Henry Rollins

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

http://img10.exs.cx/img10/8963/rollins21lt.png

[paul jones]

back in the day
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/4396/wash80.gif

[Futterman's]

http://www.arch.montana.edu/students/Klein,%20Aaron/web%20pics/Henry-Rollins.gif

[the been]

i go see his spoken word stuff anytime he's around.

http://www.e.kth.se/~e97_gwr/rollins1.jpeg

[tulla]

he disgusts me.

[b-grrrlie]

http://www.blowbackentertainment.com/assets/images/photog_pics/sprout_rollins.jpg


We share birthdays :cool:


He spoke some words here just a short time ago, but I didn't afford to go and listen to him.

[ms.peachy]

Mine and Mr.peachy's first date was a Rollins gig. Isn't that sweet? :-)

[little j]

i haven't heard him speak but i've read a book or two.

he's sexy

[ms.peachy]

i haven't heard him speak but i've read a book or two.

he's sexy
If you think he's sexy without having heard him, then just wait til you do.

Go buy Sweatbox.

[RobMoney]

I've heard Rollins has a "Prince Albert".....WEIRD-O!

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

^ oh Rob, you just hatin' because Mea likes him :rolleyes:


Btw, Mea has good taste in Men, Henry Rollins is indeed sexy (y)

[RobMoney]

Yea,....and MAE really likes him too!

[RobMoney]

I prefer the term "Intense"



I've read a few of his books and thought he was pretty cool.

[enree erzweglle]

Someone educate me. I do not know this guy but I'm enjoying looking at him.

[ProfJIM]

here, educate yourself (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Rollins)

[alexandra]

he disgusts me.

[enree erzweglle]

here, educate yourself (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Rollins)
Got that, but I was wondering what it is about him that people here like or liked. Is he loud or angry or quietly intense? Curious about what people think about him rather than reading a history (because I actually did do a google search first but what I saw above the fold was kind of not helpful and I couldn't see links to video or audio).

[ProfJIM]

He's really intelligent. I've heard some of his public speaking things and its really cool stuff. My friend is obsessed with his books. I havent got around to reading any of them.

Hey people who have read them, which one should i start with?

[RobMoney]

Got that, but I was wondering what it is about him that people here like or liked. Is he loud or angry or quietly intense? Curious about what people think about him rather than reading a history (because I actually did do a google search first but what I saw above the fold was kind of not helpful and I couldn't see links to video or audio).



To describe him quite simply,....imagine Yauch with 'roid rage.
(not to suggest HR does steroids at all, just trying to describe his intensity)

Unfortunately, I don't have his books anymore so it would be hard to give a recomendation. I haven't read them in over 10 years. One book I read was a compilation of random journal entries over several years while he toured with Black Flag. His comments on different cities and crowds around the world were awesome. His random thoughts were frightening and intense.

[enree erzweglle]

To describe him quite

I'm intrigued. Hmmmm. Okay, I'll look into him some more...

[yeahwho]

Henry Rollins may be "all that" to some, but not once did he get invited onto the Show "Hee Haw".
http://www.timvp.com/heehaw4.jpg
Spoken word capital of the USA.

[Whois]

Read this:

Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1880985241/qid=1112128032/sr=8-13/ref=pd_ka_6/103-4711257-1851802?v=glance&s=books&n=507846


I saw him perform in Dublin, great crowd...the police were expecting some kind of riot, it never happened.

[mp-seventythree]

His spoken word performances will take you through a whole range of emotions, and he can really make you think. I was really pissed as I missed his spoken word show in London this January (but I was in Thailand so it wasn't too distressing).

If you're going to read any of his book, don't start with Solipsist....it may disturb you.

Personally I'm a big fan, I wish more people listened to what he has to say.

[skinnybutphat]

http://www.recoilmag.com/interviews/grfx/henery_rollins_0702.jpg

One of my heroes

[jusme1072]

i don't usually say this, but damn that is good stuff!!!

