Machines Dodge Iraqi Insurgents In Baghdad

London electro duo The Machines, who performed a laptop gig in Baghdad's Al Hamra Hotel last weekend, found themselves dodging incoming missiles as they waited to return home, band member Random told Skrufff this week.

"We were sitting in the Departures lounge at the airport, when there was a rocket attack, I think on the Army compound next to the airport," said Random.

"Some of the American NGO (Non governmental organisation/ charity worker) guys started running for the exits, while the Brits we were with were sitting around going "whatever'," he continued.

"Some gurkhas told us "sit down and don't worry about it, if you run outside you'll only run into the explosions anyway'. We were quite glad to get back on the plane," he added.

Despite coming under fire Random insisted they'd be happy to return to the Iraqi capital, though admitted he'd found entire experience "tense'.

"You can't really go walking around anywhere, we were straight into an unmarked taxi cab and driven from the airport to the hotel as soon as we got there. Unfortunately you need to stay in the hotel and stay out of view as much as possible," he said.

The duo performed to over 100 Western journalists and charity workers at the hotel just days after British kidnap victim Kenneth Bigley was executed though revealed they'd still not used protection when out and about.

"You draw quite a lot of attention to yourself if you drive around with armed guards, it's a lot safer to travel in unmarked cars, like a normal Iraqi would use. You don't wear flak jackets either, because if you step out of a car with one of those on you're an immediate target," said Random.

"You sit tight and quietly in the back of the car, with the Iraqi guys we were working with sitting up front and you try and reduce the amount of time that you're visible for," he continued.

"It's only really when you're getting in and out of cars that people see you. We went to the zoo, for example, and people did clock us there, definitely," he added.

The hotly tipped duo remain in the UK for the next month, embarking on a minitour to promote their new single Electrafreek.
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• the machines