The Factory
Interview with Vance Bockis
By Christopher Duda
(SugarBuzz Toronto)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Some candles are doused temporarily only to be relit, regain strength and burn the fucking palace down. Burn Baby Burn! Rick Ballard (Acetate Records) was able to locate former band members and with the help of Scott Sartorius (Bass) go through an exhaustive hunt for the illusive master tapes. Signed, sealed, and delivered!
Perhaps, The Factory rejoiced and partook in revelry and ended up dealing with the crapulous fall out. In the end, The Factory did not subscribe to the dictations of de rigueur and ended up resurfacing stronger.
My ears bleed for you.
1. Any memories of opening for Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders, The Ramones or Public Image Limited?
Thinking
back I have very clear memories of those shows and the great thing about playing those shows with those bands was that not only was it a good gig, but at the time it blew my mind that I got to play in front of artists that I looked up to. I remember bits and parts, I don’t remember how well our gig went, and I don’t remember receiving any complaints that were worth being concerned about. One thing I remember about the Iggy Pop show is that it was the Blah, Blah, Blah Tour and they sounded great. It was at the Bayou in Washington D.C. I recall after we played, I was pretty lit at the time but I approached Iggy because I wanted to get his autograph. I couldn’t find anything for him to sign, so I reached down and took some photographs that somebody had done of our band, and handed him a big picture of me to sign. He just looked at me as if I was the biggest asshole in the room and did not give me the signature. I felt honored to be called an asshole by Mr. Pop.
I remember we opened up a couple times for Johnny Thunders and they were great shows. Johnny played well on one and not so well on the other. Afterwards we got together at the bar, traded insults and called each other names. I had fun. The only thing I remember about the Public Image show was that I was playing bass for 9353 at the time and we had opened up for them at Cole Field House at University of MD and then again Halloween night at Ontario Theater in Washington DC. I didn’t want to get close to them; pretty much, what I could observe was that John Lydon
was an arrogant snot. The Ramones shows I really don’t remember much of, even though later on we became friends with Joey Ramone. He liked The Factory and dropped in and saw us when we played in NYC.
2. What happened to The Factory and why such an early demise?
I was just having a way better time than everyone else was and we couldn’t see eye to eye. I guess the guys in the band thought a future with me would be a little too much for them to handle at that time.
3. How did you feel when Dave Grohl and Scream wrote a song about Vance Bockis (GLC-Good Lookin’ Corpse)?
I never knew it was about me until I saw it printed in an interview in The Post and I think it’s a wonderful compliment. It is the highest form of flattery. I never knew Dave and the guys in Scream thought I was good looking. I think they’re a pretty good-looking bunch of guys too. Except for Skeeter. Nevertheless, I love him.
4. What previous bands had members of The Factory played in and where did they disperse to after The Factory fell? Is anyone still in the music scene?
I can only account for the bands I played in previously; I played 
with Link Wray, 9353, Pentagram, The Obsessed and several other cover bands. After we dispersed I was in and out of 9353, and one where I played guitar called Wall of Cake. I know that Bruce and Robbie went into a Rockabilly band and a band called the Avengers, which was more surf-type rock. Scott joined Tesco Vee’s Hate Police, which actually covered a Factory tune on their debut album, and Mark played with the Meat Men and ChemLab.
5. Did the name of the band come from Andy Warhol’s “The Factory”?
Yes, it did.
6. Why did The Factory not release anything during their existence?
We were investing our money in other things.
7. How important was the first wave of Punk and the early glam scene on The Factory’s sound? ( I hear Johnny Thunders influence in the music)
It was not so much we were trying to mimic any sounds; it was actually the attitude behind that scene which was much more important. It’s all Rock and Roll.
8. How did this release in 2010 on Acetate Records come into being
and how long did it take to locate the original masters?
I should actually let Rick Ballard or Scott Sartorius answer that, but I think it took about 6 or 7 months. They are the ones who made it happen.
Rick: I grew up outside DC and would see The Factory whenever I could. The guitar player gave me a cassette at a party one night and I held on it for like 20 years. I always thought it was a tragedy that they never released anything, but that's the way it was at the time. So when I saw a video on YouTube last year, I contacted them immediately. Scott Sartorius, the bass player, was able to locate all the original masters within a couple of months, it was pretty unbelievable. Of course they hadn't paid their studio tab at one of the places...
9. Were you aware of “The Joneses” when The Factory was in existence? Seems to me that would have made a killer double bill.
I believe you, I’ve never heard of them. However, I’ve certainly been aware of Jonesing.
10. If The Factory had impressed music industry 
reps along the East Coast, why were they never signed?
We didn’t impress them enough. I would say we intrigued them.
11. How did the D.C punk scene accept The Factory?
Actually, there was a clique of more like “trash rock” people that followed us. However, the straight edge thought we were a joke.
12. If you could change anything about The Factory and their existence what if anything, would that be?
I wouldn’t want to change anything, I have no regrets.
13. Is there any more fodder in The Factory cannon (future releases) or for that matter any chance of a reunion gig?
Yes there is. We are ready to play out, that’s the original line-up with the exception of a new drummer, whose name is John Long. In addition, we are looking forward to putting out some new stuff.
14. What is your opinion of the current state of music? Are there any bands that are currently on your radar (from today or the past)?
Bands like Prima Donna, I love them. You can hear 
the influence of Mott the Hoople and T-Rex and I love that music, which is my first love. I love Rock and Roll; you can’t go wrong with Rock and Roll. Moreover, there are several other bands as well but that is the first example that comes to my mind. I would like to see younger bands pulling from influences as they do.
15. Do you believe that if The Factory packed their bags and moved to somewhere like L.A they might have led a different path?
Actually, at the time, anywhere I went, the demise of the band was soon to follow. No comment beyond that.
16. Listening to the masters for the first time, did it bring back a flood of memories? What was your overall impression of the final product?
No, I just kind of looked up, nodded to myself and went, “Oh yeah, I remember that.” I am very pleased with what Rick Ballard and Acetate Records has done for us.
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