[ethera]

I'm not posting a picture at this point, but perhaps I should paint one.




I used to be an avid fan of Henry Rollins. I still like what he did with Black Flag, and his first three or four solo albums ( End of Silence was where he lost me a bit: it's his first major label album, and it's a much more produced and subdued sounding album, compared to his earlier works, as are all his subsequent albums ).


The subject matter of his art is sometimes 'creepy' and/or violent, most evident in his books, and his earlier solo music, and with Black Flag ( check out albums "Damaged ( Black Flag )", "My War ( Black Flag )", "In My Head ( Black Flag )", "Loose Nut ( Black Flag )" "Hot Animal Machine", "Life Time", "Do It", and "Hard Volume" )




In his books and music, when he's not entertaining you with sex and violence, he's creeping you out with sex and violence ridden psychoses.

His spoken word gigs have a much more light-hearted, humorous, everyday life appeal.






I met him once at his spoken word gig. He's not "basketball tall", unless you consider Spud Webb or Mugsy Boggs basketball tall ( both are/were NBA basketball players, btw )

I think I understand a bit why he prefers to be onstage as much as possible.

He's got an image, and has developed a persona, and he knows how to use them. He's known for a very long time that he's good looking to most women.

He also knows that we live in a fearful, horny, suggestable society.

He probably thinks of himself as a cross between Superman, and the Incredible Hulk. If they could have a kid together, it would probably be him.

After getting out of my Rollins-hero-worship a bit, I've learned that it's useless to be too impressed with him.


When he deprecates himself ( i.e. when he talks about his penis ), it's a bit ridiculous at this point,

because surely there'd be enough first hand female witnessess to give more specifics to his self-deprecating claims.

Another reason it's ridiculous is that he's got enough money by now to get penile surgery, if it's such a problem for him ( which I highly doubt it is ).


But that might not be good for his schtick, since he seems to tout himself as a "triumph of image over substance".

That is, he presents himself as being really "dynamic".

BTW, looks, physical build and/or flaccid penis size are no indications of the size of the penis when erect ( which is also really no indication of sexual prowess ).


Be very careful when listening to him, or sending your money his way.

By the time you hear him talking, he's probably already got your money.

[Nuzzolese]

He's very funny. His books have a dark, hyperbolic humor to them. One example I can think of, which was not in a book but in an interview thing on VH1 about Loving the 90s, was his response to the popularity of the song Love Fool by The Cardigans. "Of course this song was a hit, you have a beautiful girl singing 'say that you love me.' When is that ever going to happen to you in your wretched, pathetic life?" or something to that effect. You can see him in Def Jam Fight For New York as the trainer at the gym.

[ethera]

He's very funny.

I've been listening to him for a long time, and I'm not in the mood for his humor these days.

His books have a dark, hyperbolic humor to them.

Sometimes what he writes just plain sucks, but you don't want to admit it when you're under the spell of being a fan. I know. I was there when he was with Black Flag. He can be very captivating, which is sort of pathetic if you're a guy.


One example I can think of, which was not in a book but in an interview thing on VH1 about Loving the 90s, was his response to the popularity of the song Love Fool by The Cardigans. "Of course this song was a hit, you have a beautiful girl singing 'say that you love me.' When is that ever going to happen to you in your wretched, pathetic life?"

That might have been funny to me when I was in high school,

but after high school, I did marry a beautiful sexy girl. We were married for five years, had offspring, but I was too self-involved to be more giving in the relationship.

Needless to say, at this point, I'm not in the mood ( especially not to pay money ) to hear him say stuff like that ( which he does at his spoken word shows ), especially when his point of relation to his audience is very 'nominal' , very superficial.

To clarify, he can get a cute girl whenever he wants, but he's good at down playing it when he chooses ( even though he's already vertically challenged ).


Like I said, be careful what you're looking at, and what you're listening to.

[Nuzzolese]

Well I am extremely short and I'm in highschool and I worship Black Flag and I don't see anything wrong with that. I'd say the only thing I enjoy listening to more than Rollins is The Cardigans.

