Richard Reines of Drive Thru Records

Just for the record, Richard and Drive Thru Records have helped us out since day one, and we really appreciate their help and support. Here is an interview I conducted online with Richard Reines, the co-owner of Drive Thru Records.

Ok, could you please give a little autobiography about your life, and about Drive Thru Records?
This is going to be long so I'll give you the short version. I grew up in New Jersey, went to school in New York, and then decided to move to California about 8 years ago. While in college, I managed a band that then got signed to Epic Records. They fired me as manager when they got a major label deal, which was my first taste of sketchy bands and labels. We eventually were friends again and still are to this day. When that band was on tour in California, they told me about all of these local public access video shows that were really cool and said that I should start one in LA since there weren't any there. Me and my sister started this show where we would have bands on, do fun interviews, play videos nobody would ever see, make videos for bands that didn't have them, etc. While doing this, we were poor as hell. The show gained a cult following including bands, labels and radio programmers. So, labels would call us and ask if we would play bands for them, and they would take us out to lunch and give us free CDs, which was awesome. We got free shit and we could tell people about all of these awesome bands. We did this a few times and realized that these people were fucking CLUELESS. We played Blink for some guy who said that punk doesn't sell and he wants a band that sounds like Curve (obscure 80s ‘goth' band). What an idiot. So, we were tired of everyone and we decided to do our own label. We started with 2 partners because one kid had money, and we had none. When we started talking to them, we realized we were doing all of the work, and they had bad taste in music. They wanted to sign these super shitty bands, so we said we would do it on our own with no money, rather than compromise our integrity. We started in our dining room with one phone line, an ancient computer with a 5 inch black and white screen (Mac Classic), and just winged it. Nobody really helped us. We got some advice from Greg at Go Kart Records and Tim at Liquid Meat Records, and that was it. It was a struggle and took a ton of time. We almost went bankrupt, owed money all over the place, had huge credit card bills, ruined our credit by not paying bills, etc., but we loved what we were doing and figured out a way to do it. Oh yeah, and I forgot... I directed music videos sometimes, and made some money by doing that to pay for our label. That's about it.

You still direct music videos occasionally, correct?
Yes, but only if I love the band, or if it is a huge budget so I can do things I love to do.

Right on! How many people work at Drive Thru now?
Currently we only have 5 employees, but there will be more soon. We have about 5 doing mail order too, but that is totally different.

Ok, please take some time to clear up any misconceptions that people have regarding you and/or Drive Thru Records.
Ok, you tell me some things and I'll answer. I can start with one thing... MCA does NOT own any part of our label!!! They love to take credit and steal our bands though.

Don't the bands have a choice? I'm not familiar with how that whole process works.
Long story again... short version is that when a band signs with us, they also negotiate a deal with MCA - in case MCA wants to pick them up. They usually only pick up bands when they need to go to the next level (commercial radio), which is mostly the band / manager's choice.

So, do you feel that your relationship with MCA is both good and bad? Good because it has helped you receive more recognition, but bad because anytime you sign a band that is successful, they leave.
They don't leave. We are still involved (unless we choose not to be). But yeah, it changes. I hate that part of our deal. I'm not into the whole deal in general, but it was better than what we were doing before. It was a struggle to get CDs in stores, we had no money, no employees, couldn't afford anything... we were fucked. MCA gave us a chance, but they also took advantage, which is unforgivable.

How long is your contract with MCA?
It is over in 18 months!

Are you big enough to be self-sufficient now, or will you look for another major label to help distribute your CDs?
You need a major company to distribute CDs if you really want to be in all of the stores. Sony owns Red, who distributes Fat and Epitaph. Caroline is owned by Virgin / EMI. None of those are indie. It is all a crock of shit where labels try and hide the truth. Who cares? We are looking at all of our options after the deal is up. There is also so much other bullshit involved with getting CDs in stores, you have no idea. I was shocked as we slowly learned it. It's all about money.

I bet. A lot of people probably think that because your label is successful, that you're living the easy life. Can you please walk us through your typical day?
Since we started the label, 7 years ago, our only vacation was 3 months ago. We went to Spain for 4 days while on business in London... 4 days! Come on, I would love the easy life. Isn't that everyone's goal? I love to work though. I'm a workaholic. I get to the office around 10 am, work all day (phone calls, emails, meetings with bands, managers, booking agents, etc, about tours, marketing, promotions, contests, artwork, accounting, distribution, problems, future releases, etc.) There is so much, I can't even begin to type it all. Anyway, it is non-stop until around 1 pm when we go to lunch. We get back, work until around 7 or 8pm, go to dinner, go home, and then I answer e-mail from kids and bands and stuff like that until around 2 am. A few times a month, I'll stay late at the office, meet with a local band, and give them help and advice.

Wow! Are there any days when you just want to quit?
Do I want to quit? Only when Midtown fucked us over and we lost all trust and were really shocked. I would like a real vacation though. But then there will be a new release, and hundreds of things going on, so we can never leave.

I know you get out a lot on tour with bands and such. Have you had any run-ins with either Dashboard Confessional or Midtown since either of their fiascos? And, how have those ordeals changed how you run your label?
We ran into Dashboard, and Stefanie spoke to him about all of the shit that went on. It isn't his fault as much as it is Midtown's, so we are over that. We see Midtown once in a while. I don't even like saying hi to them. They are dead to me. And yes, that has DEFINITLEY changed our label!

