‘MacHead’: Unreleased Dave Matthews Band Gem Leaks Online After 25 Years of Anticipation

In the late ’90s, Dave Matthews Band began work on a song dubbed “MacHead” by producer Steve Lillywhite — thanks to its similarities to the compositions of Paul McCartney and Radiohead — while prepping their album, Before These Crowded Streets. A recording of “MacHead” finally surfaced over 25 years after the release of the 1998 LP and after the previously uncirculated song was put into exalted status by fans.

“MacHead” was initially brought to fans’ attention by its inclusion in a photo of a list of songs the band was developing for Before These Crowded Streets. Violinist Boyd Tinsley confirmed its existence when queried about “MacHead in 2006. Steve Lillywhite stoked the fire in 2010 after he revealed on Twitter he found a recording of “MacHead” following discussion of the song on his “The Lillywhite Sessions” radio show. Yet the producer promptly stowed away the copy of the cassette he had featuring “MacHead.”

Dave Matthews has been asked about “MacHead” a few times over the years. He gave an interview in 2010 where he discussed unreleased songs. “MacHead” came up leading Matthews to respond, “I have to figure out how that one goes” and “I think I never played it anywhere. That’s another one I’m going to write down. Haven’t thought about it in a while.”

The DMB frontman didn’t help quell anticipation by adding, “It was really pretty, but it got shut down nevertheless. That’s an interesting one, another good one, those are all good ones [referencing other unreleased songs]. ‘MacHead’ was a really good one.” Yet only a handful of people heard the song until it finally leaked earlier this summer.

In 2018, Dave Matthews Band shared a photo from the Before These Crowded Street sessions on Instagram. “The song ‘MacHead’ was developed during the recording sessions of Before These Crowded Streets and only a few people besides the band have ever heard it, becoming a legend among the fan base,” read a note accompanying the image.

Listen to the holy grail of Dave Matthews Band fandom, “MacHead,” below:

Dave Matthews Band recently completed the second leg of their extensive summer tour. The septet returns to the road on August 23 for the first of two shows at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre near Denver.

Scroll below for a full list of DMB tour dates and ticketing links.