The Music Machine
The Music Machine
The Music Machine was an American rock band from Los Angeles. They formed in the mid-1960s and were led by Sean Bonniwell. They had a dark, rebellious image and mixed garage rock with psychedelic sounds. Critics now see them as early pioneers of proto-punk, pushing beyond the usual garage style.
The group started as a folk-rock trio called the Raggamuffins, then grew into The Music Machine with new members Mark Landon and Doug Rhodes. They dressed in black and practiced hard, creating a sharp, heavy sound with fuzz guitars and distinctive organ lines. Their first big hit was Talk Talk, released in 1966, which did well on the charts. Their debut album, Turn On The Music Machine, followed, featuring the moody track The People in Me. The band’s music and Bonniwell’s vocal style influenced later artists, including the Doors, Iron Butterfly, and early punk bands.
In 1967 the original lineup broke up due to management and money problems. Bonniwell kept the project going as The Bonniwell Music Machine with a new lineup and released a second album in 1968. The group dissolved in 1969. Bonniwell later did solo work and explored other artistic interests. Other members joined different groups.
Interest in the Music Machine grew again in later years. Their songs appeared on the Nuggets compilation series, and Bonniwell wrote a memoir, Beyond the Garage. A new version of the band toured in 2004. Sean Bonniwell died in 2011; Ron Edgar died in 2015 and Keith Olsen in 2020.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:40 (CET).