Mar. 3, 2009 at 4:38pm
Henry RollinsSpoken WordBlack FlagMusicPoliticsState of AlertTour
Henry Rollins on music, politics, and growing old.It’s mid-morning and as we’re ushered along the halls, herded towards where our interviewee awaits, there’s a certain amount of trepidation. You see, the person that’s sitting beyond that hotel room door isn’t your typical celebrity. He’s Henry Rollins - a man famous (and frequently infamous) for his outspoken career in the spotlight.First gaining notoriety within the punk music scene, singing in cult bands such as State of Alert (S. O. A.) and Black Flag, Rollins’s spoken word performances have brought him the most coverage in recent years.The intimate - and direct - mode of expression fits the self-professed “angry man” like a glove, providing a springboard for Rollins to air his views. From the war on Iraq, to music piracy to personal freedom, Rollins extols (and attacks) with a barefaced honesty rarely seen today. When quizzed on his thoughts about music piracy Rollins doesn’t hesitate, “I’d rather be heard than paid,” he says. Though he doesn’t partake in the illegal activities, preferring to support artists, he understands why the average person might - and doesn’t hold it against them.An outspoken critic of the Bush administration, Rollins jokingly dubs his spoken word tours his “Axis of Evil Tour”. Fearing nothing but boredom, Rollins is intent on performing in every one of the countries belonging to the “axis”. He lists places like Iran, Syria, and Iraq without batting an eye. Reportedly plans to tour North Korea - a country that typically denies entry to Americans - could be on the cards.Of his music career, it seems those days might well be behind him. Having not toured musically since 2006, Rollins doesn’t have any plans to return to the road in that capacity. “It’s like when you’re at college. You do your four years, and that’s okay. But then you hang around for a fifth year…” Now in his late 40s, Rollins identifies his spoken word tours as the most effective and rewarding outlet for his passions. And he’s not going to let anything - whether it be conservative governments or iron-fisted dictatorships - get in his way.

Henry Rollins on music, politics, and growing old.

It’s mid-morning and as we’re ushered along the halls, herded towards where our interviewee awaits, there’s a certain amount of trepidation. You see, the person that’s sitting beyond that hotel room door isn’t your typical celebrity. He’s Henry Rollins - a man famous (and frequently infamous) for his outspoken career in the spotlight.

First gaining notoriety within the punk music scene, singing in cult bands such as State of Alert (S. O. A.) and Black Flag, Rollins’s spoken word performances have brought him the most coverage in recent years.

The intimate - and direct - mode of expression fits the self-professed “angry man” like a glove, providing a springboard for Rollins to air his views. From the war on Iraq, to music piracy to personal freedom, Rollins extols (and attacks) with a barefaced honesty rarely seen today. When quizzed on his thoughts about music piracy Rollins doesn’t hesitate, “I’d rather be heard than paid,” he says. Though he doesn’t partake in the illegal activities, preferring to support artists, he understands why the average person might - and doesn’t hold it against them.

An outspoken critic of the Bush administration, Rollins jokingly dubs his spoken word tours his “Axis of Evil Tour”. Fearing nothing but boredom, Rollins is intent on performing in every one of the countries belonging to the “axis”. He lists places like Iran, Syria, and Iraq without batting an eye. Reportedly plans to tour North Korea - a country that typically denies entry to Americans - could be on the cards.

Of his music career, it seems those days might well be behind him. Having not toured musically since 2006, Rollins doesn’t have any plans to return to the road in that capacity. “It’s like when you’re at college. You do your four years, and that’s okay. But then you hang around for a fifth year…” Now in his late 40s, Rollins identifies his spoken word tours as the most effective and rewarding outlet for his passions. And he’s not going to let anything - whether it be conservative governments or iron-fisted dictatorships - get in his way.