History & Biography NWOBHM band Deep Machine was founded as a part-time pastime in London, England in 1979. Bob Hooker had auditioned for Iron Maiden in 1979, but the job went to Tony Parsons. Deep Machine turned serious from here on, gradually abandoning cover versions. Demo ‘80 was the first output. The band was newest member singer Roger Marsden, guitarists John Wiggins (ex-Black Friday and later in Battlezone and Tokyo Blade) and Bob Hooker, bass player Andy Wrighton and drummer Ricky Bruce. Demo ‘81 featured bass player Dave Orton. The band was offered a deal for a MLP with Neat Records, but declined. Kevin Heybourne and Dave Dufort of Angel Witch briefly joined the act with the former taking Hooker’s place. Marsden left in 1982 and was replaced by Andy M F Mawbey. Donna Jean sang on Demo ‘83. The band threw in the towel in 1984.
A short re-appearance with Marsden at the London pub Ruskin Arms in 1988 was just that and the act re-appeared in 2009. This was Hooker with a number of new members. John Wiggins and Andy Wrighton were involved initially, but ended up in the reformed Tokyo Blade. Retro label High Roller picked the act up for the 2012 EP, Whispers In The Black. It had also re-released the band’s demo material including Demo ‘81. A full-length was finally recorded and released in 2014. It was recorded in 2012 and contained several older and a few newer songs. The band played several European concerts including the Keep It True festival in 2014..
There was a band called The Deep touring next beginning in 2012. This band featured members from the 1982 line-up including singer Tony Coldham, guitarist Paul Smith (ex-Janine), Andy Wrighton and more.
Keep It Ture and other concerts could not sustain the act and the band threw in the towel again in 2015. It cited financial pressures and lack of gigging opportunities. The band’s rhythm section had already abandoned ship. Baxter too had already left in 2014 and was replaced by his predecessor, Andy M F Mawbey, for a year. The band had announced it is “100% committed” to recording a new album and an advance single called Child Soldier (with American singer Veronica Freeman) both of which would not materialise.
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