MACHINE HEAD's REECE SCRUGGS to miss band's summer 2025 European tour; temporary replacements announced
23-06-2025
MACHINE HEAD guitarist Reece Alan Scruggs will sit out the band’s summer 2025 European tour in order to stay home with his father, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer.
MACHINE HEAD released the following statement via social media: “It is with heavy hearts that MACHINE HEAD must announce that our bandmate and brother Reece Scruggs will not be with us on our upcoming European / UK festival and headline run. His family at home needs him and we want him to be there with them.”
Reece, who previously played with HAVOK, said in a statement: “With the support and understanding of Robb (Flynn, MACHINE HEAD frontman), the band, and management I’ve chosen to get off the road and step away for a while to be with my family.
“To be transparent, my father was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. I’ve sacrificed a lot in pursuit of my music career over the years. When I received this news I knew I had to make a sacrifice in favor of my family.
“I can’t possibly describe the appreciation I have for Robb and the MH camp for not batting an eye when I expressed my want to be at home during this difficult time.”
MACHINE HEAD added: “Reece has our absolute support and we know full well that the Head Cases around the world share our sentiments. We ask that both fans, peers, and media please respect his privacy during this challenging time.
“Joining us to fill in this massive void for the lionâs share of the upcoming shows will be good friend and former bandmate,‘Vogg’ WacĆaw KieĆtyka, alongside long-time producer, collaborator, and DARKNESS EVERYWHERE member Zack Ohren on select dates where/when Vogg‘s band DECAPITATED is already scheduled to perform.”
A GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Reece‘s father’s medical and living expenses has been launched at this location.
KieĆtyka, who joined MACHINE HEAD‘s lineup prior to the launch of the band’s “Burn My Eyes” 25th-anniversary tour in late 2019, left the Flynn-fronted act in February 2024 and was replaced by Scruggs, who has previously filled in for Vogg on a couple of tours.
Reece made his live debut with MACHINE HEAD in November 2022 at Strummer’s in Fresno, California at the opening show of the “Electric Happy Hour (Live)” tour.
Last April MACHINE HEAD have released the official music video for their song “ĂUTSIDER”. The clip was filmed during the band’s April 17 concert at The Aztec Theatre in San Antonio, Texas. The track is taken from the band’s eleventh album, “UNATĂNED“, which came out today (Friday, April 25) via Nuclear Blast/Imperium Recordings.
Watch “Outsider” below.
MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn comments: “‘Outsider’ is an anthem that has kinship with anyone who’s had to cut toxic people loose. These last few years, I’ve had to let go of a lot of relationships, and I know I’m not alone in that. This track is for anyone who’s been there.”
Watch the previously releaed BĂNESCRAPER and âUnbĂžundâ below.
The band took to their social media to say:
Head Cases! Weâre excited to reveal that our long-awaited eleventh studio album, UNATĂNED, drops April 25th, 2025 via Nuclear Blast X Imperium Recordings.
đ„ The crushing new single âUNBĂUNDâ is out now.
UNATĂNED is a testament to momentum, an album honed to its sharpest edge, forged on creative discipline and the hunger to push forward. It drips with melancholy melodies, and yet hammers with bludgeoning riffs, soars with anthemic sing-a-longs of love-lost and sadness, to bellowing power and undeniable confidence. Eleven albums deep, Machine Head remain as fierce, relevant, and unstoppable as ever.
đ PRE-ORDER the album in the following formats:
Tan with Black and Red Swirl Vinyl (Ltd to 550)
Nuclear Blast Exclusive
Black and Grey Marbled Vinyl (Ltd to 1K)
Best Buy Exclusive
Clear Vinyl
CD (Jewel)
All vinyl includes a massive 12×12 page matte finish booklet.
UNATĂNED track listing:
1. LANDSCAPE ĂF THĂRNS
2. ATĂMIC REVELATIĂNS
3. UNBĂUND
4. ĂUTSIDER
5. NĂT LĂNG FĂR THIS WĂRLD
6. THESE SCARS WĂNâT DEFINE US
7. DUSTMAKER
8. BĂNESCRAPER
9. ADDICTED TĂ PAIN
10. BLEEDING ME DRY
11. SHARDS ĂF SHATTERED DREAMS
12. SCĂRN
MACHINE HEAD is:
Robb Flynn      Vocals, Guitars (1991-present)
Jared MacEachern       Bass, Vocals (backing) (2013-present)
Matt Alston      Drums, Percussion (2019-present)
Reece Scruggs Guitars (2024-present)
Last year, MACHINE HEAD released a new single, “These Scars Won’t Define Us”. The official lyric video for the track, which features guest appearances by the other three bands which will accompany MACHINE HEAD on the Flynn-fronted outfit’s spring 2025 North American tour â Swedish metal icons IN FLAMES, Italian alt-metallers LACUNA COIL and American metalcore maestros UNEARTH â can be seen below.
Their five-week jaunt will begin on April 5, 2025 in Oakland, California at the legendary Fox Theater, then heads south for a stop at Sick New World festival, then east, and back across Canada, before concluding on May 10 in Kelowna, British Columbia.
“These Scars Won’t Define Us” is taken from MACHINE HEAD‘s upcoming album, which is slated for an April 2025 release.
MACHINE HEAD‘s current lineup includes former HAVOK guitarist Reece Alan Scruggs. Scruggs stepped in for MACHINE HEAD‘s previous guitarist WacĆaw “Vogg” KieĆtyka, who had been unable to make some of the group’s dates due to his touring commitments with his longtime band DECAPITATED.
Reece made his live debut with MACHINE HEAD in November 2022 at Strummer’s in Fresno, California at the opening show of the “Electric Happy Hour (Live)” tour.
Vogg joined MACHINE HEAD‘s touring lineup prior to the launch of the band’s “Burn My Eyes” 25th-anniversary tour in late 2019.
The rest of MACHINE HEAD‘s lineup consists of guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT).
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