Tin Machine

The Profile

Tin Machine was a hard-rock band formed by David Bowie with guitarist Reeves Gabrels and the Sales brothers, Tony (bass) and Hunt (drums). Active from 1988 to 1992, they released two studio albums—Tin Machine (1989) and Tin Machine II (1991)—and the live album Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby (1992), pursuing a heavier, band-centric sound.

Core lineup: David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels, Tony Sales, Hunt Sales. The band emphasized a live, improvisational approach and covered John Lennon’s Working Class Hero. Reviews here reference live renditions of Pixies’ Debaser and Neil Young’s I’ve Been Waiting for You. Their sound was discussed in relation to early-90s rock acts like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden.

Three DeBaser reviews revisit Bowie’s hard-rock swerve with Tin Machine. The 1989 debut is seen as a sincere reset with few truly standout moments, Tin Machine II fares worse, and the live album shows chops but shaky curation and excess. Energy and improvisation abound, yet critics here remain unconvinced. Verdict: interesting for fans and completists.