chat on twec:
02.20.00

***This is a text transcript of the live chat held with Factory 81 on February 20, 2001 at www.twec.com at 8PM EST to 8:30PM EST.***

TWEC: TWEC would like to welcome FACTORY 81 to the chat tonight, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans online before we get started?

FACTORY 81: Just like to say thanx for all the support that you all have been giving us

Evilgnome: Whan are you playing again in either CT, MA, or RI?

F81: Right now we're out there in Downset.

F81: actually all of that stuff right now... we really don't have dates... for... but just keep checking our web site for that

PepperPam: What is your fav. city to play in?

F81: Nate... I would have to say besides home - San Antonio and Chicago... I can't forget about Worcester

F81: We miss Detroit much... its always great going to the hometown areas

WickedKitten: Who is the speaker for F81?

F81: Not one person.... we're all here... bill's on the talking right now...

F81: but all the other guys are telling him what to write

OfficeroftheLaw: Who is the best band you've ever seen play live?

F81: Tool is one our favorites... and Chili Peppers

fury161: Are you excited about the new TOOL album Lateralus?

F81: OH yea... very much - highly anticipated... it better be damn good and Perfect Circle has been awesome

fury161: You guys going to rerelease anything from Crawl Space?

F81: Nothing from there will probably see release... when we see people actually selling that thing... don't pay money for that... we never even released it and that

FACTORY81_4EVER: What is the band's opinion on Napster?

F81: We're all pretty happy with the Napster thing... it's not really hurting us... ya know its a way for these new bands to get

F81: Nate - its cool... its an opportunity for us to get our music out to the people...

OfficeroftheLaw: What does band think about their single going to commercial radio?

F81: Its not exactly a "radio friendly" song

*laughing*F81: That is the one that is included on that one... and its great

sixwords: What are your plans for 2001?

F81: Our plans are basically touring and getting our names out there.... then hopefully we can get in at the end of the year we'll get into the studio...

Kuky: Hey guys--John from Lawrence, Kansas. Just wanted to ask that if you guys could go on tour with any other 3 bands, who would they be and why? And to Kevin: TWIZTID!!!!!

F81: I think Tool... Perfect Circle... Deftones... and others... it's sort of tough

F81: Hey John you need to e-mail us that Hotline address...

Kuky: Oh yea... I'll get that to you. I've got the account created and everything already. I also will get the bootleg of the show from Lawrence to you soon also.

F81: that's kewl...

KruelChick: Of all of your songs, which is your favorite preforming live?

F81: Nate's is probably - Diary of a Serial Killer... and Mine (Bill) is probably the same and others

Kelly: Were you guys at all influence by the whole grunge/alternative? And are you fans of bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam?

F81: Oh yeah... Pearl Jam and Nirvana were huge... Alice In Chains were huge in the grunge... and it influenced us a lot early

sixwords: What's the band's opinion on bootlegging - filming, recording, etc.?

F81: I think bootlegging is cool if someone wants to come in and tape... but as long as they're not selling it to make a profit we're cool with it if people are just sharing it and stuff

Roxanne: I've read that Nate is a jazz fan, what is your favorite jazz instrument or does it depend on who's playing the instrument?

F81: Nate - Trumpet and the Saxophone... are really the best... oh yeah and you gotta go with the drum

Jake: A lot of your drums in your songs have a tribal sound, are you guys fans of bands like Dead Can Dance?

F81: Actually I'm not too familiar with them... but Nate is yelling that he likes them a lot

sixwords: How does the band deal with being on the road all the time?

F81: Basically you gotta stick together... ya know touring is rough and working it... we don't have a bus ya know... we lift our own stuff each day and its tough

F81: but we're looking toward that bus... we've basically been out since November - and the Holiday's aren't any breaks

f81 girl: On all the tours you've had what was the one funniest moment you'll never forget?

F81: Oh I don't even know how to answer that... NATE?

F81: Nate - the last show with our first tour... there's always this hazing thing that was going on... we were all throwing little pieces of balled up bread at these guys... then this guy crapped in a box and it was pretty nasty

F81: but really funny

sixwords: When can we expect Factory 81 headline tour?

