Tin Machine "II"

On episode 21 of Past Prime, Steve and Matty put on their
dayglo, double-breasted suits and grab their headless guitars to
fully absorb the proto-Alt noise of Tin Machine "II," the second
album from David Bowie's alleged band of equals. Alongside Staten
Island everyman, Reeves Gabrels, and two of Soupy Sales kiddos,
the once Thin White Duke maintained he was just one fourth of a
middle-aged band that was obsessed with The Pixies, but who also
might have predicted Grunge. Our co-hosts tackle everything from
the album's de-phallused cover, to their one great hit, to the
contributions of drummer, Hunt Sales, who liked to perform in his
underwear and who wrestled the mic away from Bowie for the
album's most bombastic, least defensible moments.


"II" (1991) was the band's final studio album. After a world tour
that spawned a live album ("Oy Vey Baby"), Bowie married Iman,
pulled Gabrels aside and said farewell to the Sales brothers.
Though for years he insisted that Tin Machine would return, it
never came to be. They survive primarily as the butt of jokes
about middle-aged rock star missteps and as an awkward transition
from Bowie's dry period to his less dry turn towards Trent
Reznor. "II" is not available on most streaming services. It
wants to be forgotten, but our co-hosts won't let that happen
because middle age comes for everyone -- even Ziggy Stardust.


To read more about Tin Machine's "II" check out the full essay
at Past Prime.