Dave McClain Brings Machine Head's 'Locust' To Fallen Blue

Written by John Guarnieri

This afternoon, Dave McClain, the master of the drum-kit for the metal warriors, Machine Head, took some time to give Fallen Blue a shout out, and discuss everything from their upcoming album, Unto The Locust, the Mayhem Festival, and a hilarious story involving adult diapers and police.

Machine Head's new album, Unto The Locust, is being unleashed on the world on September 27, 2011, and Dave couldn't be more excited of the album: "With The Blackening, we spent a good part of five years working and touring under that album, and so after a break to be with our families, we just jumped into it. We wanted to do The Blackening  justice, and we feel this album [Unto The Locust] is incredible, and we are all super proud of the final outcome." Dave also emphasized that the four man band has incredible chemistry right now, and that band couldn't be happier taking part in the Mayhem Festival.

The band took part in the innagural Mayhem Festival tour, and Dave said that the chamaraderie between all the bands is great: "The people that put on this tour are into the music which makes it great, which allows us to be bands and do what we all do best." Mr. McClain went on to also explain that the Mayhem organizers give each of the bands a little money to throw a theme party on each of the stops of the tour for the others bands, which leads into some bonding time with the other artists. Dave said that the first single from their new album, "Locust" is being added to their set-list on the tour: "We wanted to throw it in people's faces to give them a taste of what is to come."

Dave kindly shared that this his top three drummer influences are Tommy Aldridge, Peter Criss, and Neil Peart. He recalled going through his older sister's record collection and pulling out Kiss Alive and being blown away by the imagery, and thats when he grew to admire Peter. Dave also shared that with the new album, he has incorporated some of the drum techniques employed by the legendary Neil Peart, and that the rest of the band was really digging the sound. While rehashing his past, Dave made mention of the time his sister locked him in her room, blared Black Sabbath, which in turn brought tears to his face as he had no idea what was going on.

Before wrapping up the interview, Dave recalled a gut-busting story involving one of the bands interactions with the police. Dave explained: "It was in 1997, and we had just got off tour with Pantera, and we were winding down, heading  on some headlining tours of our own. Well, someone in the band thought it would be great to put on adult diapers, drink some beers, and see how well they worked. Well, the tour bus pulls over and they decide to go into Walmart, where someone decided to call the police on us. Once we got back on the road, it wasn't more than a couple of minutes before the police had us pulled over. The police were real cool with us...told us to be careful, stay out of trouble, and not do that stunt again. And before they left, one of us asked them what they were talking about, and proceeded to tell the police that is was the band Coal Chamber that pulled the stunt, and they were still at Walmart."

Dave, and the rest of the boys of Machine Head will be rocking a Mayhem Festival stage throughout the summer, so be sure to catch them in action. If their new single, "Locust" is any indication, their new album out on Sepetember 27, 2011 will be epic. For more more information on the band check out: www.machinehead1.com.