article from the detroit news:

Kid Rock, Eminem, Aaliyah — Detroit is cranking out primo musicians as fast as car chassis. This year’s model may be Factory 81.

Four early twentysomething guys with a knack for making hardcore punk rock somehow sound melodic and juxtaposing their lethal jams with some pretty tender and thoughtful lyrics, these guys have been astonishing Detroiters for several years now. “Lyrically it’s all due to Nathan,” says guitarist Bill Schultz, referring to vocalist Nathan Wallace.”He’s a real twisted guy. A lot of times people don’t pick out the stuff ’cause he sings so soft in certain parts. I think people get the wrong impressionat first when they listen to it. They think it’s like a happy song until they read deeper into some of the lyrics.”

Well, a deeper reading of the lyrics and the Deftone-esque music have landed this quartet — which plays St. Andrew’s Hall on Saturday — on the Mojo/Universal label with a long-term, multialbum deal.

Mojo is gearing up to re-release Mankind this September and has plans for a second album in the fall of 2001, according to Factory 81 manager Bruce Lorfel.

The Factory 81 story began eight years ago, when Schultz and bassist Kevin Lewis began a band. They didn’t get very far as a twosome.

A mutualfriend hooked them up with drummer Andy Cyrulnik.Then they ran an add for a singer, held tryouts for eight grueling months, and almost gave it up moretimes than they can count. Until the day Nate Wallace stumbled in.

In 1997, Factory 81 was born.

Last year, the band put out its first LP, Mankind, on the local independent label Medea. That drew the attention of Lorfel, who sent the CD to the major labels.

“I was first approached with their demo cassette and was not impressed,“ says Lorfel, who also manages the well-known local bands Suicide Machine and the Workhorse Movement. “Then I heard Mankind last year, and I thought it was great.”

After a bit of waiting — and a million calls a day to Lorfel to see who had checked in — Factory 81 played a showcase at St. Andrew’s with a good portion of the audience consisting of folks interested in signing the band.

Nerve-wracking, yes?

“I thought I’d be really nervous knowing that they’re all up there and watching,” Schultz explains, “but to be honest, once we got up there and it’s our home town and all of our fans are out there, you didn’t even really think about it. It’s all just about playing for the fans.”

Factory 81 has paid its dues playing all over Metro Detroit — the State Theatre, Harpo’s, Clutch Cargo’s, as well as headlining at the Shelter and St. Andrew’s. They’ve also played Milwaukee, Chicago and other towns.

Along the way, these four east-side guys have made a lot of fans.Their web site guestbook is chock full of messages, all of which they answer. On Amazon.comtheir sales ranking is 2,440, and of the 25 listener reviews they’ve so far received, 23 have been five-star.

Which would all seem to be pointing toward a successful career

“If I can tour around the United States, playing shows every night, being able to live like that, you know, that completely fulfills you,” says Schultz, sounding pretty happy just imagining it all in his head.

“When I was a kid thinking about being a rock star, I had to be headlining the Silverdome or something. But if I could just tour around playing some big clubs, that right there would be great.”