Joe Pascarell, co-founder, guitarist and vocalist of Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine, has passed away. No age or cause of death was announced.
The band announced his death on social media last Tuesday:
“It is with the most broken of hearts that we announce the passing of our friend, bandmate, and brother, Joe Pascarell,” the post reads. “We’re eternally grateful for the lifetime of friendship and music we’ve shared on-stage and off, and we know he will be with us as The Machine continues on. Shine on, Joe.”
Pascarell founded what’s considered the oldest Floyd tribute group with drummer Tahrah Cohen more than 30 years ago. Among a relatively crowded field of groups devoted to playing the music of Pink Floyd, The Machine stands out as spinning an especially accurate representation.
“They duplicate the sound and hits of Pink Floyd with chilling accuracy,” wrote Matt Diehl of Rolling Stone. “(They) look nothing like Pink Floyd, but that doesn’t matter — they sound exactly like Pink Floyd, and that’s what counts,” Matthew Webber wrote in Spin.
The New York-based group has played venues throughout North America, and has toured as far away as Central America, Europe and Asia.
When the question is asked of us — as it often is by fans of the “Floydian Slip” radio show — who we think is the best Floyd tribute band, our answer for many years continues to be: The Machine.
The group is dedicating its Feb. 5 performance at Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Mass., to Pascarell. They’ll be joined by Adam Minkoff.
Shine on, Joe.
I am so distraught hearing of this news today. I use to go to their shows at the State Theater in Falls Church, VA every year. I’ve seen a number of cover bands, and The Machine was not only the best but they also played the deepest cuts as well. You don’t hear many cover bands playing “Point Me at the Sky” or “Summer ’68” or “The Gunner’s Dream”!
It was always amazing to see Joe’s vocal range, too… I swear he could mimic Waters or Gilmour’s singing voices perfectly. And watching him perform… especially, something like Comfortably Numb guitar solo… he would be grinning from ear to ear. You could tell how much he loved what he was doing! I’ll miss hearing his voice and his personality so much!
Here’s more than 2 hours of Joe playing tons of Floyd songs BY HIMSELF on a Facebook live feed during the beginning of the pandemic lockdown back in May 9th, 2020!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=2407616256197172
I remember randomly finding this that day and at least for a very small moment and slice of time thinking that everything was going to be ok. We’ll miss you Joe!
Well said.
A gem of a man and a fantastic musician. Copping the notes is one thing, copping the feeling is quite another. And Joe did it with uncanny accuracy. I am saddened to hear of his departure from this world. Rest In Peace, my brother. Lou ‘Bag’