[ethera]

I still like the first 4 Rollins albums ( and just about everything he did with Black Flag, although the B-side of "My War" can take some getting used to, for the uninitiated ).

I like the Cardigans, but mostly because the girl singer is hot.


btw, you don't sound 'extremely short' from your writing, and I don't see anything wrong with being in high school, Black Flag, or the Cardigans either.

[ethera]

Someone educate me. I do not know this guy but I'm enjoying looking at him.

" Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye.
It also includes the inner pictures of the soul "

You would do well to heed your own/chosen quote, when observing Rollins' work.

btw, where is that quote from?

I think that's something I've been learning the hard way, for quite a while now, but just have never seen it in words.

[DroppinScience]

I feel bad that the only Black Flag album I have is "Damaged" :(

I've always meant to get more, but the albums are usually overpriced.

[ethera]

"Damaged" is an awesome album ! "My War", Loose Nut", "In My Head", "Slip It In", and "Who's Got The 10 1/2 ( a live album )"

are also my favorite albums by Black Flag.

I'm not really a fan of most of their earlier stuff ( w/ Morris, Cadena , Reyes, as singers, probably partly since Rollins was the first singer for Flag I'd heard ).

I think Keith Morris sucked when he was in Black Flag, but he's awesome in the Circle Jerks.

[ethera]

He's really intelligent. I've heard some of his public speaking things and its really cool stuff. My friend is obsessed with his books. I havent got around to reading any of them.

Hey people who have read them, which one should i start with?

They're all pretty much the same. None have a very specific theme or look ( except for "1,000 Ways To Die", whose passages would be easily recognizeable. Anything else you could find in any of his books, really

Unless you are versed in his books, you wouldn't be able to identify what book a passage came from ).

There's a bit of non-fiction ( stories from his life ), mixed in with some more surreal, metaphysical type stuff, sexual and violent imagery.


Early works are Polio Flesh, Knife Street, 1,000 Ways to Die ( they have been combined into one volume. It's either called "Bang!" , or "High Adventure In The Great Outdoors"

Later works are "See a Grown Man Cry" and "Now Watch Him Die" ( which have also been combined ).

The last book I read by him was called "Eye Scream".


I haven't read any of his books after "Eye Scream".

I'd rather live my own life, free from any pointless influence or distraction.





When you listen to the platitudes he spews ( into the air, a microphone, or on paper ), keep in mind that it's not so much what is being said, but also the tone of voice ( on recording ), and the appearance of who's saying it.

Most of what he *says* is pretty generic. It has to be, to have any kind of fan base, i.e. to appeal to more people.

His tone of voice and appearance keep people interested.

If you're a guy, you may find yourself wanting to be him.

If you're a girl, you might be already so attracted to him visually ( or audibly, to his macho or boyish-sounding-at-times voice ) that you won't care too much about anything he says, more the *way* *he* says it.

[SwimFinFan]

Don't you think Trent looks like him now?

http://www.nin.com/current/photos/8_12_05.jpg

[ethera]

He does seem to have adopted Rollins aesthetic.

Not only in dress and hair style, but also in the "theme" format/layout, etc of that photograph.



Strange, because although NIN gets credited in the "End Of Silence" liner notes,

apparently ( from his own words ) Rollins isn't particularly fond of Trent Reznor, or industrial music for that matter.


Although I've been a fan of Rollins earlier work,

I also like a lot of bands/artists that he says he doesn't like:

U2

The Police

Al Jorgensen ( Ministry ),

to name a few


On the other hand, I am not particularly interested in [traditional] "blues" music, as he claims to be.


I usually enjoy more non-traditional or exotic ( to me anyway ) sounding music ( including industrial ), and I don't believe the blues are as much of an influence as people claim.

I think people claim such, in an attempt to express "roots", or "substance" when referring to their own musical efforts or tastes. It's an easy 'kinship' if you will.