F81: A headlining tour... I don't know if we're quite ready for that... but we're a little ways from that yet... but we're working towards it

F81: Gotta take one step before you can take another

F81: Gotta take one step before you can take another

OfficeroftheLaw: How has it been working with a big label like Universal?

F81: It's actually been pretty cool

F81: they really listen to what our ideas are... and make it happen

sixwords: When you guys were first starting out - did you ever worry about not becoming known enough to make a living?

F81: When we first started writing songs... it wasn't really worrying about making money... it was really making music and the truth of it

F81: Me (Bill) and Kevin we put ads out for singers... then Nathan came along... and the drummers -

F81: Well... it took us a while to find a drummer but we're doing well

Kuky: Has the band ever done any covers? I know KT told me you guys used to do Blind by Korn, and a few Tool songs... anything else you like to cover?

F81: We did a cover of Insane In The Brain... but it was rough because we only had about a week to write our version of a song... and record it... but it was rough - but very cool

shiFtid: On your first tour, were you taken under the wings of Relative Ash and Mudvayne... did they give you advice along the way?

F81: Oh all of the bands gave us advice along the way... we really went out there without knowing much about these guys... they've all been really cool

f81 girl: Do you think you guys might get on Tattoo the Earth tour this year? That'd kick ass cuz I hear Tool is supposed to be on it :)

F81: That would be really cool... we're not sure if that tour is even going to happen right now... but it starts in like September

kittiesclaw: What did you guys think of Boiler Room

F81: They're very cool... good band... and very cool... nice guys... we've never really had a time with any bands we're out there with

fury161: Will you guys keep playing small venues? We... the fans love them the best...

F81: We'll keep playing all the venues... but ya know if Korn came along and said tour with us then we'd be cool with that - but we really love the small ones

FACTORY81_4EVER: What do the Factory 81 guys do for fun in their spare time?

F81: Right now our sparetime is spent sleeping and relaxing... when I'm at home (Bill) I love to play on my computer - Kevin likes to spend his time collecting toys... but really its mostly rest... we don't get to see much when we're touring

F81: not really the glamour life people think is happening

Erin: What's in your stereo right now?

F81: Right now... Taproot... Eminem... System of a Down... Mudvayne... and I think that's all that matters

sixwords: What do you think of hardcore bands that have gone commercial - Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, etc. Do you think being blasted on MTV 24/7 compromises a band's musical integrity?

F81: It's not necessarily bad... but if they're using them as their main tool to get their fans... then they're going to have issues when that dissapears

xxfactory81xx: Bill... what inspired you to start playing guitar?

F81: hmm... when I was a little kid all of my weird cousins got me into listening to KISS... and I really wanted to be Ace Frehley... and when I was younger I wanted to play and its the one thing that has been extremly stable

WickedKitten: Where did you get the name Factory 81?

F81: One day Nate came over to practice and he was wearing a Chrysler work shirt... and it came out when we were all sitting there thinking of a name and we thought that was a cool idea

KruelChick: I've read that when you guys first started out, it was more of an alternative sound... what made you guys turn to heavy music?

F81: F81 has always been pretty heavy... we went for while without a singer.. but we've just always played what makes us feel good

shiFtid: So, what do you tell young bands that give you cd's and ask you for advise at shows? Do you take the time to listen to the people who look up to you?

F81: Oh we definitely pay attention to all of you... and we do listen to CD's... we've heard a lot of killer stuff... I just tell people to keep working and never give up... you gotta make it happen for yourself... its a long process

sixwords: What sort of people does it take to have a band be musically successful (not popular - but write songs)?

F81: one thing that makes you musically successful in my eyes (Bill) when you have all of the guys giving their input and all of their influences working together... it comes out really tight and feeling good

TWEC: TWEC would like to thank FACTORY 81 for joining us tonight, is there anything you want to let your fans know before you go tonight?

F81: Thank you to everybody out there TWEC: For touring and more info on FACTORY 81 click here: http://www.factory81.com

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