Interview: Factory 81

Factory 81 Questions Answered By Bill Schultz (Guitars). 12/31/99 Interviewed by wookubus

Related Links: Official Website

PRP: Alright, basic first question how did the band get started?
Bill: To make a long story short me and the bassist have been playing together for a while and through drummer and singer changes we've evolved into what you hear today.
PRP: Ahh cool.

PRP: The name Factory 81, any meaning behind it?
Bill: Well.....when Nate first started singing with us he had this work shirt he bought cause he had the name Dick on it...
PRP: Haha.
Bill: And it was a Chrysler shirt with the factory number 81. Kinda came up and sounded cool. It fits us now I think.
PRP: Indeed, it's unique. Haha. And here I was expecting some Megadeth reference like Hangar 81 or something.
Bill: No no not that.

PRP: The band has a very intricate aggressive style, do you guys take alot of time putting song together in this fashion or does it flow naturally?
Bill: Its a natural thing....we usually just start jamming and stuff just flows.
PRP: Hehe good, that's the best way.
Bill: Everyone writes together.
PRP: And that way the music stays more diverse.

PRP: There's alot of suggestions of influences form different bands in your guys music, any bands that could be considered as an influence of the band collectively?
Bill: Ummmm....Black Sabbath, Tool, etc.. We all like that stuff. We've come along way trying to make our music sound like us.
PRP: Yeah and its paid off I feel at least hehe.
Bill: Thanks.
PRP: No prob.

PRP: Tough one here: who would win in a race, Herbie or Kit from Knight Rider?
Bill: Definitely Kit. He's got technology.
PRP: Are you sure? Cause herbies wacky antics have gotten him out of alot of situations!
Bill: Herbie is a bitch...ever hear him whine?
PRP: Hahaha, yeah you're right, fuck herbie.
Bill: Hehe.

PRP: You guys recently joined Angerfunk earlier this year, is there a good amount of unity amongst Angerfunk bands?
Bill: Yeah....I wouldn't of even gotten involved unless it was a bunch of cool bands and down to earth people.
PRP: Yeah, it's definitely a cool lil umbrella or whatever hehe.
Bill: Yeah its cool.

PRP: Alot of people feel that groups like you guys, Taproot, and 20 Dead Flower Children have shown the darker underground side to Michigan as opposed to the flashiness of say Kid Rock, do you feel like there's a larger spotlight on you guys lately?
Bill: I've definitely noticed alot more attention recently.......people are like coming out of the woodwork.
PRP: Yeah becoming a bit of a hotspot.
Bill: People who used to diss us are kissing ass now.
PRP: Hahah.

PRP: You guys have a good industry buzz going on right now, and Detroit has started to become the spot for labels to find "the next big thing", Do you find yourself pressured more with this taking place?
Bill: Actually...we've been just doing our thing, playing shows an shit...I've seen alot of bands get signed recently so not as much pressure as it would have been a year ago.
PRP: Yeah its at least gotta be reassuring if anything.
Bill: I'm real happy for alot of the bands around here.

PRP: Are you suspicious of anyone in the band being a communist?
Bill: Ahhh.....maybe Nate...who knows what's going on in his head. He's crazy.
PRP: Damn browncoats, actually you brought up a point I was curious about too. Is there a unity amongst Detroit/Michigan bands in general, or do you find alot of other bands try and claw their way to the top?
Bill: There's alot of animosity in the Detroit scene. As soon as a band starts doing good you get shit talked like crazy....alot of jealousy around here. There's some cool bands though...you just have to look real hard.
PRP: Haha sadly I've noticed that, must be hard to keep your head up and stick to yourself.
Bill: Yeah....we just book shows with cool guys now.
PRP: Good deal.

PRP: How do you feel about the idea of web promotion?
Bill: Its helped us way more than I ever expected. I owe alot to this whole thing.
PRP: Good way to get global recognition that's for sure.
Bill: Yeah....I thank you guys alot for this.

PRP: What's your view on the whole mp3 situation, you guys have clips posted, do you find it negative or positive?
Bill: I think its a good thing as long as it doesn't get out of hand.... I'd like to post whole songs up but our label wont let us.
PRP: Ahh, its all good though.

PRP: Has the band ever played together in nothing but scuba gear?
Bill: Not scuba but spandex maybe. Bringing back the 80's.
PRP: Aww yeah, a band that plays in spandex, stays together.
Bill: Yup.
PRP: Nothing like stuffing the unit with a sock like Axl Rose.
Bill: Yeah he's packing.
PRP: Haha.

