Phil Demmel (Vio-lence / ex-Machine Head/ BPMD) Plays His Favorite Riffs 

Phil learning the whole Slayer setlist in a couple of days and nailing it on stage was hella impressive

Seen Machine Head in Manchester. Phil had just lost his father that day. He still came out to play as he didn't want to let us down. Was an amazing gig and was recorded for the live album. I'll never forget the gig but will remember Phil carrying on for us. Respect and thank you. 44 years a metal head and that commitment will never be forgotten. Thank you Phil. To you and metal hards everywhere.... Be safe and take care. WE ARE LEGION 🤘

Great Phil Demmel, my favorite Thrash metal guitarrist. i love his style, so agressive and clear at same time. Thanx for your music Phil

Such an underrated musician, he's very talented

One of the greatest thrashers in the game. His work in Vio-Lence is criminally underrated.

Vio-lence was my favorite band as a teen. Them and Dark Angel. Still my favorite metal riffs to this day.

The riffs on Violence albums are just so freaking awesome.

Can't believe he names Criss Oliva as an influence. Love Savatage.

Surprised he mentioned Criss Oliva...Phil seems like a good guy!So many great musicians came from the bay area!

Vio-lence has a rehearsal studio two rooms next to my bands, and I have to say it's always awesome to hear them practice, and play, except when we're about to record vocals hahaha Awesome dudes, love talking to them out back. All of them are genuinely nice people.

Phil is a kick ass player! Very cool he mentioned Criss Oliva and Savatage.

My favorite thing about this video is how it feels like a conversation. I usually sit around with friends and we do the same kind of stuff: talking about riffs and bands and teaching each other some licks. You can even hear the pick hitting the strings. Phil's skills and riff library are very impressive. He covered a wide range of rock/metal playing in a few minutes. You can really tell he knows his stuff. Excellent player and seems like a chill out dude.

I absolutely adore his riffing on Eternal Nightmare. That is an unquestionable masterpiece of thrash to me....

THAT GUITAR THO !!! HOLY SHIT !!!

So glad Vio-Lence are back. Dig the new tune Upon Their Cross. Can't wait for the new EP to be released. 🤘

I love that someone of Phil's level still does the "no wait..." and "was that it...?" makes me feel much better about myself. lol

Eternal nightmare to this day is a masterclass in well thought out , technical ,tight thrash metal. Never bettered.

Great to hear Savatage getting some love! Criss Oliva was a phenomenal guitarist.

So cool of you to shout out Criss Oliva - I loved that guy's playing. HOTMK is one of my favorite records from that era.

Phobophobia is loaded with amazing riffs

I was at that day on the green. Diary of a madman wasn't out yet, and I remember Ozzy introducing the song believer. I will never forget Randy starting to play that intro riff.

Always got time for Phil!! I don't think it's a coincidence my favourite MH era is when he was most prominent. Amazing writer, player and such a stand up bloke!

Phil and Gary Holt need to team up on a project at some point.

As soon as Phil played that Savatage riff (before he even said it) I went "Oh sh%&, that's where he got the octave riffing from." It's funny how I've listened to both bands for 25 some years (Edit: oh hell, 30 years. that 5 extra years makes me feel really old now) and I needed to hear Phil play that riff for it to click.

He was the melody of machine head! 💞

SO GLAD SENSEI DEMMEL joined forces with GUSTAFSON&WOLBERS to form THE GREATEST VIO-LENCE lineup ever. The new Album will be their fiercest,most savage METAL possible. LET THE WORLD BURN 🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘🏼🤘🏼🇧🇷🏴

I love his Rhodes guitar . I've wanted one all of my life

Love the old skool reference to the tape deck/boom box. Epic days...good times

Vio-Lence greatest thrash band. Thank you for bringing it back!

Fun fact the tapping part of flying high again was something George lynch showed randy backstage at a show, George said it was something he used as a warmup

Saw this man ripping for overkill this year. What a beast of a guitar player.

I didn't even know he'd bailed from M.H. He's a very talented player with a fantastic sound and great influences. Above all, a genuine personality which counts for loads in the daft world of music. Good luck to him, I hope all his future ventures are fruitful and he enjoys every minute along the way.

That riff from Serial Killer is so brutal!

He's one hell of a guitar player! But i can't resist to remark how glad i am that he didn't collapse xD

Love that you referenced Savatage. Chris has always been a big influence. Great segment.

3 cheers, and clank your beers to the most genuine dude in metal. Riffs for days!

This is one of the best videos of this serie. Great talk, great riffs.

Tony Iommi should get a lot more credit as a lead player. As classic as his riffs were, he was also no slouch when it comes to lead guitar and could rip with the best of them!

I remember seeing Overkill 4 years back, didn't have an overkill shirt yet so I wore my Eternal Nightmare shirt, during the meet and greets all D.D. did was start talking old stories of touring with you guys in Violence. Great fucking show that night.

Seeing him so excited while playing his favorite riffs is really cool. Saw him with Machine Head on his last tour with the band. Was so cool. Put on an amazing show

I could sit and watch him play riffs all day!!

