Filter’s Richard Patrick

Filter_RichardPatrick4_Credit_MyriamSantos

Written By: Jennifer Burch

Earlier this week I had the chance to grab a quick chat with Robert Patrick, the creative conspirator behind Filter, who is currently headlining the 2016 Make America Hate Again Tour.  The fast-paced schedule packs thirty-two shows in just over a month, beginning April 13th in San Francisco and wrapping up May 21st in Los Angeles.  The band’s current members consist of Richard Patrick on vocals and guitar, Ashley Dzerigian on Bass, Chris Reeve on Drums, Bobby Miller on keyboards and Oumi Kapila on guitar.  Needless to say, Filter has been killing it almost nightly alongside Orgy, Vampires Everywhere and Death Valley High.

For anyone that might not already know, Patrick was the original guitarist for Nine Inch Nails.  It’s true he brought an undeniable essence to NIN, but developing Filter has proven to be his true calling.  Patrick’s distinctive sound and raw songwriting has been amplified through Filter.  Over the years the industrial rock band has gifted fans with precision records, each one like a straight razor that has been honed to perfection.  The April 8th release of Crazy Eyes has fans soaking up the new tracks, timed perfectly with live performances on Make America Hate Again.

 

Side Stage Magazine:  I’m pretty excited about your show here in Dallas next month!  Has anything crazy happened to you so far on this tour?

Richard Patrick: Just tearing down the house every night. Killin it live, having great shows, the fans rock, the record is great and people are very into it.

Do you have a favorite venue that you’ve played?

The Cleveland Agora.

I’m actually really glad you mentioned Cleveland because I wanted to ask you what it felt like to play back home.

I love Cleveland. You know when I’m on the road, I stay close to the bus and I get food close to the venue.  It’s not like some luxurious tour where I vibe all over the place, check out cities and go to their art museums and do that kind of stuff.  We pack in like 10 shows in a week and it’s pretty hard.  We play for an hour and a half a night, pack everything up and go to another city and play there.  We play clubs and we keep it rolling to make it all feasible, you know what I mean?

I know what you mean.  So tell me what’s your involvement with World’s Loudest Month?

Yeah, I’m looking forward to playing it, but I gotta be honest with you, I’m probably gonna sneak a little protest in there.  I don’t want to run from it, or boycott it, you know I want to be able to speak my mind. This is the United States of America. Fight all the way back to Revolution for me to sit back and let people tell me what I cannot say.

So Crazy Eyes, a lot of people have said this is your best album yet.  Regarding your creative process, what have you done differently this time around?

Well in the last 3 records I’ve used a producer that kind of guides you. This record, I asked the label if I could produce it and they wound up saying sure go for it.  I produced it and put all my weird quirks in it and that’s what people want.  They want my eccentricity. They don’t want a polished rocker and that’s why it’s better.  I’m looking forward to getting all my fans back on the same page with me and have them rock with me and trust me, trust Filter.

So much has changed over the years with album sales vs. album downloads. What are your thoughts on where music is today as a business?

Well, you have to put back. You have to make records that are way more inexpensive. A lot of my friends who used to do records with me were buying houses, having families and some of them have gotten divorced, they had to quit the music industry, they’ve gone through tough times. A lot of people get desperate and start stealing, stuff like that.  It’s had a really negative impact.  Free music is ridiculous.  We live in a world where if you want to go to a studio and make a record, you have to pay for that.

Exactly, nothing in this world is free.

Well it is! The audience, unfortunately has decided (well a large part of the audience, not everyone) has decided fuck that, they’re rich rock stars, we’ll take their money. But in reality, there is a growing bunch of people that literally see it as direct participation in a bands future. There’s this thing called Pledgemusic.com and that’s been an absolutely amazing application of the internet and what it’s good for.  On Pledge Music, people preorder direct, and then they get access to special updates and we update weekly or daily to show the fans what we’re doing.

Is that how fans can best access your music through Pledgemusic.com?

Yeah, the fans have direct access to us.  They can say things, write to me through messages, emails and we have discussions. It’s really cool and I actually enjoy it.  There’s always a few hours when I’m doing something, or waiting for something to get moved around in the computer, or I’m doing some kind of arrangement or something like that, or just making little videos.  It gives them direct access you know, some people bought back stage sets.  I had this American flag jacket that I really wasn’t going to wear anymore. I thought it would be cool to put it up, they bought it. I took this regular Diesel jacket that I was wearing, I had this American flag and then 9/11 happened, that evening and into the next morning I sat there with safety pins and made this safety pins punk-rock jacket.  Someone really saw the value in that and bought it.  Things that I just don’t really want to hang onto, I would actually love a fan to have it, instead of me carrying it around forever.  You include fans, you know.  It’s good stuff and I’m really excited about Pledgemusic.com

Regarding advice throughout your career, have you ever been given some really good advice? Who gave it to you?

I guess the guy that signed me back with Warner Brothers.  He said, keep doing what you’re doing.  It’s really for work.  Don’t vary into too much of a big production, just keep it simple and everything will be fine and I agree with that.

Is that the kind of advice you would give to a band just starting out?

Yeah, just be yourself. Everybody is playing under the same conditions. Make music that’s great and you’ll be fine.

So, you’ve been going non-stop. I know your touring schedule is fast and furious.  Do you have one essential item that you can’t be without?

My cell phone!  I mean, other than that?  Let’s see, my guitars and my mic…other than equipment?  Other than my shave kit?

Do you have a pet you bring along?

No way, oh fuck that.  Nah, you gotta clean up the shit. Our friends have a dog and this little dog shits in their bus and I feel bad for them.

Do you have any brand loyalty? Why do you choose to play with what you choose?

I like guitars that have different functions.  My Schecter is a great guitar, it has pickups that were custom made for me. Guitar was made out of Koa. They have a Birdseye Maple neck, very good quality. I like G&L guitars, I like Fenders. I have a Gibson Les Paul that is very meaningful to me.  Trent gave it to me after we destroyed. I have a G&L that Trent broke on stage back in 91 or somewhere. That’s the guitar that I saved up my money from when I was a caddy.  I caddied at a local country club to make enough money for a guitar when I was in high school. I have that guitar locked away in my house.

What is one of your prized possessions?

Yes, a prized possession.  You know, people think guitars are like, whatever, just a tool to make music.  I started to get very sentimental with my instruments. I don’t smash guitars anymore.

It’s a shame! To personal to smash them and such a waste.   Any last thoughts?

I would love if everyone could check out our music. We’ve said a lot on this record.