Rollins Has Spoken
Interview by Kimberly Katz
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Last weekend I got to see the original lineup of The Henry Rollins Band at The House of Blues.
Henry prowled and commanded the stage like a fire breathing dragon, spitting and hissing. The energy and passion with which he performed was breathtaking, somewhat like getting paddled with electricity after flat lining. Henry’s band is equally solid and powerful. Henry Rollins might be best known for his work with the band Black Flag or for his spoken word tours and many books on his life as an artist. You can see him now on the Independent Film Channel, Saturdays at 10 PM, on his own show about independent film, The Henry Rollins Show.
Buzz - How did you organize the band and your life to go on this tour? Do all the band members live in LA?
Henry Rollins - Tour was booked a few months ago. Band assembled in Feb. to practice and see if it sounded good. It did, to us anyway and we then sought a tour to get on and this one was available. I live in LA the rest are east coast.
Buzz - You are much loved for your spoken word performances. How do you come up with material for those shows? How do you rehearse or prepare for those shows, do you memorize your monologue and do it over and over, or just wing it? Also, when and where do you think you'll be performing spoken word again?
Henry - I just tell the stories. I don’t memorize stuff but often I will do a lot of research on a topic so I have my facts straight. Material is gathered from trips to far off places and thing that I consider eventful or interesting and hopefully will be to others. I don’t know when I am going out on one of those again. I have to get some new material.
Buzz - What were some of the things that disturbed you most on your recent tour of the troops?
Henry - They’re so brave and great and their situation is so dangerous, it’s hard to see the sense of it all. No one says anything about any of it. That always gets to me.
Buzz - You are constantly speaking out on important issues that affect others, which is great and very courageous. Do you ever feel that your own physical life or personal issues are neglected when trying to help so many others?
Henry - I am no Mother Theresa. I do what I do and take care of myself. It’s not I spend all my time helping people. I do my work and try to be part of the solution. That takes work. I don’t think anything I do is extraordinary.
Buzz - Have you ever tried to help someone only to find that they resented your efforts or got angry about your helping them?
Henry - I bought a homeless guy some food the other day and he looked at me like I was nuts. Usually I do work on behalf of organizations that are looking for donations so it’s already a sanctioned event.
Buzz - If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, living or dead who would it be and why?
Henry - Believe it or not, the thing I would rather sit across from at dinner is an empty chair. It’s very difficult for me to be around people these days. I can be in the band and all but past that, it’s uphill.
Buzz - If you could say one thing to President Bush right now, what would it be?
Henry - If you really love America—quit.