ROBB FLYNN Of MACHINE HEAD On His Past With Drugs & Violence, Introvert To Frontman & More

Frank sits down with Robb Flynn of Machine Head for a deep discussion on the band’s first ever show, the secret to keeping the band going after 30 years, why he can never recreate Burn My Eyes, his dark past with drugs and violence, going from introvert to frontman, how he became a podcaster, how it changes his life, the dark truth behind leaving RoadRunner Records and almost giving up, the fondest memories in his career and much more!
00:00 Recounting Machine Head’s first show ever
05:50 The secret to keeping the band going strong after 30 years
11:41 Why he can never go back to recreate Burn My Eyes, recounting his heroin overdose
19:28 Dark stories of Robb Flynn / Machine Head origins, his crazy past
35:35 Why and how he created a concept story for the new album
43:03 His work ethic, going from introvert to outgoing, becoming a musician
48:54 How he became a podcaster, amazing moments, the power of conversations
59:23 How he came up with NFR for the podcast name
01:03:51 Putting out good energy / going through the bad times
01:07:32 The dark truth of leaving Roadrunner Records and almost giving up
01:15:24 The fondest memory of his career
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[@machinehead]

Thanks for the interview Frank!🤘🏻🙏🏻

[@Luka_Griffin]

What an awesome interview! The best thing about Robb is that he always speaks from the heart and he always has relevant, fun and fascinating things to say. The interview Frank did with Robb for his podcast was intense and meaningful, and this one is a great sequel to it. BTW Machine Head's new album is outstanding. 🤘

[@madsrasmus]

Absolutely brilliant interview! Love the new album, its incredible:)! And what a nice touch to talk about Trevor again, I am still in shock over it, what a legend, RIP Trevor.

[@Dongled]

I've heard Robb tell this story about his experience the night MH got signed. Something about this interview in particular that really made this a more emotional story than usual. Maybe because there's a few more tidbits in there that I hadn't heard before. But either way, it really explains why Robb has changed as a person and a songwriter. Especially if his wife's father was dealing with the same drugs. That's gotta be traumatizing. The fact that he went to his friend's funeral and realized that could've been him....man, I can't imagine being in that position. So glad that he moved on from that life and became the legend he is today!

[@laynevlogz4922]

Imagine that….

[@lancem6363]

Machine Head is my favorite live band, I've seen them twice and I'm going downtown in November to the High Noon Saloon to see these monsters again!!

[@danydevito8853]

NIN is my favourite live band, I've seen them 24 times. CHEERS!

[@Greg-pz9nt]

Yup 5 times now met Robb Phil when and David on the Catharines tour so I've met him 4 times and Jared and the new members I just Found my a Catharsis CD and it is so awesome like he says triple b. You know he was telling me that's true story like he says in this podcast. Like he's awesome man And the song psychotic on catharsis is so so sic me and my band just covered it love all these albums mfh!!

[@lancem6363]

@@Greg-pz9nt Catharsis!!!!!!

[@mikeyhodge6191]

Man this was a killer chat! Got my ticket to see them in November, really stoked 🤘

[@anotherone7924]

Really good interview. Thanks!

[@SchismaticProductions]

I would like to take a minute to applaud (Frank) the interviewer! Too often, an interviewer allows his ego take over by cutting in, cutting across and not allowing the interviewee a word in edgeways. Also the new Machine fuckin' Head album (bar all the silly lyrics) is top notch!

[@dakotahdunham9888]

Glad you like it definitely an improvement from Catharsis 4 years ago

[@eternity8811]

@@dakotahdunham9888 the steam rising off a turd sounds better than catharsis

[@gurnblanston5000]

@@dakotahdunham9888 Those chorus vocals are emoish, but half of it is heavy!!

