View source for Robb Flynn

{{Short description|American guitarist and vocalist (born 1967)}}
{{redirect|Robert Flynn}}
 
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Robb Flynn
| image             = Robb Flynn - Machine Head en Colombia (cropped).jpg
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = Flynn performing with [[Machine Head (band)|Machine Head]] in 2015
| background        = solo_singer
| birth_name        = Lawrence Matthew Cardine
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{nowrap|{{Birth date and age|1967|7|19}}<ref name=":0" />}}
| birth_place       = [[Oakland, California]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Thrash metal]]|[[groove metal]]|[[alternative metal]]|[[nu metal]]}}
| instrument        = {{hlist|Guitar|vocals}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|producer}}
| years_active      = 1985–present
| current_member_of = [[Machine Head (band)|Machine Head]]
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[Vio-lence]]|[[Forbidden (band)|Forbidden]]}}
| website           = 
}}

'''Robert Conrad''' '''Flynn''' (born '''Lawrence Matthew Cardine'''; July 19, 1967)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=John|date=July 13, 2017|title=Machine Head's Robb Flynn Assembles Friends for 50th Birthday Bash Show|url=https://loudwire.com/machine-head-robb-flynn-assembles-friends-50th-birthday-bash-show/|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Loudwire|language=en}}</ref> is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Machine Head (band)|Machine Head]], being the only member to feature on every album. Flynn formed the band along with [[Adam Duce]], [[Logan Mader]] and [[Tony Costanza]] after leaving [[Bay Area thrash metal|Bay Area thrash]] band [[Vio-lence]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://machinehead1.com/board_posts/artist-bio|title=Bio|website=Machine Head}}</ref>

== Early life and influences ==
Flynn was born Lawrence Matthew Cardine<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southjersey.com/article/2418/Machine-Head|title=Machine Head - SouthJersey.com|website=www.southjersey.com}}</ref> in [[Oakland, California]]. He cites [[Black Sabbath]] as his biggest influence and the reason he plays guitar. Other influences include [[Bay Area thrash metal]] bands like [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]], [[Metallica]], [[Slayer]] and [[hardcore punk]]/[[crossover thrash]] groups such as [[Dead Kennedys]], [[Dirty Rotten Imbeciles|D.R.I.]], and [[Suicidal Tendencies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenplec.com/interview-robb-flynn-machine-head/ |title=Interview: Robb Flynn of Machine Head |publisher=goldenplec.com |date= May 23, 2013|access-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref>

== Career ==
Flynn joined the [[thrash metal]] band [[Forbidden (band)|Forbidden]] (originally Forbidden Evil), while in his graduating year at [[American High School (Fremont, California)|American High School]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/forbidden-6-things-you-didnt-know-about-bay-area-thrashs-second-wave-standouts/|title=Forbidden: 6 Things You Didn't Know About Bay Area Thrash's Second-Wave Standouts|first=Richard|last=Bienstock}}</ref> He played in this band from 1985 to 1987. He wrote four songs that appeared on their debut album, "Chalice of Blood", "Forbidden Evil", "As Good as Dead", and part of "March into Fire", but left before an album was released to join local thrash metal rivals [[Vio-lence]], alongside [[Phil Demmel]]. Flynn then went on to form Machine Head, which released its debut album ''[[Burn My Eyes]]'' in 1994.

In January 2005, he was selected as one of the four team captains of [[Roadrunner United]], an act to celebrate the 25th anniversary of [[Roadrunner Records]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elektra.com/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616140622/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/RoadrunnerUnited/|url-status=dead|title=Elektra Entertainment|archivedate=June 16, 2007|website=Elektra Music Group}}</ref> Flynn wrote, produced and recorded guitar on four songs, these were ''The Rich Man'', ''Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)'', ''Army of the Sun'' and ''The Dagger'' and on the latter he sang and wrote lyrics alongside [[Howard Jones (American musician)|Howard Jones]] of [[Killswitch Engage]].
[[File:Robb Flynn 2011.jpg|upright=0.8|thumb|Flynn with Machine Head in 2011]]
Machine Head's album ''[[The Blackening]]'' (2007) climbed to number 54 on the US ''[[Billboard charts|Billboard]]'' after appearing on the charts only two weeks previously; it was also nominated for a [[Grammy Award]], making it by far the band's most successful album. On June 11, 2007, Flynn received the [[Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards#2007|Metal Hammer 2007 Golden God Award]].<ref>[http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=46671 Metal Hammer – News Article] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716025308/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=46671 |date=July 16, 2007 }}</ref> In honor of [[Debbie Abono]] and [[Ronnie James Dio]], Flynn recorded and released for free online a cover of Black Sabbath's "[[Die Young (Black Sabbath song)|Die Young]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://machinehead1.com:80/news.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131154754/http://www.machinehead1.com/news.html|url-status=dead|title=Machine Head - News|archivedate=January 31, 2010 |website=www.machinehead1.com}}</ref> Abono managed Flynn and Phil Demmel when they were members of Vio-lence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=140200 |title=Machine Head'S Robb Flynn Remembers Debbie Abono |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=March 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723145236/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=140200 |archive-date=July 23, 2010  }}</ref>

In December 2013, Flynn and fellow Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel collaborated with online education site JamPlay.com to put together a series of guitar lessons for aspiring guitarists and members of JamPlay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamplay.com/teachers/114-robb-flynn |title=Robb Flynn's Profile on JamPlay |publisher=JamPlay.com |access-date=December 18, 2013}}</ref>

Flynn had a break-in at his house in which several items, including guitars, were stolen. One guitar, the Washburn 333 or "Dimebolt", was given to him by [[Dimebag Darrell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2010/09/robb_flynn_offers_reward_for_s.html |title=Kerrang! Robb Flynn offers reward for stolen guitars after break in |publisher=Kerrang.com |access-date=March 8, 2012}}</ref> In 2016, the "Dimebolt" guitar was returned to Flynn.<ref name="loudwire reunited">{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/machine-head-robb-flynn-reunited-stolen-dimebag-darrell-guitar/|title=Robb Flynn Reunited With Stolen Dimebag Darrell Guitar|website=Loudwire|date=May 26, 2016 }}</ref> Machine Head debuted at number 22 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, with ''[[Unto the Locust]]'' the band's highest performance. They also debuted at number 5 on the German music chart. The album has sold over 100,000 copies in the United States.

