Merch cuts are hardly popular with bands these days. Dream Theater's John Petrucci has been vocal about his dislike for the practice, while In Flames' Anders Fridén has called for bands to come together and fight 'em. Now Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares is once again weighing in on the practice in an interview with The Razor's Edge, and he's irritated… as we all are.
"It's kind of like just life in general. Anybody who has a normal job — you're still getting paid 10 bucks an hour, but your rent went up, your insurance went up, food prices went up, gas prices went up, but your pay is the same. It's kind of like how it's been for bands as well. Promoters are only willing to pay you so much, but everything else went up. Now the club owners and the promoters are taking a cut of your merchandise, so it's making harder and harder for artists to survive out there."
Cazares further elaborated on his point, saying that the cuts have certainly got larger as time went on. Y'know, despite the fact that the cost of everything is only increasing and raises aren't exactly being thrown around.
"Yes. That's been the whole debate, that it's been getting larger and larger. Of course there's always been a percentage that you have to give to venues. That's just how it is. Merch percentage — we're talking about merch percentage. But, of course, it's getting higher and higher. So, unfortunately, the fans are the ones who have to pay for that, because once the merch percentages get higher that the venue takes, then you're gonna have to raise your prices on a t-shirt. That's just inevitable and that's unfortunate, [but] that's what happens."
It's also worth mentioning that Fear Factory will be getting completely old school at the upcoming Metal Injection festival alongside bands like Testament, Machine Head, and more! Get all the information and tickets here.
