MACHINE HEAD guitarist Phil Demmel's father passed away a few hours before the group's concert Friday (December 7) in Zurich, Switzerland. During the band's performance, frontman Robb Flynn dedicated the song "Descend the Shades of Night" to everyone who has lost someone important in his/her life, before adding, "like it happened today in our family" and informing the crowd that Phil's dad had just died. Demmel reportedly cried while playing the solo to the track, which Flynn had previously described as "an eight-minute elegy on death."
As previously reported, MACHINE HEAD's show in Milan, Italy on Thursday (December 6) was cut short after Demmel apparently fainted/collapsed on stage 35 minutes into MACHINE HEAD's set (during the intro to "Descend the Shades of Night"). He was subsequently tended to by medical emergency professionals and reportedly didn't require hospitalization (the ambulance was seen driving away empty).
Fan-filmed video footage of the moment when Demmel collapsed on stage in Milan and the subsequent statement the other members of MACHINE HEAD made from the stage regarding Demmel's condition can be viewed below.
MACHINE HEAD's concerts in Milan and Zurich were part of the band's European "The Black Crusade" tour with TRIVIUM, DRAGONFORCE, ARCH ENEMY and SHADOWS FALL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWbjWA9I6zg

All of us here in Machine Head wish to extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the Demmel family for their tragic loss of Harry W. Demmel. Flying home today to grieve with his family and celebrate the life of his father, Phil has asked that Machine Head continue on in his absence for what will most likely be the remainder of the    Black Crusade tour.
            Says singer Robb Flynn, "Phil was adamant about us continuing on. We didn't think it would be possible, but a lot of the guitar players on the tour rallied around Phil last night and volunteered to help out on guitar duties.
          We really can't thank them all enough. Adam and I spent most of our day off today teaching Corey and Matt from Trivium, Christopher from Arch Enemy, and Fredrique the bassist of Dragonforce the set. They will all be playing various songs throughout the rest of the tour".

Oh....that`s really hard...can`t find words for it...I`m so sorry...

^omg someone tape matt and corey playing with them

RIP
Harry Dimmel

I'm just wondering what will happen to M&G coz now Corey & Matt are going to play with MH...

That's awful.
RIP man.
:-[

jamesy said:Maybe M&G is before the show or something like that.
But if they have to cancel M&G or there is only Paolo and Travis, then i'm going mad.

Guys dont be so shallow! If you can't meet the guys, then understand! They'll come around again.
Condolences to Phil, what a legend to be so strong and Rest In Peace Harry W. Demmel.
I feel sorry for him, I really do
Not sounding shallow but yes, I must admit, the guest guitaring will be interesting although the circumstance under which it's happened is horrible
Rest In Peace

that terrible news r.i.p.

amir said:
Sorry for sounding shallow but M&G is the main reason I joined the fan club.
I have already met Matt and Corey but still.. I have waited for a long time the day that I can meet those guys again.

amir said:I have waited M&G like 6months and M&G was main reason why i joined TW.
So if i can't meet Matt and Corey then i'm so fucking disappointed.
But let's hope that everything will turn out to be fine and we can meet whole band.