Tony Costanza - Drums

Tony Costanza was born on July 2, 1968, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Costanza became involved with heavy music during the 1980s and was initially known as a vocalist rather than a drummer.

Papsmear

During the mid-1980s, Costanza was the vocalist for Las Vegas crossover/thrash band Papsmear.

The band recorded early demos including Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas in 1986 and Lunch for the P.M.R.C. in 1987.

Costanza later shifted his musical focus from vocals to drums, the instrument with which he would become best known.

Joining Machine Head

Robb Flynn began developing Machine Head as a side project with bassist Adam Duce while he was still playing guitar with Vio-lence.

Chris Kontos had originally been Flynn's preferred drummer and played on Machine Head's earliest demo around June 1992. However, Kontos subsequently moved to New York for a short period and was unavailable to commit to the developing band.

Flynn therefore contacted Costanza, whom he had known from the metal scene.

Costanza relocated from Las Vegas to the San Francisco Bay Area and became Machine Head's first regular drummer alongside Flynn, Duce and guitarist Logan Mader.

The First Machine Head Shows

Costanza played during Machine Head's earliest period, when the band was still developing its identity and performing small shows and parties.

His first Machine Head performance took place at a house party on Woolsey Street in Oakland on August 15, 1992.

Two weeks later, on August 29, Machine Head played what the band regarded as its first official club show at The Huntridge Theater in Las Vegas.

The performance was particularly significant for Costanza, who was playing with his new band in his hometown.

On October 4, 1992, Machine Head also appeared at the Los Angeles Metalfest at Gazzarri's in Hollywood.

The band played twice during the event, further increasing its early exposure outside the Bay Area.

Developing the Early Machine Head Sound

Although Costanza's period with Machine Head lasted only around six months, he was involved during a crucial stage in the band's development.

Machine Head wrote and rehearsed much of the material that would eventually become Burn My Eyes during this period.

Costanza helped develop early versions of songs including "A Thousand Lies", "I'm Your God Now", "Nation on Fire" and "Rage to Overcome", as well as part of "Davidian".

The band also rehearsed material including "Death Church", "Blood for Blood" and "Fuck It All", which would later become "Block".

Costanza participated in early Machine Head demo recordings and appeared in the band's first video for "Fuck It All".

Flynn later emphasized that despite Costanza's brief membership, his drumming helped shape many of the songs that eventually appeared on Burn My Eyes.

Chris Kontos Returns

Chris Kontos returned to the Bay Area in October 1992.

In an unusual piece of Machine Head history, Kontos initially worked as Costanza's drum technician for several shows.

Kontos had played on Machine Head's first demo before Costanza joined and gradually became interested in the band again.

At the same time, tensions had developed within the lineup and Costanza became aware that Machine Head were considering Kontos for the drum position.

Costanza ultimately left Machine Head in October 1992, believing that he was likely to be replaced.

Kontos subsequently became Machine Head's second drummer and played his first show with the band at Mayday Malone's in Pleasant Hill, California, on November 21, 1992.

Costanza therefore never appeared on an official Machine Head studio album, but his contributions remained embedded in several songs that eventually appeared on Burn My Eyes.

Crisis

After Machine Head, Costanza continued his career as a drummer.

In 1999, he joined New York metal band Crisis, replacing Jason Bittner.

Costanza remained with Crisis until approximately 2001 and toured with the band during this period.

Crowbar

Around 2000, Costanza also became involved with New Orleans sludge metal band Crowbar.

He performed drums on the band's 2001 album Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form.

His involvement with Crowbar was relatively brief, but the album became one of the most prominent recordings of his post-Machine Head career.

Debris Inc.

Costanza later became involved with Debris Inc., the project formed by Saint Vitus bassist Dave Chandler and Trouble bassist Ron Holzner.

He performed drums on several tracks on the band's self-titled album, released in 2005.

Costanza was also associated with the project Area 51 during his later career.

Death

Tony Costanza died in his sleep on August 4, 2020, at the age of 52.

Following his death, musicians from throughout the metal community paid tribute to him.

Chris Kontos remembered his friendship with Costanza and recalled the unusual circumstances surrounding their respective periods in early Machine Head.

Robb Flynn also emphasized Costanza's contribution to the band's formative period, writing:

"It was only a short 6 months that he was with us, but in many ways he helped form so many of the songs on Burn My Eyes into what they would become. I was always grateful for everything that he did." — Robb Flynn

Although Costanza never appeared on a finished Machine Head studio album, his role in the band's history was significant.

As Machine Head's first regular drummer, he participated in the band's earliest concerts, demos and songwriting sessions and helped shape material that would eventually become part of Burn My Eyes.