Drive-Thru Records have really made a huge mark on the independent rock scene in the past 5 years. They have helped New Found Glory, Midtown, The Starting Line, Finch and Senses Fail get where they are today. Drive-Thru has become one of the biggest independent labels and also, one of the most popular. Co-Owner Richard Reines took some time out of his busy schedule to do an interview with RockStarPix.TV.
Keith Joseph: At about what age did you really become interested in making your own place in the music industry? What age did you and Stephanie actually make this into a reality?
Richard Reines: Both of us were into music from a really young age. Our parents would take us to concerts when I was like 10 years old. When I was in 8th grade me and Stefanie started a zine so we could meet bands, see shows and get free CDs. In college I managed a band, and after college we had a music video public access show. We started the label after that, so we were always involved in music in some way. We never thought about doing it ourselves until our friend suggested it.
K: Who were your favorite bands when you were younger and were there any shows that you precisely remember as a youngster?
R: My first show..the Bee Gees was awesome! They had pyro! It was amazing. My second show was Billy Joel which was amazing as well. My parents would make us leave before the encore- they would get all nervous because back then people would hold up their lighters to ask for an encore! So my parents worried about a fire (laughs). Then we got into Duran Duran! When we were a little older (high school) we were seeing The Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, Depeche Mode and all sorts of British bands. Then I got into Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Poison, Motley Crue but still liked all of the other bands I mentioned (we didn’t jump trends we liked all different music) while still listening to the Bee Gees, Elton John, Queen, The Eagles, etc. Then in college I really got into The Jesus And Mary Chain, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine, Sisters Of Mercy, The Pixies, etc. Then I got into pop punk in 1988 with a band called Mega City Four when we were in London and saw them by accident. We became friends with them and they played me a band who just put out a couple of EPs from CA named Green Day. That was back in 1988.89, I could go on and on.
K: You guys were huge fans of all different styles of rock music, it shows in the bands that you have signed (Steel Train, An Angle, HelloGoodbye, Rx Bandits, etc.). Even though most labels are in it for the economic part of the music industry, will you sign a band knowing that they may not become very popular with listeners?
R: We do it all of the time. We just won't spend as much money on that band. I would put out the next 100 Rx Bandits CDs even if they only sell 10 copies each because the band is amazing.
K: I completely agree, they are one of the best live bands I have ever seen at least within the past 5 years or so.
R: Yeah they are. So are Steel Train in my opinion, not just because they are on our label.
K: I've never seen Steel Train but always really wanted to. Speaking of the Rx Bandits, what do you think of Matt Embree's side label Mash Down Babylon Records?
R: I don't know much about it but it's cool, he loves music and wants to put out CDs. He is going to hate the scummy side of the industry as much as we do though.
K: The Movielife broke up about two years ago or so, how did you feel when this happened because you and Stefanie always seemed to praise these guys and love their music?
R: It sucks but there is nothing you can do. I wouldn't want to be forced to stay in a band if I wasn't happy. I think they should have worked out their problems/issues and given it more of a chance, but they didn't feel the same way I guess.
K: Can you say anything on the situation of I Am The Avalanche and Nightmare Of You? Will your label get the same kind of deal that Victory had received when Taking Back Sunday almost broke up and Straylight Run signed with them?
R: Yes, of course.
K: That is good to hear because I am a fan of both groups. Having bands from all over the country, do you think that there is a difference in the east coast bands and the west coast bands?
R: Well, people's personalities on the East and West coasts are very different anyway, so I guess bands are the same way. Besides that, I don't think there is too much of a difference.
K: Since getting out of the Geffen deal it seems as if you guys have been on a signing spree, and also adding Rushmore Records into the mix. How did Rushmore start up and will there be even more signings soon?
R: We were going to start Rushmore over a year ago, but then we found out those fucking scum bags at Geffen could have stolen bands from that label as well, so we said over our dead bodies. We wouldn’t give those leaches more bands so we just kept quiet for a year and started it up and began signing more bands once we were gone from that shit hole. Rushmore will be signing more bands but for now there are two more coming.
