Artist News

Machine Head guitarist collapses on stage

By | Published on Wednesday 17 December 2008

Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel is reportedly recovering fine after collapsing on stage at a show at the Sheffield Arena last Friday night.

The incident happened during the penultimate song of the band’s set, and was caused by Cardiogenic Syncope, a sudden failure of the heart’s pumping mechanism.

After Demmel was taken for medical treatment, the band’s frontman Robb Flynn returned to the stage to reassure the crowd. ”Phil has passed out,” he said. ”Fans of the band know that this has happened before and unfortunately it has happened again”.

In a subsequent statement, Flynn said: “[Phil]’s doing much better now and taking it easy. As [he] has mentioned before, the doctors say he suffers from episodes of Cardiogenic Syncope and has for the last 17 years or so”.

“We’re all a little worried here in our camp, but Phil genuinely wants to carry on. It is a bit unclear to us as to why these keep happening, but at Phil’s request, we will finish out all these dates through to Metallica in LA”.

He continued: “Machine Head wish to extend our gratitude to the good people of Sheffield for their support and for being so understanding at the end of our show”.



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