Wow Phil looking thin, and grey. All my childhood icons are getting up there. Making me almost 45....now I feel OLD!!! AHHH!!!

09:18 - Laughs in Municipal Waste.

It's cool to see that he's still really excited to jam the riffs he grew up on.

Phil is sooo cool, Great guy down to earth and a AWESOME Musician !!.. Really looking foreword to seeing him in Cleveland (OH) again soon.

Fun to listen too you guys where a bit a bit older 5years? Remember listening to Vio-lence at the storage in Union city. Back in the day good times, great time for the scene. Under age no problem clubs in SF and Berkeley/Oakland!

FYI Bobby Gustafson (Overkill) is now playing in Violence

You gotta love these stories....and Phil sounds like a great guy to be around

Sirens and The Dungeons are Calling....2 Best Savatage releases!!!...🤙😎🤘

Meet him 2013 in Germany Frankfurt on the Music Con. Great guy and it was very impressive to see this guy playing from 5 feet away.

Alexi Laiho favourite riffs next!!

that first riff he wrote has a really strong Jag Panzer, or general early US power metal vibe, the Queensryche influence was apparent

I remember hanging with Phil at the Omni in Oakland, California. Killer seeing him here.

Nice work man, come back to NZ, love watching you play ❤

i love the way phil talks with his axe

Kill on command is such a Thrash masterpiece, that tune is on my top 10 best metal songs of all time

So enjoyed..!

I remember when I first heard the solo for halo and being impressed by how good it was! Made it even more special when I saw machine head live and Phil fainted doing it, I remember thinking that must be one hell of a solo to do if even he passed out doing it ( I know he has a condition)

Vio - lence for life. One of my top 3 thrash bands for sure. The riff from "Colour of life" is one their best riffs ever and it's a great track, underrared for sure. Phil and guys stay strong and healthy. Greece awaits. \m/

Hearing him say “Phil from Vio-Lence” and not “Phil from Machine Head” makes me so indescribably happy

Amazing underrated musician, Phil rules!!!

Tabs for all those riff's , Thank You dude!

Demmel is so BADASS 🤘 I remember hearing Vio-lence for the first time and got addicted it stayed in my cassette player in my truck for months and it got to the point where the tape wore out and it got eaten.😆🤘

Hell yeah

Awesome!!

Played A LOT of riffs. That was awesome.

Watched in support. From the comments you definitely have the respect you deserve. They seem to really like youl. Thats great. I don't know you but I like the way you play. Very entertaining. liked a lot. 💖💖💖💖💖💖

Phil and Vio-lence created some of the best thrash riffs ever written. I don't believe 30 years from now kids will care about re-discovering Machine Head. While I like a few songs, its ultimately commercial and inauthentic. Vio-lence on the other hand...35 years later, no touring or new material for decades, and you've still got young metalheads everywhere from Bogota to Jakarta rediscovering Violence for the first time and getting addicted. The energy and angst on those records is timeless.

Great vid , thanks 🥃🤘👍

He's envisioning Robb Flynn's neck in that center thumbnail image...

Very cool dude and great player with great taste . Cheers from Morocco

Dude you are awesome 🤘 🤘 🤘 you were the best part of machine head

That' some solid right hand attack. Glad that he's in a kickass band again - Vio-lence!

awesome guitarist glad he's still kicking

Vio-lence rules

Nice to see Phil doing well !! being a similar age i can totally relate to the influences . was gonna see Violence at Bloodstock in August . Covid postponed it though . fucker !! next year ,

Is it weird that I love this man?

This tone 🙌

So good 👌👏🙌🤘😁😎

Phil gets it... He is a great guitarist and writer.

I kind of like this series!! Who's next??

Kudos! you mention Laaz Rockit!! Fire in the hole was my favourite track. For those who don’t know google it.

I love that Jackson, it's an awesome tribute guitar!

Now the first day that i met ya, i was looking in the sky When the sun turned all to blur and the thunder clouds rolled by The Warning is easily one of Sabbaths best.

Man Phil has good taste...favourite band LAAZ ROCKIT...excellent band

I go to Phil’s bar in Dublin ca!!! The Back Lounge

Yeah! Tear it up Phil!!!

Right on Phil! Good shit bud!

Savatage was freaking great🤘🤘

Phil has great taste in music...Kiss, AC/DC, Nugent, Aerosmith, Savatage...Great player...

Phil is such a good dude!

Wow! Great call out to a great early Savatage song!

He's one of the coolest guys in music. Everyone else got chips on their shoulders.

Cool intro about AC/DC ... TNT is an all time power rock classic for me too: very sentimental song :

Vio-lence > Machine head

the legend himself

I fucking love this dude.

My brother from another mother 🤘🤘

Huh, weird. I used to play shows with Phil in Central California and the Bay Area back in the mid 90’s. (His band and my band) Crazy.

"You Really Got Me" was my 1st riff too! 2 notes then move up a string...easy!