Tin Machine is the rock band formed in 1988 around David Bowie, accompanied by guitarist Reeves Gabrels and brothers Tony Sales (bass) and Hunt Sales (drums), the latter having previously worked with Iggy Pop. Bowie's aim was to break away from his solo career, blend into an egalitarian line-up and rediscover a raw energy inspired by hard rock, punk and proto-grunge. The band adopted an abrasive sound, far removed from the sophisticated productions of the 1980s, marked by saturated guitars, direct lyrics, a pared-down aesthetic and deliberately rough production. Their debut album, Tin Machine, co-produced with Tim Palmer, was released in May 1989 by EMI Manhattan . It reached No. 3 in the U.K. and No. 28 in the U.S., with mixed reviews but a notable influence on the burgeoning alternative rock scene. The album contains several singles: "Under the God " (about the rise of neo-Nazism, charting at no. 51), "Heaven's in Here ", "Prisoner of Love " (no. 77) and "Tin Machine ". In 1991, the band returned with Tin Machine II, this time on Victory Music, an independent American label. The album retains the rough sound of the first, while opening up to more varied, melodic tones. The singles "You Belong in Rock 'n' Roll " (#33 in the UK), "Baby Universal " (#48) and "One Shot " were modest successes, and the album cover caused controversy because of the nude statues of the band members by Eduardo Guelfenbein. Critical reception is again divided, and sales are lower than for the first opus (#23 in the UK). A live album, Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby, was released in July 1992, documenting their It's My Life Tour. The band disbanded shortly afterwards, with no official announcement, while Bowie resumed his solo career in 1993 with the album Black Tie White Noise. Although Tin Machine was underrated on its release, the band is now recognized for anticipating the return of raw rock in the 1990s and offering Bowie a creative transition into new artistic territory. 2019 saw the release of another live album, Live at La Cigale, Paris, 25 June 1989.
