Ben Hamper on the Today Show 1986

Ben Hamper, author of "The Rivethead" began writing articles on his days in the Truck & Bus plant in the early 80's in Michael Moore's alternative newspaper "The Flint Voice." He began writing hilarious album reviews. But Moore convinced him to write about his daily life in the shop. By 1986 he was a national figure, gracing the front page of the Wall Street Journal and being interviewed by national media. This, all from a few articles in The Flint Voice. He's just that good. 1986 was also the year Michael Moore was fired from Mother Jones (in part due to putting Hamper on the cover) and went about to making Roger & Me (which Hamper is featured in). The rest is history. "Rivethead" was slated to be made into a film but was shelved. We want to see this movie made!

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[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.

[danodono]

@beyondalohas 

[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

[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.