PRP: Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Bill: On bread or nipples? I prefer crunchy on bread.
PRP: Lets shoot for nipples.
Bill: Smooth on nips.
PRP: Haha.

PRP: The bands sound is very polished and impressive for your album "Mankind" to just be a debut release, was there any previous releases?
Bill: Just little 3 song demos on cassette. We had 2.
PRP: Ahh cool any songs that aren't on "Mankind"?
Bill: All the songs ended up on "Mankind"....except one track called "Trench". It was kinda weakly written.
PRP: Hehe I hear ya.
Bill: One of our first songs.

PRP: If you had to pick at least one band member who you suspect has a Cabbage Patch Kid doll in his closet, who would it be?
Bill: Kevin....he's a toy freak. Do you think he has tea parties with em?
PRP: Be honest.
Bill: Oh yeah.
PRP: Damn, ever caught him having one?
Bill: I caught him doing something else but we'll talk about that later.
PRP: Hahaha.

PRP: The hidden track on "Mankind" featured a guest performance from Eminem's DJ, how did this come about and are there any plans to ever incorporate a DJ into the band or was it just a one time thing?
Bill: It was really a one time thing....we didn't even consider that for that track prior to the studio. We really just wanted him to do some scratching on "Cheese Wheel"....and next thing you know we started on that song.
PRP: Cool, is there a name for the hidden track?
Bill: Just track 81.
PRP: Ahh.

PRP: Boxers or briefs?
Bill: Boxers....I like it to breath a little.
PRP: Tangles are a bitch though haha. Damn boxers.
Bill: Yeah gotta live with it.

PRP: Rumor has it that Factory 81 watches a re-run of Full House and Family Matters before every gig to get psyched up, can you confirm this?
Bill: Ummm.....I would have to give a negative on that one.
PRP: Damn and I was sure the wacky antics of the Olsen twins would charge your guys stage presence..
Bill: How about Brady Bunch.
PRP: Haha. Now that's just scary.
Bill: Marsha gets us going.
PRP: Poor Jan.

PRP: With a blossoming crop of underground talent in your general area like Madhops, Taproot (sort of underground), Loco Tribe, The Workhorse Movement (sort of underground) and others do you find it hard to stand out?
Bill: Well....not really....we play out with alot of those bands so we're kinda part of the whole deal with them.
PRP: Dope, it's all good then.

PRP: Are you aware that a cow can produce around 65 pounds of manure on an average day?
Bill: And I thought I shit alot.
PRP: How many pounds of manure do you think you could produce?
Bill: About 20 or so.
PRP: Haha damn.

PRP: Alot of people are considering you guys one of the best upcoming bands of the year, how do you feel about such a title?
Bill: Well....its alot to live up to...as far as Detroit I can handle it but all over that's alot to contend with.
PRP: Yeah, haha its good to see you guys ain't conceited either.

PRP: Does the song "Nanu" in anyway refer to the old TV show Mork And Mindy?
Bill: The title comes from that I think.....but nothing in the song refers to it.
PRP: Ahh, haha was always curious.
Bill: Nate writes the titles.

PRP: When's the last time you missed the toilet while urinating, and be honest, did you wipe off the pee after?
Bill: Not much at home.....I some times do it for shits and giggles at restaurants.
PRP: Hahaha. Evil flows through your veins.
Bill: Yes.

PRP: How long do you think it would take the band collectively to assemble the board game Mousetrap in its entirety?
Bill: I actually never played it as a game....so id have to give a lucky guess of 10 minutes.
PRP: Haha, getting that man to jump in the pool is a bitch.

PRP: Any plans for a new album or has new songwriting been taking place?
Bill: Yeah we've been writing shit like crazy...planning for the future....all songs are y2k compliant.
PRP: Haha, no cutting corners in the factory baby.
Bill: Nope.

PRP: What have ya been listening to the most lately?
Bill: I like the new Incubus alot....and I been listening to alot of Faith No More recently.
PRP: Mmm Faith No More are classic and Incubus is the shit.

PRP: What's next for the band?
Bill: Well......the next step is a major hopefully. Major label release.
PRP: That would kick ass.

PRP: Well that's about it, any shoutouts you wanna give?
Bill: Yeah it would.....nothings set though. What's up to Taproot, Madhops, DedJeff, Pooch and the rest of the Detroit crew......Thanks Wook.
PRP: Aww yeah and thank you.
Bill: Thank you.