sofia, Bulgaria @ Universiada Hall
Nov. 02 - Athens, Greece @ 117 Piraeus Academy
Nov. 03 - Thessaloniki, Greece @ Fix Factory Of Sound
Nov. 06 - Kiev, Ukraine @ Stereoplaza
Nov. 09 - Moscow, Russia @ 1930
Nov. 11 - Helsinki, Finland @ Telakka
Nov. 13 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Fryhuset Arenan
Nov. 14 - Gothenburg, Sweden @ Pustervik
Nov. 15 - Oslo, Norway @ Sentrum Scene
Nov. 16 - Aarhus, Denmark @ Train
Nov. 21 - Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
Nov. 22 - Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
Nov. 23 - London, UK @ Brixton O2 Academy
Each show on the trek consists of two parts: part one sees frontman Robb Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern performing alongside new recruits, Polish guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (DECAPITATED) and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT); while part two features "Burn My Eyes" played in its entirety for the first time ever, with original drummer Chris Kontos and guitarist Logan Mader joining in.
Flynn told France's HEAVY1 about Kiełtyka and Alston's addition to MACHINE HEAD: "We were doing auditions for a while, and Vogg's audition just fucking blew my mind — it was so fucking tight and fucking accurate. He sent over [a recording of] 'Imperium' as his first song just as a test. We always had all the dudes do a sound test, just to make sure the levels are good and stuff. I was, like, 'Oh my God! This dude is playing 'Imperium' better than I can right now.' [Laughs] It was crazy. And we ended up talking. Super-nice guy. Matt, same thing. We flew him out, jammed with him, and he killed it."
Asked how all the musicians are getting along and whether they are traveling together, Flynn told HEAVY1: "We're all in the band together — we all live together. The band's all on the bus — all six of us. And it's a great ride, man. Everybody is very respectful; everybody knows their role and just kind of doing it here and enjoying it. Everybody is out here having a blast. It's so nice to have people who are in a positive frame of mind, 'cause it wasn't like that in the past. And now it is, and it's fucking awesome."
Kontos left MACHINE HEAD before the release of the band's second album, 1997's "The More Things Change", and was replaced by Dave McClain.
Mader contributed to two MACHINE HEAD albums, the aforementioned "Burn My Eyes" and "The More Things Change", before exiting the group and being replaced by Ahrue Luster and, later on, Phil Demmel.
Demmel and McClain exited MACHINE HEAD in the fall of 2018.
