Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins is a performer, writer and broadcaster from Washington, D.C., born in 1961. He works across hardcore punk, alternative metal, comedy and spoken word, and is also known as an author of prose and poetry, a radio and television personality, an occasional actor and a voice-over artist. He runs through much of his work under the name Henry Rollins and is associated with 2.13.61 Records and 213CD.

Music

Rollins first becomes involved in punk through the Washington, D.C. scene and his friend Ian MacKaye. He sings with State of Alert, which releases one EP on Dischord Records before splitting up. He then joins Black Flag in 1981 after being invited to rehearse and later becomes the band’s permanent vocalist. He tours and records with Black Flag until the group breaks up in 1986, and also writes songs with them during his time in the band.

After Black Flag ends, he forms a new group and releases a solo album and an EP with guitarist Chris Haskett before expanding it into the Rollins Band with former Gone members Andrew Weiss and Sim Cain. The Rollins Band gains attention through albums such as The End of Silence and Weight. Rollins also records a cover of AC/DC’s “Let There Be Rock” with The Hard-Ons in 1991.

Spoken word, writing and publishing

While still in Black Flag, Rollins begins publishing his own books, starting with self-made photocopied and stapled volumes before moving on to chapbooks and then founding 2.13.61, an independent publisher named after his birthday. Through this imprint he releases books by Rollins and others including Joe Cole, Nick Zedd, Nick Cave and Michael Gira, as well as albums by Rollins Band, Exene Cervenka, Hubert Selby Jr., The Birthday Party and Gun Club. The label also issues free jazz recordings by Matthew Shipp and Roscoe Mitchell.

Rollins tours as a spoken-word artist from the later years of Black Flag onward, drawing on social topics and his own experiences. He releases nine spoken-word albums through 2.13.61 and others on different labels. His book Get In The Van, based on diaries from his Black Flag years, is published in 1994 and also appears as an audiobook recording that wins a Grammy. He later writes Now Watch Him Die about his friendship with Joe Cole, Cole’s murder and his attempt to come to terms with it.

Radio, television and film

Rollins works in radio and television as well as music. In 1990 he guest-hosts a Los Angeles college radio programme and focuses much of the show on Albert Ayler’s music. He begins hosting the weekly radio show Harmony In My Head on Los Angeles station Indie 103.1 in 2004, playing rock, punk, rap and jazz. The show later returns to the airwaves, and an expanded book of song lists and show notes is published as Fanatic. On television, he co-hosts Full Metal Challenge on TLC, presents The Henry Rollins Show on IFC, and previously hosts Henry’s Film Corner. He also appears in film and television roles and works as a VJ on MTV.

Background and activism

Rollins grows up in Washington, D.C. after his parents divorce, and he is raised mainly by his mother, Iris, who teaches him to read before school and encourages his love of reading. He attends the Bullis School, a military school, where he develops discipline, a work ethic, a stronger build and an interest in writing, though he dislikes the school’s strict atmosphere. After high school he works various jobs, including as a labourer at the National Institutes of Health and later as a manager of a Häagen-Dazs ice cream store.

He becomes an outspoken human rights activist, especially in support of gay rights and the right to marry. He also tours with the United Service Organizations during the Iraq War and is active in the campaign for the West Memphis Three. He appears on benefit recordings connected to that campaign, including a version of Black Flag’s “Rise Above” with Chuck D and a cover of “Slip It In” with Inger Lorre.

Other details

Rollins is also known as an avid fan of free jazz and of Washington, D.C. go-go music. He is tattooed with the Black Flag logo, the Misfits ghost mascot, the Einstürzende Neubauten stickman symbol and a large “Search and Destroy” design across his back. He also changes his surname after joining Black Flag from Garfield to Rollins.