Interview with Factory

Q - What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

• A - When we were kids we all listened to the bands of the day. That was the era of the Beatles and the British Invasion, so there were a lot of influences. Not sure about my band mates, but I went to college to train as a teacher, so maybe I’d be doing that. 

Q - What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• A - Watch movies, go for walks, play with our pets. Usual stuff. Not sure how it affects creativity, but keeping your mind busy probably helps. 

Q - How long has your band been around?

• A - Quite a while! We formed in May 1970, split up in December 1976, and re-formed in 2015. 

Q - Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

• A - We originally formed out of three local bands in our then-hometown of Hastings, UK. We’ve all since moved. Now three members live in various places in southern UK, and one in Southern California. I don’t think any of that influenced our music. 

Q - How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• A - We’re often asked this but actually we don’t really remember! Probably we thought we were making music, so it was like a music factory. By now, to us, “Factory” sums up everything we’ve done and been through. 

Q - Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• A - In the ‘70s our most memorable shows were ones when we supported bands like Status Quo, Fleetwood Mac, 10cc, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Suzi Quatro etc. Also our first reunion show in 2015 after a 40-year break was definitely memorable! 

Q. What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play, and have not already?

• A. Favourite place would probably be the legendary Hastings Pier Ballroom, in our former hometown. Unfortunately, it’s not there anymore, but any venue in Hastings is always special. Would be nice play the O2 Arena sometime too!

Q. If you could play any show with any line-up, who would be on the ticket?

• A. The two bands all our band members would agree on would be The Who & Genesis. We would headline, of course! 

Q. What is some advice you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band, and some advice you would give to your younger self.?/Q. If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

• A. These 2 questions seem pretty much the same so will answer them together. Best advice is to keep practicing regularly, individually and as a band. Watch and listen to what the bands you admire are doing, and try to do your own version. I don’t know what advice to give our younger selves, as I think we had the right attitude. 

Q. Of your songs, which one means the most to you, and why?

• A. Time Machine is our “signature” song. It’s the fan favourite and always our set closer, but perhaps our best is Howard, a 9-minute epic with contrasting styles and moods, and a quirky storyline. If you can only listen to one song to find out what Factory’s about, that’s probably the one!

Q. Which songs are your favourite to play, and which get requested the most? 

• A. Time Machine first of all. It’s the most requested, and a great rocker, the climax of our set. Other favorites among the band and fans, include some of those that have been played on the radio, including Angel From The Sky & Free ‘N’ Easy. 

Q. What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• A. Our songs are all written by individual band members, we very rarely collaborate on writing songs, but all the arrangements are very much a group effort. Inspiration can come from hearing something by someone else that you like, then figuring what it is about it you like, and doing similar, or it could be from messing around on an instrument and finding something by accident. 

Q. What kind of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• A. We don’t usually try to deliberately get a particular message across, but we do like to be positive in general, so there’s not much in the way of anger or complaining!