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!

[@SukkaPunch321]

One of my favorite lines from Rivethead is when he's saying goodbye to a co-worker, and Ben writes something to the effect of, "maybe we can meet up sometime, I lied." So true of every factory I've ever worked at.

[@Gr8thxAlot]

I loved that part too! It's even true in the tech world too. Lots of promised lunches never happen.

[@mrspivvy]

a brilliant writer. can't believe there are no surviving images of Howie makem..

[@tigertravis6830]

He’s my uncle. Ben Hamper. I’m Robert Hamper the 2nd named after his brother my father.

[@kennethocongerskin9460]

@@tigertravis6830 Hi. How is your uncle? I own the 'Rivet Head' book. It is an amazing read.

[@MarkGraban]

@@kennethocongerskin9460 Agreed -- I read it as a former GM engineer and I loved the book. Great writer.

[@stevenroby1667]

Ben hosted a awesome punk rock radio show here in flint that saved my life from the mainstream I was surrounded by thank you been and Doug Earp and your various co hosts peace brother...

[@paleo704]

Was that before or after his breakdown?

[@SukkaPunch321]

Back again. This guy is underrated. One of the great blue collar writers.

[@theBreakdancingNinja]

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.

[@shackbhoy]

Un - fuckin - believable ! ive loved that guys book since about 1990 and never knew this existed til now . I SHOPRAT !!!

[@Geek_Chorus]

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

[@Gr8thxAlot]

Same!

[@sporty1701]

For 34 years, I was an industrial mechanic for a large American manufacturer...you'd recognize the name. The factory was very large (over 750,000 sq. ft.), dirty, noisy and the air was always laden with a foggy oil mist. Despite the negatives, I loved my job...I worked with good people and (for the most part) was well paid & treated fairly. With that said, I always marveled at how clueless management was in their day-to-day dealings with those of us "on the floor". I never understood how folks in the "people" business could know so little about people. Read "Rivethead" many years ago and was struck by the many similarities between Ben's job and mine. Like GM, my company tried many lame gimmicks to improve quality and moral...with few exceptions, they all went down in flames. Had many bosses over the years...most were idiots on their way "up"...a couple were terrific and a pleasure to work with. In the end, it all boils down to this...treat me well and I will respond in kind. Treat me poorly and I will respond in kind...it's really that simple. So simple in fact, most managers never get it. Anyway, great book Ben, brought back many "factory rat" memories.

[@mahzorimipod]

in the 80s all the guys who worked their way from the shop floor to management got shitcanned. they were replaced by bean counters and MBAs. management became less of something that experience conferred and more of a set of procedures to squeeze cost.

[@patcampion716]

A friend of mine that was from Kansas told me (Michigan boy) about the book. I had never heard about it. I picked it up and read it in a couple of days, it’s a book that is typically read in a few days because one cannot put it down. Very entertaining!!! Have to wonder what Ben is up to these days

[@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"

[@SukkaPunch321]

The "Walleye" Journal ran an article about him too.

[@Moony_Os]

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

[@stevenroby1667]

and why hasn't there been a film written about Ben his growing up in flint to his factory days to his punk rock radio days to his book to now with the flint water crisis it would be amazing...

[@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.

[@eddiewillers1]

Unlike that other Flint-ite (Flintian?), Fat-boy Michael Moore; he drank the kool-aid and turned leftwards.

[@hellofaname]

He’s 31? Jesus. He looks like he’s in his 40s

[@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?

[@tigertravis6830]

He’s a millionaire because the film industry buys the rights to make the film, fail to do it and buy the licensing again. He’s independently wealthy and my uncle

[@mahzorimipod]

@@tigertravis6830 lmao

[@bne211]

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

[@cottodabodykill]

@beyondalohas i take it you know this man ? care to elaborate?

[@paudiepower1407]

Vote trump