Deep Machine

History

After a series of earlier configurations, Bob Hooker assembled a lineup featuring John Wiggins on guitar, Dave Orton on bass, Rick Bruce on drums, and Roger Marsden on vocals. This group cut demo tapes that included tracks like "Demon Preacher," "Asylum," "Witchild," and "Deep Machine." Orton subsequently exited, with Andy Wrighton taking over bass duties. Though the band built a devoted cult audience and earned a strong reputation for high-energy shows, they never landed a record contract. Hooker departed in 1981, and Kevin Heybourne, guitarist and vocalist from Angel Witch, stepped in. That lineup was short-lived; Heybourne, Marsden, and Bruce left to reform Angel Witch, and Marsden later played with the E.F. Band. That same year, guitarist Tony Harris from the revamped Deep Machine appeared as a guest with Destroya at a single show at London's Marquee Club, backing Lone Wolf, whose frontman was ex-Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno. Drummer Steve Kingsley moved on to Rogue Male, while Wrighton reunited with Wiggins. After the NWOBHM act Gandalf Wizardry dissolved, Wrighton and Wiggins approached its vocalist, Andy M F Mawbey, in a failed attempt to revive Deep Machine; Wiggins soon left to join what became Tokyo Blade. Ex-Wizardry guitarist Aidan Fitzpatrick replaced him, and the band sought a second guitarist for a five-piece, but this period never progressed beyond rehearsals, ending when Wrighton departed to join Wiggins in Tokyo Blade.