Between 2020 and 2022—during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]—Flynn hosted the "No Fuckin' Regrets" podcast on the GaS Digital Network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metalinsider.net/news/no-fn-regrets-with-robb-flynn-podcast-is-now-a-thing|title="No F'n Regrets With Robb Flynn" podcast is now a thing &#124; Metal Insider|first=Chris|last=Annunziata|date=December 5, 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Flynn is married and has two sons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/we-asked-robb-flynn-about-using-racial-slurs-on-machine-heads-song-bastards|title=We asked Robb Flynn about using racial slurs on Machine Head's song Bastards|website=[[Metal Hammer]]|date=January 12, 2018}}</ref> He is an [[atheist]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/TheGeneralMH/about|title=Robert Flynn|website=[[Facebook]]}}</ref> He has talked extensively about his mental health issues, especially during the ''[[The More Things Change...]]'' era of Machine Head, and has admitted to suffering from [[Depression (mood)|depression]], [[self-harm]] and [[bulimia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yopdeZDivWg|title=Robb Flynn Talks The Burning Red &#124; MACHINE HEAD|date=April 2, 2025|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hdL85UykrQ|title=Machine Head's Robb Flynn on Self-Destructive Past, How Therapy Helps: Rise Above, Ep 4|date=September 28, 2018|via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Equipment==
{{BLP sources|section|date=September 2020}}

Flynn used two [[Ibanez]] [[Fender Stratocaster|strat styled]] guitars in the early days of Machine Head, a white one used in 1992 until 1993, and a black one covered with stickers which he used to record ''[[Burn My Eyes]]'', which was stolen from his home in 2010 along with a [[Washburn Guitars|Washburn]] Dimebolt which Dimebag Darrell had once given to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/machine-head-robb-flynn-reunited-stolen-dimebag-darrell-guitar/|title=Robb Flynn Reunited With Stolen Dimebag Darrell Guitar|first=Joe|last=DiVita|date=May 26, 2016|website=Loudwire}}</ref> For the Burn My Eyes tour he used a [[Gibson Explorer]] and a [[Jackson Soloist]]. He used these guitars for ''[[The More Things Change...]]'', after which he switched to a [[Gibson SG]]. His Dimebolt and all the guitars that were stolen were returned to him by a woman who bought a [[storage unit]] for $10.<ref name="loudwire reunited"/>
[[File:Robb Flynn, Machine Head @ Sonisphere.jpg|thumb|Flynn at [[Sonisphere Festival]] 2009]]
For ''[[The Burning Red]]'', he began using a [[Gibson Flying V]], which became synonymous with him after this period. In 2002, just before the recording of ''[[Through the Ashes of Empires]]'' he began using his [[ESP Guitars|ESP]] SP210 baritone guitar. For ''[[The Blackening]]'' tour he used a custom ESP flying V which was identical to, and often mistaken for a Gibson V. By ''[[Unto the Locust]]'' he was using a more modified version of his earlier ESP/Gibson V, with this one having mirror inlays of the Machine Head logo on the fretboard and headstock.

Flynn had signed a deal with [[Epiphone]] in which he could get signature models<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/machine-head-frontman-discusses-epiphone-love-death-baritone-flying-v-signature-guitar|title=MACHINE HEAD Frontman Discusses Epiphone Love/Death Baritone Flying-V Signature Guitar|date=July 7, 2012|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}</ref> based closely on his designs with ESP. His new guitar for this period was the Epiphone Love Death Baritone Flying V, along with a custom [[Gibson Explorer|Explorer]], which he occasionally used on the Locust tour. For the ''[[Bloodstone & Diamonds]]'' era, Flynn has so far been using several Epiphone Flying V's, including an alternate version of the Love Death V, with this one having a tremolo bar. Currently he uses both his Love Death models, a satin black V, and a glossy black V with white binding and a white pickguard.
 
In January 2015, Flynn posted a picture on his Instagram page, showing his red [[B.C. Rich]] Warlock along with his Gibson SG from 1997, announcing that he was bringing them out of retirement and bringing them on the US leg of the Bloodstone & Diamonds tour.

Other gear includes a modified [[Peavey 5150]] and an [[Electro-Harmonix]] Deluxe Electric Mistress [[flanger]] pedal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.guitarworld.com/gw-archive/dear-guitar-hero-robb-flynn-and-phil-demmel-machine-head | title=Dear Guitar Hero: Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel of Machine Head | date=March 13, 2012 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://twitter.com/TheGeneralMH Robb Flynn] at Twitter
*[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/robb-flynn-mn0000286745 Robb Flynn] at [[AllMusic]]

{{Machine Head}}
{{Forbidden (band)}}
{{Vio-lence}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flynn, Robb}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:American adoptees]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:American heavy metal singers]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Forbidden (band) members]]
[[Category:Guitarists from California]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Machine Head (band) members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Oakland, California]]
[[Category:Nu metal singers]]
[[Category:People from San Lorenzo, California]]
[[Category:American rhythm guitarists]]
[[Category:Singers from California]]
[[Category:Vio-lence members]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:American High School (California) alumni]]
[[Category:American baritones]]
[[Category:Thrash metal musicians]]