[8.11.05]

After a brief summer hiatus, SCN is proud to bring you an interview with an industrial rock outfit from Dallas, Texas dubbed Rivethead. Toiling away in underground, this trio seeks to spread their brand of punk, metal and electronics to anyone willing to listen. Interviewer Brian Barcode delves into the psyche of Steve Page--vocalist of Rivethead to see what makes them tick.

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[Brian Barcode]: First off, I want to thank you for doing this interview with SCN. Secondly, I want to ask some very average questions right out of the gate, so we can get these out of the way.

When was Rivethead formed, and what was the impetus behind getting this project started?

[Steve Page]: RIVETHEAD came to be in the demise of my last band, SKWEE-G. Our singer/bass player left the band after a trip to the east coast. I replaced him as vocalist, and we figured that since we were going to have a new sound, we might as well go with a new name. At that time, we hired Lodi as our bass player. He moved from Amarillo, TX to join the band. Our original drummer on our first three demos was Mikkee, my drummer from my last band. Mark, our current drummer, also from Amarillo, TX, has been with the band 1 year.

[BB]: "Rivethead" is a somewhat common term for a fan of industrial music, particularly in the cyber punkish machine rock vein. Do you think your music reflects that attitude and style? How did you decide to use this term for your band name?

[SP]: I think the name suits us. The term "rivethead" has been used to describe punk, metal and industrial fans through the course of time as well as metal workers. We were looking for a name and I was on a nationally syndicated radio show talking about it (the Lex and Terry Radio Network out of Jacksonville, FL) and a listener from Oklahoma called in to recommend some names she thought were cool. That was one of them and within a week, we had it trademarked.

[BB]: Your latest offering is the 15 track disc SPR Factor. After some extensive play, some influences seem obvious: Ministry, Skrew, et al. What are some other influences you bring to the stage and to the studio?

[SP]: We're big Nine Inch Nails fans, but also love System of a Down, Mudvayne -- and all three members have roots that go back to classic rock. I mean, who doesn't love The Beatles?

[BB]: SPR Factor features new songs as well as some older ones, re-released. The record flows very smoothly and is very consistent. How do you feel your sound, production and style have evolved since the inception of the band?

[SP]: The copy of SPR Factor available on the web is actually two projects put together. The first being Phase 3, which was a compilation of 3 different demos done in 3 different studios equally 10 songs. Then, there's SPR Factor, our latest release, which is 5 newer tracks. I combined the two to make it an easier purchase online. The band itself has been an ever-evolving institution that has grown and progressed by the week. We play 2 or more times a week, sometimes once, and sometimes 4 or 5 times a week. We practice in our studio Monday through Thursday, so we're always working on something.

[BB]: Tracks like "You're So Cold" and "Regret" seem like obvious fan favorites, as well as being strong points on SPR Factor. What are some other songs fans respond to the most when you play live?

[SP]: Songs like "Suffer" and "Another Day" really seem to pick the crowd up. Those are the most likely to drum up a pit. Good times!

[BB]: I know everyone in the band has worked in multiple projects in the past. What is special about Rivethead that "works," or seperates this project from your previous bands?

[SP]: We are very hard workers. That goes without saying. We play and tour as much as we can. We love playing our instruments. We're absolutely addicted to them. We carefully plot out live shows to make sure the right songs go in the right order. We try to write music we'd like to hear. Anthems you can sing along with. It seems to work pretty good -- at any RIVETHEAD show, you can find girls shaking their bits and pieces and guys banging their heads or running into each other. It's a good mix.

[BB]: Hard industrial music has never been outrageously popular, and it's harder than ever for an industrial metal band to get radio play, other promotion or even a record contract. Still you guys persist and perform and record as much as possible. Why be part of a scene that's struggling to survive?

[SP]: It is a tough scene. We see a lot of support for music that's way heavier than us, but again, we play what we like to hear, so we're enjoying it whether it's 50 people or 5,000. Of course, you prefer the latter, and we do want to make a living soley creating music. It's all about enjoying what you do and having faith it will pay off.