[@matthewderry6475]

Great interview! It was like a good book that you couldn’t put down. They absolutely killed it on this album from start to finish! Can’t wait to see them live! MFH

[@EddieNilsson1973]

Great interview! Thank you. Im grateful for that Robb is still with us and creating excellent music! The story with Jaymz is so amazing. I got goosebumps! Love Machine Head and Metallica! I saw MH live in Stockholm on the 24th sep. I was in the front at the show and it was amazing 🤘 The new album is awesome!!! Cheers and beers Up from Sweden 🇸🇪 🍻 🤘

[@unepetitelily506]

great interview!!thank you

[@YoFckyou]

Scrolling on KZbin on a Friday night, one day before Christmas Eve.... found this podcast and thought "let's listen for a bit" and ended up listening to the whole thing. Machine Head was my favorite band since forever, I remember having the Burn My Eyes CD just before The More Things Change came out, as a teenager in high school. I was buying every magazine that had a Machine Head interview in it. Always so curious about Robb and the guy's lives. Machine Head is just real, that's why I always loved it so much and I can still listen to the whole interview 25 years later - interview that took me some tears of emotion. I raise my glass to another 30 years of Machine Head, it's music is like wine, aging better and better.

[@markazinker3212]

Fantastic interview! Always wanted to know how Robb got started! Big Machine Head Fan!

[@mazklassa9338]

Watched the entire interview. Thanks 😊

[@yusuftary1553]

I just want to say this was a fucking GREAT podcast. Frank, you held it down really well and Robb's story is fascinating.I had heard the story of how MH started but I don't think I've ever heard it from Robb like this before. I also got the hugest lump in my throat when Robb was talking about his father and how much he loved him. Thanks for this insight and amazing talk.

[@dirtyratproductions7748]

Loved this interview so much 🤟 Robb is a bloody legend and one of the most down to earth people for sure 🤟✌

[@andrebastos5635]

Excellent podcast and interview

[@Adi-megatron]

Such a great album, I still don't understand how they made such a iconic album at these days.. Thank you!!!

[@nickdefazio207]

amazing interview

[@AntecGreeno83]

Great episode I love the deep dive into the facts and honesty of this channel

[@wtfusernamecrap]

This interview, and the last story in particular, just turned a shitty evening into a good one. Thanks! ❤️

[@markazinker3212]

Best interview ever Robb!

[@robinO2023]

I guess we just heard the story that inspired Triple Beam. Great interview! Keep killin’ it Rob. See ya in Portland. New album is amazing🔥🤘🔥🤘

[@hate6crew6death6roll]

seen them live in belfast twice and were amazing both times but i feel a very familiar feeling when listening to him talk about his drug problems (myself - 16 overdoses, twice heart failed, lost count of the years im clean now, maybe 8-9) and seeing violence around him i can really relate to. interesting to know and i feel even closer to their music now, maybe thats why BME is one of my fave albums.

[@gregodonoghue9664]

Saw them live in Dublin last night so good live!! And with Vogg on board so heavy so good and so tight loved it🤟

[@twosnakse]

Bro I LOVE LOVE LOVE that he talked about the Hetfield Jam in full! Incredible moment!

[@PetraGoldberg]

What a brilliant interview ! Thank you both ! The Hetfield story of Robb is hilarious ! Fkn awesome !

[@therealsamho]

The Hetfield story is great. You can tell he's a big big fan

[@tillyfromthecrypt7571]

Great interview! I would like to hear the interview were you guys were talking about @54:52, but which Trevor were you talking about? I hope things go well for you both! 🕸️🦇🖤🦇🕸️

[@markazinker3212]

Isn’t it interesting that most musicians who had to either work to get their equipment or do something to show that they really wanted to learn how to play their instruments go on to be the best musicians , kids today want everything without doing anything for it. , u have a great dad , Robb , I’m sure u appreciate what he taught u!

[@joesmith9216]

I did enjoy his stories from the PAST, he really told the truth about things I've heard about him.