How so?
We have to have contracts, and there is always the worry that the band might turn into assholes. It sucks to think that in the back of your head. It is like if your girlfriend was cheating on you, and you get back together, you always are suspicious from that day on. It isn't the same.

Going back to an earlier question...is there anything that Midtown said in their infamous interview that you would like to clear up, or elaborate on?
Ha ha! It was all 100% bullshit. Stef wrote a whole response that cleared it all up. That should be online somewhere.I don't even want to get back into that stupidity. Think of it this way, since we started we have had about 20 bands. One of the bands talks shit... Who do you think is full of shit? Dashboard didn't even have bad things to say!

Yeah, I'm actually looking at the response right now. What do you think their problem is?
Honestly, Stef and I decided that we wouldn't talk shit about them, and let them dig their own graves. They are just the kind of people that grew up spoiled and nothing is EVER good enough. Can't change someone like that. There is so much more I want to say, but I'm not going to

Alright, moving on...listening to so much music can really make a person jaded. What bands, besides the ones on your label, still excite you?
A ton of bands. Recently it is Taking Back Sunday, The Format, Motion City Soundtrack, All American Rejects, and Brand New, plus a ton of bands that are going to be on Rushmore (our friends label), so I can't mention them.

You don't want to hype them up?
Not until they are signed.

Alright, that's cool. What advice can you give to someone interested in starting his or her own label? What do you wish you knew when you were starting?
A ton of stuff. Get contracts; people you never suspect will walk over you if a better opportunity arises. It sucks. You need to be protected if you are going to bust your ass. Keep really good records of everything you spend. We were a mess with accounting. Just work really hard, and treat people the way you would like to be treated and you will on a good path.

Cool. How many demos does Drive Thru receive each day, and what happens to them? What process do you go through if you hear a great demo, or what process do you go through to find your bands? Some of your bands have already established themselves (Homegrown, Movielife), but some seem to just pop up (Starting Line, Finch, etc.).
The Movielife and Home Grown are the only two bands that had established anything before we signed them. We get a ton of demos, and it is REALLY hard to get to listen to them all. We listen to as many as we can. Our bands play us bands that they like, and friends play me bands all the time. We find bands from all different sources.

About how many demos would you say you receive (each day, week...whatever)? Because I imagine that you have huge piles of mail!
Probably 30 a week.

Ok, I know you're really excited to put out the Less Than Jake EP this summer. What is the one band you would most like to work with?
Ummmm... Jimmy Eat World. We have been fans since they drew 5 people a show (for a long time). They played our living room years ago. I love that band. Blink-182 are awesome, I'd love to do something with them; we might be putting out their vinyl.

Yeah, Jimmy Eat World is so good!
I directed their first video. The Early November just got here. I have to leave in a minute to catch a movie.

What are your favorite movies?
Shawshank Redemption, Edward Scissorhands, Au Revoir Les Enfants, Moulin Rouge, A Perfect World, Bowling For Columbine, American Movie, American Beauty, Happiness, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest... I could go on forever!

Please tell us about your new bands, and about any upcoming releases.
Steel Train comes out Jan 28th, and I am really excited. They are very different than any other bands we signed, and very original. I love them. February 25th is the new Movielife CD which BLOWS AWAY the EP. Also coming this year...Senses Fail EP, Senses Fail CD, Steel Train CD, Starting Line acoustic EP, The Early Novemeber CD, RxBandits CD, Less Than Jake EP, another DVD and a lot more!

I heard that you are starting a side-label. Can you please talk about this, what it is called, what is the purpose of the side label, etc.?
It is a long story. It is really our friend's label and we are just helping out a lot. He has great bands lined up. I'm really excited.

Is that Rushmore, the label you mentioned earlier?
Yes.

I know that you like to have people walk on your back. Has this caused any permanent damage? And what is the craziest story you have involving someone walking on your back?
Haha. Yeah I'm addicted to getting my back cracked I guess. No damage is done. There aren't really any stories that are interesting.

I have also heard that you enjoy paying people to do gross things, such as licking the blankets in hotels and such. What is the grossest thing that you've ever paid someone to do?
That is just for laughs and it is really funny. Someone lost a bet and had to lick a seat in a bowling alley, which is pretty disgusting. Licking the carpet of this sleazy hotel in Asbury Park was definitley the worst one though. We have it on video.

Who licked the bowling alley chair, and who licked the carpet in NJ?
Haha! Both friends of ours, not our bands.

If your house was burning down, and you could only grab 3 CDs and 3 other things, what would you grab?
I'd grab a hose and stop the fire!

If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be, and what would you do?
I would be Gavin from Bush, and I'd have sex with my wife.

What is the funniest thing that has happened while you have been on tour with one of your bands?
There are so many of those. A month ago we were out to lunch with some of Something Corporate, Finch and New Found Glory, and we got kicked out of a restaurant when Randy from Finch was about to snort lines of parmasean cheese as a joke.

If you could get rid of 3 bands, who would you get rid of?
1. Red Hot Chili Peppers 2. White Zombie 3. Audioslave

Hey, thanks a lot man, I know you're busy! Anything else you'd like to add?
The only other thing I want to say is how much we apprecaite the huge support our label gets around the world. It is more than we ever dreamed about. Thank you to everyone who has been cool and suportive. People like to talk shit and try and bring us down, and it just reminds me of the assholes in high school who did the same shit. Karma is a bitch.

BW