Ben Hamper on the Today Show 1986

[dnggitg]

Does it strike you as a bit corny, this "Huh! A writer who works in a GM factory in Flint, MI! Whoda thunk it?" Ever heard of Eric Hoffer?

[dnggitg]

Back then I didn't know that as far as coastal elites were concerned, a writer emerging from Shopratsnest, MI, was like an orchid growing from a cinderblock. That the best way for a Flint writer to become known was by writing about underclass hell in Flint. New York elites would be momentarily intrigued by that, as by a story set in an Indian reservation.

Other good writers have come from Flint. The poet Danny Rendleman, for example. And, of course, me.

[dnggitg]

I used to listen to Take No Prisoners--or TAPE No Prisoners, as Hamper sometimes called it, because it wasn't always live--regularly. Loved it. Hamper was much funnier and cleverer with words than his well-upholstered partner there. I read some of Hamper's stuff in the Flint/Michigan Voice at that time, too, just before he became somewhat famous. I thought--and I was in my late teens, early 20s--that it was amateurishly overwritten, but clearly the product of talent.

[beyondalohas]

cry baby and never got his teeth fixed.

D- student still shows his failure and wining.

writer? LMAO, he gets pimped by the today show, then poof hes forgotten about!

the guy is lucky to had a job and boredom is his complaint? LMAO

[danodono]

@beyondalohas 

[bne211]

Toyota, moving forward... even with your foot on the brake

[gopconservative78]

He made crap cars.......GM sucks and Honda and Toyota are superior

[CaptainFantastik1]

Rivethead was assigned reading in one of my college classes years ago. Hamper's book is awesome from cover to cover. My copy is yellowed and worn but still going strong.

[RatedRKJerichO]

My FAVORITE book of all time, wear copy after copy out. Would make a great film! Ben Hamper rules!

[MexiSpice]

I read RivetHead by Hamper and loved it. Great for corporate robots and people that do menial work, its scary how he describes his work.

[funkadelikbob]

That drumset is in my friend's basement. Yes. The exact one in this video. That Minty was playing. From Nineteen Eighty-fuckin-six.

[bubbasock]

With the same hi-hats, ride cymbal, and one 16-inch crash cymbal. DEM SOME OLD CYMBALS.

[morphix1988]

I am currently reading his book right now entitled "Rivethead". Very humerous. One of the very few books I actually enjoyed reading.

[IBMeddling]

I remember him in the movie "Roger and me"

[proparty1]

60,000 when reagan was pres.

about 6,000 now. hmm...

[JeffN727]

Used to like to read his articles in the Flint Voice. Thanks for posting.