The Story Behind the Song: “Combat Boots”

I began writing “Combat Boots” in January 1997. At the time I described it as having a Stevie Ray Vaughan vibe, and I came up with the title as I was writing the main riff. It wasn’t until November that the song was completely finished. It was included as the opening track for Machine Dream (1999).

For the 2024 re-release, I re-recorded everything except the vocals. There were some irregularities in the rhythm of of the recording and the solo was twice as long. Plus I’m a better guitar player now than I was then!

Then, as now, people twist religion to suit their worldview, even if it directly contradicts what the founders of the religion actually taught. I imagined a drill sergeant indoctrinating his new recruits.