[@ryanfreebody6881]

Robb fucking Flynn!!!! Legend. Kept us going throughout lockdown Friday happy hour! Killer interview as always, gotta love Metal injection it's mad how the darkness revolves around us and creates such artistic behemoths that we can all relate too. 🤘🏼🔥🖤

[@glesgagreg2255]

I was grinning through that whole Hetfield story, so cool

[@davidharris4030]

Never really heard a lot of Machine Head! I can’t explain but never on my radar. Getting to the point is this dude seems so mild mannered and cool. I find it hard to think he was that crazy at that point. Anyway this interview makes me want to see what I possibly missed! Glad to see he got his self together! He looks very healthy and vibrant! Rock on dude!!!

[@markrussell3414]

Machine head awesome band with amazing guitars and fantastic drummering 🎸🎸🎸🎸🥁🎤🤘🏻💀🤘🏻👍🏻💀👍🏻

[@margaridacosta270]

I never knew about the Overdose story. Realy heavy stuff.

[@joelopez7197]

LOVE YOU ROBB!! SO F.N..BAD ASS!!!💪💪💪🤘🤘🤘😈😎..LEGEND!!!!

[@lonnymead8976]

A life changing event that “Shook me to the Core” Robb that’s your next song brother… you’re straight up big daddy, I’m a huge fan! Rock on!

[@danielsatter1805]

That was really fkn cool

[@cliffanderson7544]

Always been a fan of Rob and the band. He’s a cool dude. I will always remember when Rob produced my bands demo back in 1994 at the grill studio in Oakland where the MH demo was recorded. Hard to believe it’s been almost 30 years! Cheers! \m/

[@gurnblanston5000]

Time flys by at the speed of light these days.

[@silvakevin1]

Great interview. That Metallica story was cool. And such a bad ass song. I was so stoked when I learned how play it. Fun fun.

[@Astral_Dusk]

Saw Machine Head live yesterday - absolutely glorious omg. Alchemist Metal!

[@frankmarshall5194]

Robb is such a rad person man. First time I noticed Machine Head was when the music video for 'Crashing Around You' started playing on Kerrang TV. I've been a fan ever since.

[@joelyfpv7075]

Robb is a top man and top band, love it, some great music I love running to it 🏃‍♂️

[@markjohnston3790]

I've never been a fan of Machine Head, but I do like Robbs podcast and Interviews.

[@mariamargiannis1510]

One hell of a story

[@killswitchlee123]

Rob talking about his earliest gigs being living room and back yard, etc... I remember the first ever gig a band I was in as a teenager did was in our drummer Matt’s back yard. We could only hear Matt playing his drums from his bedroom window while the rest of us where in the back yard. It was weird haha.

[@LordAbortion23]

30 of Machine Head........! Massive respect to Rob and the Guys - Road Crew.....! M.H. Are the Motorhead of my Generation........!

[@yomomma9815]

Yessssss Cro-Mags!!!!!!!!!!!!! Age of quarrel is HEAVY!

[@preyuponofficial]

he's been through a lot over the years, good shit

[@darrentravis7957]

This was fucking an awesome talk!! Love this guy ...carrying the flag for METAL.. GREAT STORIES !!! #RobFlynn

[@johntiter2825]

I can never imagine James Hetfield playing Aesthetics of Hate on drums--it's just inconceivable.

[@alicevanderbruggen1339]

Dang Robb....happy you made it through.

[@StratsRUs]

Love Machine Head !

[@Greg-pz9nt]

Robb is so cool I've met him like 3 times now always cool asf Sacramento ca here

[@faust8569]

From what I gather that is very ingenious what Rob Flynn said that he realizes well clearly eventually unless you have a time machine or can backtrack live in the dye moment that I'm not a 24-year-old lunatic and you know time and music and emotions must evolve with The Coming of Age so to speak.. sometimes I can time travel back in the dye mind and it takes me there to where I'm seriously feeling a miraculous time in my past which unfortunately has outlived some of my not greater accomplishments which I wish I could point you on but you know if you live in your past not presently the future won't be set right maybe continuum anyways back on point what Rob Flynn said I entirely you have my vote, well put .Thanx much

