On April 2, 1967, Phil Demmel, one of thrash metal's most respected guitarists, was born. He first rose to prominence as a founding member of Bay Area thrash band VIO-LENCE, whose 1988 debut 'Eternal Nightmare' remains a genre classic. In 2003, Demmel joined MACHINE HEAD, replacing Ahrue Luster, and became a driving force behind the band's creative resurgence. His precise, aggressive rhythm work and blazing solos were essential to landmark albums like 'Through the Ashes of Empires' and the universally acclaimed 'The Blackening,' widely considered one of the greatest thrash albums of the twenty-first century. After departing MACHINE HEAD in 2018, Demmel joined Kerry King's solo band, continuing to deliver ferocious thrash guitar at the highest level. His career spans the full arc of Bay Area thrash history.