The Short History:
How to start a DTM news page after almost 30 years...well here goes!
In the Aug 2021 issue of Rock Hard Magazine Germany, you will find a well done 2 page story about Damn The Machine, regarded as a "Classic" Rock album that warranted a 2 page story after almost 3 decades. Thank you Boris Kaiser, and Ludwig Krammer for keeping DTM in the public eye.
>Read the Article / English Translation
As to the subject of new releases, there is wonderful news. I have been careful to hold on to the original recordings, from our practice room on Santa Fe Avenue, back in the era of 1991-1994. The gods of magnets and analog tape, have been on our side. What is to come, first, to wet the whistle there will be a release of the 12 album tracks as demo versions, incredibly raw and focused. these are live recordings with minimal overdubs, some backing vocals etc. The release carries the title of "Day One" to reflect, the birth of this explosive groundbreaking band, before the big wigs laid there paws on us (take no offense please). We have added links for preordering the CD & LP version of "Day One" expected ship dates are listed on our music page.
Secondly, there will be a release of previously unheard tracks, they are incredibly recorded and carry a fire that cannot be recreated. Musically and Lyrically, a time capsule of creativity that I myself, just cannot believe that I was a part of. This release may need to be seperated into 2 releases, as there are 6 tracks from before the signing with A&M, and 6 songs after the termination of the agreement. These songs, are very different, although in such a short span of time in comparison, to the almost 30 years that have now passed.
DJC August 26, 2021
I welcome any communication to these subjects, relevant links below!
DTM
And now, for a brief history as I wrote sometime in 2019:
The Legendary Project from 1991! Most of you know about the band, I am so proud to see it has stood the test of time, more than 25 years and still the content & production rates high on the lists of favorite albums from the Era. I was living in Pittsburgh, PA at the time in 1991 with my band Ministers of Anger, when Ross Robinson let me know that Chris Poland wanted to develop his instrumental project further, at the time his brother Mark Poland was on drums, and Dave Randi on bass. They were performing material from Chris' solo album Return to Metalopolis, as well as a few Megadeth songs that Chris wrote during his time with them.
I flew out (thanks gf,mom & sis for the ticket) to Los Angeles for an "audition" which was amazing, I was so nervous I had learned all the songs from Chris' solo album (until this date, probably a feat that I am most proud of, as it did NOT come easily thank you Chris ha and since then my brain and hands are no longer worthy) and we played them and I guess that was enough, we played with new riffs, from what I remember we wrote a song at the audition, I came for a second jam and then we made it solid.
The name came out of a conversation I had had years before with my friend Steve Cordrey (JUD), he overheard a couple talking in a restaurant, the man said something like, "damn these socks" and Steve said something like "you don't damn socks, you damn a machine or something, we both said, damn the machine, and our eyes lit up... since me and Steve never used it I brought the name up to Chris,Mark and Dave and they liked it so the name started the journey there.
Janie Hoffman was managing Chris and took the band over, after writing a huge amount of material and recording it all in our room at Downtown Rehearsal Los Angeles, we began shopping the music around to labels and publishers and landed a wonderful deal on A&M records. We chose the wonderful human Brian Malouf to produce the album, and in the short version did a good amount of touring, with great bands such as: Clutch, Flotsam & Jetsam, VoiVod, Excel & a full month in Europe with Dream Theater,
But off stage things slowly took a turn for the worse...ha, had to put that trademark VH1 line in there.... not really but something like that. After working very hard for a few years we seemed to become a victim of the changing styles, oncoming grunge etc and the label wasn't happy with the something like 50,000 sold copies, ha, and dropped the band. This put a knife in our hearts and we were unable to work through this.
After much time has passed, I am honored to be in touch with Mark and Chris, and as I always say, if fate allows, and the lust is there I would absolutely write a new Damn The Machine record, with preferably the complete original lineup. I am sure, if it ever comes to be, it will be a masterpiece.
What is "the machine" well, in my opinion, call centers, transaction fees, parking tickets, rigged court cases and dishonesty on all levels of government especially in defense and healthcare. I could type for days, somethings never change. The rich control the poor, and their grip gets stronger, and the need for a greater balance between creatures & nature is inevitable
DJC