[BB]: Rivethead have been mainstays in the Dallas scene, and quite popular as a regional act. What's been the key to this success and longevity?

[SP]: Well, we're all broke and have no other choice. Nah, just kidding. Actually, we're just three very hard working individuals. We get along. We party together, play together and go see other bands together. There's nothing that means more to us than our music and the brotherhood that inspires keeps the bond between us intact.

[BB]: How does 'civilian' life effect the progress of the band?

[SP]: We all have day jobs. We all like girls…(laughs). But we make time for everything. We tour on the weekends, practice on the week days, so we save 5 minutes for the ladies and downtime. Energy drinks are a very important part of our daily lives…

[BB]: Your official website is well-designed and organized. Who runs this website, and do you think it's done a good job of getting Rivethead known beyond your region of the country?

[SP]: I created the website and maintain it. I think it has been a very good starting point for people to find out who and what we are and find out where we'll be next. I like to scrap the whole thing every year or so and start again from scratch. We've always got our newest music, videos, pictures and gigs updated.

[BB]: SPR Factor is a solid album that's well arranged and performed. There's a richness to the more 'organic' elements of the music you don't find on a lot of industrial records. The music stands on it's own without the need for embellishing with electronic elements, so why incorporate them?

[SP]: We love the sound. I'm a guitar tone freak. Guys like Dimebag and Hetfield were a great influence on my growing up and playing. Mark has a killer DW set and Lodi has an Ampeg setup that totally rocks. But when you get the samples, the key sounds, and throw it into the mix, it adds another dimension. Kinda like when you go from 2D to 3D. It's like having a 4th member who doesn't take a pay check. The bastard doesn't pay rent either
tho…(laughs).

[BB]: Rivethead has played a lot of shows during its tenure, with acts like Bile and Nocturne. What does the future hold for upcoming shows, and who might you be taking the stage with next time?

[SP]: We're getting played during Dallas Stars games on national TV, we get national radio play through our friends Lex and Terry. We are members of TAXI, an online musicians A&R service, so we are hoping to strike up some deals with soundtracks and TV appearances and such. We are going to keep touring and writing and releasing albums. So our fingers are crossed that our name will get out there in as many ways and mediums as possible. Please buy our stuff..

[BB]: Is there anything in particular Rivethead does before a show to get juiced up for a show -- tequila shots, some Slayer, etc?

[SP]: Well, we all like Jager and an ice cold Bud Light. We try not to imbibe too much before going on. It happens when you headline sometimes and that's when our show turns into a rock show with stand-up in between songs. I think that kinda sets our show apart too. Our ability to rap with the crowd, no matter how small or big, seems to win us fans everywhere we go.

[BB]: Is national touring a possibility for Rivethead at the present time?

[SP]: With the right tour and the right amount of money -- Hell yes. We're all in debt -- being a musician is expensive.

[BB]: SPR Factor is a self-produced release that's still fresh on the market. What difficulties does an indie band like yours face when trying to get their music produced and out to the buying public?

[SP]: Well, we used to go door to door, but I kept getting robbed. Nah, just kidding…we sell quite a bit of merch and CDs at all of our shows. But there's only so far you can go while maintaining a day job. We can only travel as far as we can to get back for Monday morning, so that does limit our ability to market ourselves up north or on the coasts.

[BB]: With how much effort and dedication each member pours into Rivethead, in promotion, manufacture, distribution -- have you ever considered the merits starting your own music label as opposed to going thru a middle man like CafePress.com?

[SP]: Absolutely. However, we do sell most of our CDs at shows for $5 and they seem to go extremely quick that way.

[BB]: What can we expect from Rivethead in the future?

[SP]: A newer badder full-length CD, a brand new light show (see pix at http://www.RIVETHEADonline.com/band_pix.html), and an always improving arsenal of new songs.

[BB]: Excellent. Any final thoughts?

[SP]: Hopefully we'll see you on a tour soon! Cheers.

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