Does MACHINE HEAD Use Fake Guitar Amps?

Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel (pictured below) of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD have defended themselves against accusations that they use fake amps as a part of their stage show, insisting that it's something that's been a part of rock shows for decades.

Responding to an article that was posted on the web site of the El Paso, Texas radio station KLAQ 95.5 FM that attempted to call out MACHINE HEAD for using dummy cabs on stage, the band released the following statement:

"Wow?

"While it seems absurd that El Paso, Texas-based radio station 95.5 FM KLAQ would choose to go through the effort to post this on their website, we guess in-light of the big hub-bub about BLACK VEIL BRIDESgetting 'called out' by the drummer for THE BRONX for having 'fake cabs' on the Warped tour earlier this month, some 'brain donor' over at the station has decided to drop the 'newsflash of the century' and 'call out' MACHINE HEAD for having 'fake amps' too! A practice that for over 40 years now has been common-place in rock 'n roll going back to the days of VAN HALEN and AC/DC.

"For the record, MACHINE HEAD 'back' ANY band that uses dummy cabs in hopes of giving their fans a better, more impressive show. That includes the BLACK VEIL BRIDES, who like many young musicians (and MACHINE HEAD) use direct-to-PA amp modeling gear like Fractals and Kempers. At least BLACK VEIL BRIDES are playing their instruments, and not waving their hands along to a fucking laptop!!

"MACHINE HEAD have 2 cabinet set-carts in the shape of our diamond logo, we use half of the 4 cabs for live sound, the ones labeled 'live' in the 'smoking gun photos' are actually that, a real LIVE cabinet, that's plugged in (as you can see in the photo),that make sound, have real speakers, plug into a 'real amp,' and has a mic in front of it that sends our face-melting guitar tones out to the crowd via the PA. The ones that our guitar techs labeled (for some reason, in bright green flourescent gaff tape) 'dummy' are actually real cabs too, with real speakers and everything, but we only have so many amps to power them, and really who gives a shit, because ALL the cabs are REAL!!

"Quick history lesson for grizzled 24-year-old heavy metal veteran Lisa Sanchez: Since the dawn of heavy music, bands have used dummy cabinets as part of an often-impressive looking stage design. When SLAYER played the Mayhem Festival last year and had 2 giant upside-down crosses made out of Marshall cabinets, that lit on fire, guess what? They weren't all plugged in!

"When Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST rides his Harley through a swinging gate of Marshall stacks, guess what? Those are 'dummies' too. In fact, the only 'dummy' here is the one taking pictures, taking liberties, while standing on our stage, as our uninvited guest, and writing up the 'controversial scoop,' and then tweeting and Facebooking about it.

"How about calling out someone for something that really matters instead of bands who are only helping people escape for a little while?

"What exactly are you trying to do here?

"Here's what, you're attempting to create a controversy to get hits on your website, and this response should do just that. In fact, we're already giving you and your radio station website too much traffic via this response.

"Hope you enjoy the free press.

"You're welcome!"