Tin Machine was a hard rock band formed in 1988, famous for being fronted by singer David Bowie. The group recorded two studio albums before dissolving in 1992, when Bowie returned to his solo career. Drummer Hunt Sales said that the group's name "reflects the sound of the band," and Bowie stated that he and his bandmates joined up "to make the kind of music that we enjoyed listening to. " Tony Sales and Hunt Sales, members of Tin Machine, had performed with David Bowie in support of Iggy Pop in the late seventies. As with Tin Machine, Bowie had decided to support rather than star on stage, so he toured with his peer Iggy Pop.

The acclaimed TV Eye Live 1977 captured a concert at Cleveland, Ohio's Agora Theatre and Ballroom from the tour.