[SwimFinFan]

They (NIN & Rollins) were on the first Lollapalooza together and Trent has said he got along with everyone except Henry - no love there. That's why it's so funny that he looks like him now!

I don't know much about Rollins - why would he credit NIN in the "End Of Silence" - ?

I don't like traditional blues either, but I really believe it was the forerunner of rock and roll.

[ethera]

As you've mentioned, it had something to do with the ( 1st ) Lollapalooza tour ( which I sadly missed ).


Actually, the T.E.O.S. liner notes read "thanks to...the whole NIN crew..."

The two bands were both on the tour, and I suppose their personnel became social in some regard.







In a way, that photo might be Trent taking a shot at Rollins ( Mr. "Black and White", a song by Rollins : note the Asian(s in the) background ).

One could argue that Rollins' "image" is a major part of his success / influence.

It's why he's been able to get away with talking and acting like a psycho at times, when onstage ( and then in his writing ): he knows he's still good looking to women.


In a way, with that photograph, Trent Reznor might be saying, "Check me out Henry; I might not look as 'butch' and/or 'buff' as you (although I have to admit Reznor looks like he's getting there ), but my hair is [still] dark; yours is turning grey..."

Although, it's entirely possible that Reznor colored his hair in that photo, unless it's an earlier photo.

I wonder why Rollins doesn't color his hair. It doesn't seem beneath him, with the tattoos he's gotten...then again, he might be too busy being "Mr. Real"...

but don't tell me that he doesn't care how he looks ( especially to women ).

Then again, with all his money and fame, he probably doesn't need to color his hair.




Anyway, I wonder how Joe Cole really died ( the murder shooting of his friend remains unsolved; I don't even think they found the murder weapon ),

and "The West Memphis Three" might very well be guilty as convicted,

and why is Rollins such an advocate for gay marriage?


Time and again he has said how pointless/worthless he thinks marriage is. He's exploiting the strange contrast of 'gay marriage' - a cause for his own publicity.


Causes are another thing he's mocked other celebrities ( such as Sting on Live Aid, etc. ) for 'espousing'.

[cookiepuss]

PICTURE! http://www.freenet.de/freenet/fit_und_gesund/bildershows/tattoo/bilder_gross/03.jpeg

[ethera]

picture...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Henry_Rollins.jpg/200px-Henry_Rollins.jpg

taken from Wikipedia online encyclopedia



To me this picture says, "Maybe the chicks will like it more if I don't scowl and/or glare so much these days"

and

"No, my name is Henry Rollins, not Regis Philbin, or that MacGyver guy ! "

BTW, his given name at birth is Henry LAWRENCE Garfield


I think he dropped 'Garfield' because he didn't want to be associated with Garfield the cat.

Do you think he dropped his middle name too?

I think he chose to adopt the last name 'Rollins' so that he could have the same initials as HR, the lead singer for the Bad Brains ( a very early and influential DC hardcore punk/jazz/fusion/reggae band, very active locally during Henry's youth. Henry HR would sometimes get Henry to sing onstage w/ Bad Brains, and HR used to tell Henry that he would be a singer in a band ).

However, Henry claims he chose the name "Rollins" after jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins.

Bad Brains singer HR's initials stand for "Human Rights"



If I was Rollins, I'd color my hair to its original color. Again, I say it's no worse than having tattoos you weren't "born" or "blessed" with.

However I think hair coloring might require more maintenance than keeping fading tattoos crisp

( looks like he could use a maintenance shot of red ink, on the rays in his sun tattoo, in the pic above this post )



He's looking skinnier these days, not as pumped or buff...looks like he's laying off the weights.

He seems to think the "puppy dog look" ( as in posing in the above pic, softened brow, opened eyes, head cocked ever-so-slightly to the side ), and being less 'pumped', compliments his age better...

I don't know; I'm not him; maybe it does...


Another thing that's made him successful is that he's always known his audience, what they fear, what they want...

He's always known how to sell himself