[@leonardomattarmonteiro2824]

SENSEI ROBB FLYNN I'm SO proud of being a HUGE MH fan for 3 DECADES. You're 1of THE GREATEST Anarchists/Frontmen/Human Beings/Musicians in METAL,ever. Your integrity & ETHICS put you above 99% of the guys creating this ART. AND "ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN" is THE Band's all time GREATEST Achievement/ALBUM/MASTERPIECE. 1of the greatest conceptual Albums ever created. Most probably THE heaviest Album of all times also. I write from the top of my 52 year old existence as an ANARCHIST TEACHER & MACHINE HEAD loyal fan for 30 of these years,so l must know a thing or two about LIFE,METAL,MACHINE HEAD & MAESTRO ROBB FLYNN alike... Just bought a new MACHINE HEAD Tee to prepare for the Tour. & PLEEZ,COME to SÃO PAULO,BRASIL. LOVE YOU,MASTER. MACHINE HEAD FOREVER ✊🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🍻🔥🇧🇷🏴🖤

[@audreyburch6029]

I want to ask Rob, if the band was listening to Rotting Piñata. by Sponge, before or during, the writing and recording, of The More Things Change, especially, in how I hear similarities, in Take My Scars, to Neenah Menasha, and a song by a cello group, Raputina, called Trust All-Stars, on Thanks for the Ether. I see, sewer discs, forged in Neenah Menasha, Wisconsin, in Butler County, Ohio. Having fond memories of Sponge, in my mind, looked up "Neenah Menashah," and, it is a Winnebago (not Muscogee, per se, I keep thinking Muscogee, for some reasons), term. that translates, into English, ad "Water takes it away."

[@audreyburch6029]

Oh, and forgive me, for forgetting, the possibility originally originating, Negro Spiritual, Deep River, famously sung, by artist and activist, Paul Robeson.

[@solunasunrise]

they should make a movie about rob and his life dammit !!!! even more action packed then lets say the mötley crew stuff from netflix and IT was already bomb .. well made ...

[@k.cthewolf3417]

Oh I fucking love how he describes setting his teachers desk on fire as "minor dumb shit" what a legend 🤟

[@andrebastos5635]

Yeah this album is Fucking Brutal welcome back machine head 🤘🏻

[@eternity8811]

But isn't Robbbbb the only original member left..? Not really MH anymore

[@nuttagerbeef1577]

Robb is fucking awesome, such a good person

[@andrewrentuaya9510]

Rob flynn on macross and robotech just feels good. I hope he like gundam. Lastly, I would his latest album to become a comic series or maga hopefully.

[@mavisser3211]

Supercharger is fantastic.

[@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle]

well, it eventually becomes about the music and the money to be able to sustain making the music

[@tiny5500]

Jeff Gomes 🎉 ✨🤘✨

[@audreyburch6029]

And, also, is Five, on The Burning Red, influemced by Negative Creep, by Nirvana? Peace.

[@Federico.el.Noruego]

Robb Rules🤘🏼Great chat Frank🤘🏼 we are going to see MFH in Oslo on September 23 rd with The Halo Effect and Amon Amarth🔥🗡⚒⚔🤘🏼🍺

[@markrussell3414]

Machine head rocks 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎤

[@KingCrimson82]

i got open murder threats from several people with up to 150kg bodyweight, no fat, each. i still dont know who it is or what their problem is and i absolutely understand that kind of ptsd

[@brittanymwancientlight]

Hello'🤞🏻both of you.🤟🏻🤘🏻

[@ONshowON]

Beers up!!! 🍻🍻🍻 Electric happy hour!!!

[@Aenigmakil]

Triple Beam fucking kills!