K: So is Rushmore still run by you and Stefanie or have you guys let someone else work with the label?
R: We still run the label. We will never put our name to something and not have 100% creative control over it. We don't do anything half-ass. If we let someone else run it, it wouldn't be the same.
K: You and Stefanie have always said that you only sign bands if you completely love their music. Even though there was a huge problem with Senses Fail, do you still listen to them and love their music taking away the business/personal issues?
R: I loved the music of course, but after the personal problems, I just can't listen to them. I don't listen to screamo anymore. I got bored to death of it.
K: How do you feel about having your logo next to Vagrant's on the album? Especially knowing that you got the band where they were from the business aspect.
R: Honestly, I think it is fucking disgusting.
K: There were also problems with Midtown a few years ago, do you keep in contact with them or have you guys patched things up at least?
R:Yeah, we hang out once in a while.
K: Would you consider yourself a fan of their music and what do you think of their new album?
R: Honestly, I haven't heard the new CD yet, but I have been meaning to. I have so much stuff to listen to and it takes forever for me to listen to music sometimes. They played me a few songs while they were recording and they were really good.
K: When can we expect another Drive-Thru DVD?
R: Expect it in the summer. It should be pretty awesome. Then there will be more DVD’s that should be released this fall.
K: Since their were very few releases in the past year, are you guys going to overload and release as much as possible this year? What releases can the fans look forward to?
R: There are so many releases coming this year. Expect new releases from Halifax (EP & full length), Steel Train, Hidden In Plain View, Adelphi, HelloGoodbye, The Track Record, Morning Call, Houston Calls, Allister, Home Grown, Rx Bandits, The Early November, Finch, The Starting Line, almost the whole DTR/Rushmore Roster.
K: Will The Starting Line and Finch’s releases still be affiliated with Drive-Thru Records?
R: It will be DTR/Geffen but it is really that lame ass label putting it out. We will be as involved as the bands want. We are all about helping them out. The Starting Line are already on a bunch of samplers we made. They are awesome guys and we would do anything to help them.
K: What were your favorite releases of 2004, outside of your label's releases?
R: There was a top 10 that I did on our site. I would add to that Turin Brakes, The Arcade Fire and My Chemical Romance to make it 13.
K: From the business part of music, do you feel that image is important when signing a group?
R: It helps but wouldn't make the difference if we sign a band or not.
K: I see that you guys are releasing a Tribute album for Bob Dylan, will this be the only tribute album or do you plan on doing a series of them?
R: We are thinking about a couple of others, but nothing is for sure yet. It takes a ton of work to make these albums happen.
K: Do you ever see Drive-Thru Records at a major label status?
R: I highly doubt it
K: What do you think of the situation in which many people have called An Angle a rip off of Bright Eyes?
R: I love the album. When we heard it, we also thought it was very Bright Eyes, and I LOVE Bright Eyes. Then we think “Ok, can we release this? But the songs are so great, but it is very Connor, but it is SOOOO GOOD” so we said fuck it. We love the songs. Who gives a shit what people think because the songs are awesome. Then we heard him play the NEW songs and we were 150% convinced we should sign him. The new CD is going to be AWESOME. Almost every band sounds like someone else to a point.
K: You have always been a huge fan of movies, do you think you might ever release some on your label or start up an independent-movie label?
R: We are trying to get the rights to release a hilarious movie from the 70s, that's not on DVD, and also a TV show that's also never been on DVD here. I love movies.
K: What are positives/negatives of owning a label?
R: The positives are having a job I love most of the time, working with and meeting lots of awesome people, watching a band's dreams come true and being able to experience that with them. Some negatives are dealing with bad attitudes, greedy and sketchy people, and the scummy side of the business. It's stressful.
I would like to thank Richard Reines for taking time out and doing this interview. You can find out more about Drive-Thru Records/Rushmore Records at their websites. Their bands are all on Pure Volume also.
Keith Joseph
Links:
www.drivethrurecords.com
www.rushmorerecords.com
www.purevolume.com/drivethrurecordsspringsampler - music from the label
