Always wondered why Rob Flynn tried to distance himself from his past and in particular Vio-lence. Received this email this week. Anyone else ever heard this bit of info?

Quote:

Hey, I was just reading your section on Machine Head and have some information that may be of some interest to you. On the page you stated that you didn't know why Rob Flynn was trying to distance himself from Vio-lence and the bay are thrash movement. Well for the record, suprisingly, it was not due to any commercial pressures (well maybe some). While he was still in Vio-lence Flynn and his room mate got into a fight with some gang members in Oakland. Flynn's room mate stabbed one of the people in the gang's posse, who was a hemophiliac. Because Flynn was pretty famous in the bay area the gang members recognized him and he started to get all these death threats. One of these death threats included being killed onstage at vio-lence's next gig. This eventually led to Flynn leaving the group and forming his own band. I read this in either Metal Hammer or Revolver magazine when they were interviewing Flynn, I don't remember which but definately one of the two so it is from a pretty reliable source (unless Flynn was lying). Keep up what you're doing, you turn me on to awesome new bands all the time and for this I thank you.

But Flynn did play a reunion gig (or two) with VIO-LENCE.

Who knows, it could be true because Oakland is a pretty harsh area but i'd take this info with a grain a salt especially since they (the gang) could just as easily killed him while he played in Machine Head. Just because he switched bands doesn't mean they are going to forget about it...

Flynn only played with them after he quit when he got married at his reception. There were no other reunion shows in Vio-Lence with Robb Flynn.

Very cool interview though.

I believe I have the same issue of Revolver that's mentioned in the e-mail, Ult, because I have heard that story before. I'll have to root thru the archives when I get home tonight and see if I can dig it out.

I guess I'll have to watch the DVD again.

Flynn is NOT playing with them on that "Blood And Dirt" DVD. He appears once in a while for interviews, and plays one song with them if I remember correctly. Troy Fua is the guy playing guitars during those reunion shows ...

If you watch the DVD, Flynn says that he had the idea to form Machine Head while he was still in Vio-lence, and that when he asked the other guys if he could play in both bands, they said no and that's why he left.

I don't think he is ashamed of being in Vio-Lence. He does reference them in some interviews and whatnot.

I never said it's the truth, I just told everyone what was on the DVD ... Relax man.

I used to have a doctor in Oakland when I was a we muchkin.... not a fun place to be... at all....

One night when I was out I had to go down Fruitvale Ave in Oakland... Full on Gang Drive By... There was one SHOT UP white Chevy pick up...

Yeah I've been to Oakland many times and it is a crazy place! But there have been some killer shows there!