[@looch8319]

It sounds like James Hetfield is a better drummer than Lars

[@superstan3290]

I feel like Robb has changed

[@Frogmilk]

For the better I'd say. He's around some good people now a days

[@mervinmoshenko5188]

To the trolls who call bullshit& clique u obviously haven't been there.Been hooked on the H on& off(more on) for 40 years,I dont hear N BS from this artist. The heroin diaries! Yeah OK seemed like a bunch of pumped up BS. I was a musician,think sixx is a genius this coming fr. a not so big crue fan.But unless u lived it shut the eff up.I experienced so much of what hes saying its like me talking to a mirror.Take care.

[@richardinman6822]

F'N Sic....

[@arturopalao5776]

When does he Talk about drugs?

[@ajkorras]

Did the two white dudes from gas station live long?

[@cognomenunknown2144]

I would have liked to have heard him delve deeper into his past and present issues with trend-hopping, virtue signaling, race baiting and being a numetal boy.

[@MetalMayhem1978]

You’re still here Robb, all the other members are long gone, it’s your band, just sayin

[@M0RGAT0RY]

I was there where Rob got jumped... He didn't fight anyone, he got jumped. Liar... he never put his hands up. That's why they are lame...

[@motometalracer]

Hope Robb did some reflection in the last 5 yrs cause his TDS was cringe level :12

[@francescoferri7062]

Robb, hai mai pensato di tagliare tutto quel pelo e ritornare con un look più giovane?

[@jasoncole767]

Never really took 2 him 2bf....

[@Rob_Cary]

I'm not a fan of his vocals at all but he's a really good guitarist and riff writer

[@ONshowON]

@@Rob_Cary not even on the burn my eyes?

[@thesnapperkeeper]

Can’t stand his stupid politics but he’s a great interview

[@KingCrimson82]

grohl is a phony, he is the nicest guy in rock, closely followed by scott ian

[@devin3607]

Who's machine head?

[@GTORT]

A band

[@cd0u50c9]

A loudly rattling can trying really hard to stay politically relevant.

[@eternity8811]

One dude's bloated ego.

[@k.cthewolf3417]

@@eternity8811 😂

[@patientmental875]

He should have been born a woman

[@eternity8811]

Robberta 😂

[@Unleashedraider1985]

Drugs and violence??? Violence? Lolololol who’s ass could Robbo kick? He’s only 50 pounds wet & wearing boots. Give it up Robbo! You clowned yourself

[@James-po6ib]

That's funny 😂, your right though so many people talk shit about being a hard ass when they really ain't about that

[@Unleashedraider1985]

@@James-po6ib Yeah he’s a total poser. Ego maniac that thinks he’s way bigger than he is

[@GrooveGoblinDW]

Good album but as soon as I heard "white privilege" in the lyrics I changed the song. Great musician it's a shame I've lost respect.

[@TheMrHavish]

So if Dave Mustaine has lyrics about 9/11 conspiracies in a Megadeth song would you say the same?

[@pleasuretokill]

But sieg heiling at a show while screaming white power is cool, right? Oh wait...that was just a "joke"

[@SteveAyanami]

🤡

[@therealjeffstein]

Gosh, so triggered. So, you’re saying something offended you and you decided to, um, cancel the song? Isn’t that what snowflakes do?

[@Intermentor]

Holy molly. You are a sensitive dude

[@Simon53188]

Not a likeable fella at all.

[@MarkColeMusic]

"I'm a really good songwriter"....hasn't released a good song since 1994.

[@tibicostea2029]

You are not a "really good" song writer Robb. You are an ok songwriter. At this point the fail albums in your career match the number of good ones. You pretty much balanced your stellar work with bad work and ended up to an average of "OK".

[@eternity8811]

Catharsis puts them deep in the red for me, the burning red one might say 😀.

[@mcvee_]

45:05 This is really cool to hear, I too was a quiet kid who played soccer and listened to metal and got shit for both. They're two of my favorite things to this day and I wish they intersected more

[@Gothicblast]

Robb talking for one and a half hour about himself, wow, you need to be patient for this one...😖...🥱🥱🥱

[@eternity8811]

Like he's going to talk about Adam, or Dave, or Phil, or Chris etc...👍😀😒