MACHINE HEAD - 'BURN MY EYES' ROUNDTABLE 2019

Chris Kontos, now that's the kind of enthusiasm for metal I like to see. Screw auditions, you need Chris back in the band permanently, Robb.

Chris kontos the most underrated drummer ever!

HERE'S MY MACHINE HEAD STORY FROM 1995: I got a chance to audition for MH around August or Sept of that year. They were set to leave in two weeks to do a US tour with Stuck Mojo. So I flew out to Oakland. Robb picked me up at my hotel (The Pink Flamingo) in his big ass boat of a car, with band logo stickers all over the dashboard. I remember Poison the Well being one of the stickers. We had about a 20-30 min drive to their rehearsal studio in this warehouse that was about 100 degrees (no a/c, no fans) with a broken PA. It wouldn’t get loud enough to hear Robb's vocals while playing the songs. But I went in prepared, knowing these songs as if I wrote them with them. I was a MH fan through and through. All the guys were cool. I knew I had some big shoes to fill, in Kontos! That dude is such a powerhouse and what a creative tasteful player too. His shit was so fun to play. His beats, his fills, everything. After the audition, Robb took me back to my hotel and said he'd pick me up in an hour or so to go to a house party at Chuck Billy's. I showered, ordered a pizza, and just as I was finishing up my first piece, a horn honked and Robb was back out there with 1 or 2 other guys, in a different vehicle. We went to the party, James Murphy was there. Not even sure I got to meet Chuck. The party was mostly in the backyard, with a big spread of food and liquor under a tent. After the party, I was returned to my hotel, and told I'd hear from Robb soon. I get the call a week later saying that they still have Dave McClain to audition, and he was currently on tour with Sacred Reich, so they would try him out after they return from their US tour. They loved my playing, said they wish they could take me on the upcoming tour, but it would have been costly to fly me and my drums out to CA where the tour started, so they decided to just get a local guy. I was certainly bummed. Would have been cool to at least say I did that tour. But at least I can say I got an audition. I was 22 years old at the time. And obviously, McClain came in and killed it and got the gig. But as I always say, all things happen for a reason. And I guess it just wasn't meant to be. And I wouldn't have the family that I currently have, had I got the gig. Life would be way different. Anyway, I got to see MH on that tour in Columbus OH at the Alrosa Villa (RIP DIME) and got to hang backstage. Honestly, the local drummer they took on tour with them was not very good. I have no idea who he was. It's like he really didn't know the material well, and sadly missed all kinds of cool ass Kontos fills. I'm talking the type of fills that set up the next riff so that it hits fucking hard! The kind of fills that are like a riff, not just a throwaway fill. Instead, he was doing all kinds of old school 80s quad fills. UGH! I was worried this was their new drummer. But after they came off stage, Logan told me "no, he is just doing the tour". Whew! So needless to say, I'm psyched that Kontos and Mader are back, at least for this BME 25th anniversary tour. I will definitely be in the crowd at one of the shows, even if that means I have to drive a few hours to catch one. Mader is so chill. And Kontos is so full of energy and excitement. LOL Can't wait to hear him crush those drums again!!!

94 i was 19 ...Burn My Eyes - Chaos AD - Vulgar Display Of Power....the Holy Trinity of 90's metal

OLD IS THE BEST RIFF EVER WRITEN! And now i finally know Logan wrote it.

Having Logan and Chris there just seems right. Miss Logans intensity on guitar and Chris's beats

Probably the best thing that could happened happened to Robb after Dave and Phil left. I hope they stick around.

Don't let us down again Robb...!!! Keep this lineup forever...😉

We want a new album from all of us united once more again!

love the enthusiasm of Chris.

I loved Dave as a drummer, but Chris is an amazing drummer and he seems to have a good personality. That first album is so legendary, to this day, my favorite drum and guitar production of all time. They need Logan and Adam to round out that original lineup and just roll with that. Screw auditions.

This band desperately needs Kontos's enthusiasm and talent. Robb, please stop this auditions nonsense, and record with that line-up.

Chris Kontos makes burn my eyes. He just naturally has that thing I call “spunk”. His playing has that feel. Reminds me of Bonham. That one record propelled him into one of my favorite metal drummers. MH never captured that feel and intensity again. Chris is so damn right about the rolls during verses and toms played during verses. The hi hat and ride work. I play guitar and he immediately makes me air drums when I listen to BME. Love this vid.

I hope Rob has cornrows and wears a cro mags windbreaker the whole tour

Like what Chris said about the music being "street" Is nail on head. BME has that dark urban street feel to it, to me it's comparable with the vibe of the early Cypress Hill albums but METAL. That's only 1 of reasons why this album is so special, it's got many flavours. When Machine head played 5 songs from BME at Bloodstock 2013 I went crazy, seeing them play it in it's entirety in London and Manchester (yes 2 gigs y0) it'll be like an adrenaline shot to the head and bollocks at the same time.

Kontos is so excited about it. =D

Would be cool if this lineup sticks for awhile. Don't think Logan will hang for too long, but Chris is a ripping drummer. I'd love to see him fill the shoes that Dave left behind.

Awesome! I want this line-up to stick. Chris' passion is awesome to witness, and he's a phenomenal drummer!

Damn Chris Kontos looks healthier than he did back then. In fact he looks very healthy and full of energy.

A few times in the conversation the guys all keep forgetting that Jared isn’t Adam