Phil Demmel - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals

Philip John Demmel was born on April 2, 1967, in Dublin, California, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the emergence of the legendary Bay Area thrash metal scene.

Vio-lence

Demmel began his musical career in 1985 as one of the founding members of Vio-lence. Robb Flynn later joined the band, beginning a musical partnership between the two guitarists that would eventually continue in Machine Head.

Vio-lence became an important part of the Bay Area thrash scene and released three studio albums during their original run: Eternal Nightmare (1988), Oppressing the Masses (1990) and Nothing to Gain (1993).

Torque and Technocracy

Following the breakup of Vio-lence in 1993, Demmel formed the groove/thrash metal band Torque together with former Vio-lence bassist Deen Dell. In addition to playing guitar, Demmel handled lead vocals in the band.

Torque released their self-titled album in 1996 before disbanding the following year. Demmel later played with Technocracy before rejoining Vio-lence for their first reunion in the early 2000s.

Joining Machine Head

In 2002, guitarist Ahrue Luster left Machine Head while the band was preparing for a run of European summer festivals. In need of a temporary replacement, Machine Head turned to Demmel, Robb Flynn's former bandmate and guitar partner in Vio-lence.

Demmel began rehearsing with Machine Head in June 2002 and made his live debut with the band at The Ambassador in Dublin, Ireland, on July 1. He initially joined strictly as a temporary guitarist and spent approximately two weeks touring European festivals with the band.

The shows included Machine Head's first headlining appearance at the With Full Force festival in Germany, as well as festival appearances alongside bands and artists such as Slayer, Bruce Dickinson and Halford.

Two songs from the With Full Force performance, "None But My Own" and "The Burning Red", were later included on Machine Head's first live album, Hellalive, making them Demmel's first officially released recordings with the band.

Despite the immediate chemistry between Demmel and his former Vio-lence bandmate Robb Flynn, Demmel was unable to commit to Machine Head permanently at the time. He returned home following the festival run while Flynn, Adam Duce and Dave McClain continued as a three-piece and began writing material for what would eventually become Through the Ashes of Empires.

During the following months, Demmel's personal circumstances changed and he decided that he wanted to pursue music with Machine Head. In March 2003, he officially joined the band as a full-time guitarist and began writing and rehearsing the new material with Flynn, Duce and McClain.

The Machine Head Years

Demmel would remain with Machine Head for the next 15 years, becoming the band's longest-serving lead guitarist.

During his time with the band, he appeared on five studio albums: Through the Ashes of Empires (2003), The Blackening (2007), Unto the Locust (2011), Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014) and Catharsis (2018).

His guitar partnership with Flynn became an important part of Machine Head's sound during one of the most successful periods of the band's career.

Demmel announced his departure from Machine Head together with drummer Dave McClain in 2018 and played his final show with the band at the end of the Catharsis tour in November that year.

Slayer and the Return of Vio-lence

Only days after leaving Machine Head, Demmel was recruited by Slayer to fill in for guitarist Gary Holt during several European dates on the band's farewell tour. Holt had returned home to be with his seriously ill father.

Demmel subsequently returned to Vio-lence when the band reunited again in 2018–2019. The reunion eventually resulted in the Let the World Burn EP in 2022. Demmel remained with Vio-lence until 2024.

BPMD and Guest Appearances

Outside Vio-lence, Demmel formed BPMD with Overkill vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth, bassist Mark Menghi and drummer Mike Portnoy. The band released the album American Made in 2020.

He has also made a number of high-profile live appearances, filling in with bands including Overkill, Lamb of God and Testament.

Kerry King and Category 7

Demmel later joined former Slayer guitarist Kerry King's solo band and appears on King's debut solo album, From Hell I Rise, released in 2024.

He is also a member of the heavy metal supergroup Category 7 alongside vocalist John Bush, guitarist Mike Orlando, bassist Jack Gibson and drummer Jason Bittner. The band released its self-titled debut album in 2024.

Current Career

After more than four decades as a musician, Phil Demmel remains an active member of the metal scene, performing and recording with Kerry King, Category 7 and other projects.