Interview conducted by Osty Gale on November 30, 2013
Henry Rollins is the legendary singer of the Rollins Band and Black Flag, as well as a popular spoken-word artist, author, poet, actor, activist and all-around alternative rock icon. He grew up in Washington, D.C along with his fellow best-friend, Ian MacKaye of Fugazi and Minor Threat fame.
In this interview we discuss everything from friends, to finances, music and writing, as well as the education and gun control systems within the United States. It’s true with what they say – you get what you give. He is a man where his work speaks for himself. You’re all waiting to hear what he has to say so without further ado, Henry Rollins everybody:
First off, with all of these career choices that you ultimately defined yourself with, from working as a manager at a Hagen-Dazs ice cream store to numerous bands, to reporting and covering journalism, what would you call yourself and how would you define yourself?
I am a journeyman worker. I work. That’s what I do. That’s what important to me. I have interesting jobs but I do them all for the same reason. I do them to do them well, complete them and do something else. I am not an artist. I am an Americanist. I survive the day-to-day brutality of America by working hard and smart as I can.
What’s your take on the sudden fascination with the DIY movement? Does it seem a bit odd that people are suddenly taking up a cause for which you’ve been an advocate for years as if it were something new?
It might be something new to someone who is new to it and that’s OK. Perhaps that allows something good to happen. I am not interested in “being there first” or any of that. I think a lot of young people are perhaps encouraged by the latitude afforded by the internet and the communication and efficiency of it.
Your partner-in-crime best-friend Ian MacKaye is a guy you’ve looked up to ever since you’ve been friends with him growing up in downtown Washington. Ian has often described the first time meeting you, could you describe to me your first encounters with him? What, besides musical choices and the fact that he had “his own mind” made you attracted to him and throughout the years, what was it that made this friendship last?
Ian thought differently. He thought for himself, he was a leader. I was not. I learned a lot from him and still do. He was a guy in the neighborhood. We rode bikes and skateboards together and listened to a lot of music. Then Ian started making music and that’s when he really started to define himself. He is a very funny and interesting person. He’s getting better with age. It is perhaps the best thing that ever happened to me, being his friend.
Talk about your interest in gay rights and same-sex marriage. Do you think as an American society, that more people still have to come to terms with the acceptance of it?
To me, it’s a simple constitutional issue, covered by the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. The way this issue has been tied to religion, blurring the lines between church and state is outrageous and cowardly. I can’t not defend this. I think Americans are more and more coming to terms with it. Sadly for the haters, it’s generational and their Clint Eastwood aged asses are going to be gone soon and we will be moving forward very quickly.
When I think of emotions, they are just that: emotions. They are neither happy nor sad emotions, but the people around us can make our emotions either positive or negative, depending on the circumstance and situation. What do you think of your emotions as a factor of contributing to American society, as well as how you’re perceived now by people when you contribute things like journalistic opinions, music, and spoken word events and/or pieces? Does this affect you in any way?
Emotions don’t matter much to me when trying to make a point. That’s for the tea party. They are emotional. They are angry. At what, they don’t seem to be able to gather the stones to really say what’s on their minds. I think they don’t want to be quoted using the word nigger. As to people’s emotions regarding anything I have said, that’s for them to deal with. I don’t say anything radical or controversial. Literacy, equality, education for all—this is radical? I think not.
With Barack Obama in his second term of presidency, Obamacare is being criticized. Do you think people are not using Obamacare to their full advantage for any specific reason or do you think it’s being doubted because of all the questions that haven’t been answered regarding it yet?
ACA will be fine. That’s why the Republicans are so twisted up about it. If it was going to fail, they would let it. But it’s not and so they are in a tizzy. If more of the states would do their share of the work, there would not be such a strain on the Federal website. This too will be overcome. Republicans fear equality. It will disturb their cash flow and great advantage. It’s coming to an end and they are not happy. Oh well.
What do you think of the American economy, as opposed to other economies that you’ve seen first-hand – South Africa, Darfur, and Iran? Would you say that, as predicted by Wang Jisi, that China will become the next super power because of the debt that America is in with that country (China)? Or do you think that the American government will pull through with their debt?
America is full of money. There are a few people that are really rich and they don’t do anything with their money. Billions of dollars sit still. Everyone else is told to suck it up and work harder and harder. Hey, have at it; keep voting for those who want to abolish the minimum wage. We’ll see how that treats you. People often vote for the politicians whose policies disadvantage them. Again, if that’s what you want, then go for it. There are some people who will have a hard time and there are others who will never be affected. The American government is the people; it’s not some alien body like the tea party wants you to think. It’s not the enemy, it’s us. If it “sucks” then you suck, so improve it or be happy that you suck. Many Americans need to grow up and put their shoulder into it.
Do you feel that, especially in today’s age of an ever-growing technological boom, full of computers and gadgets, the next generation (my generation) won’t be able to look after the environment and that it will go to shit unless we get off our asses and do something, because of this trend of being “slackers” and sheltering ourselves from physically active living more so than in yesteryears?
You will do or not do the right thing. You will have the opportunity to pass or fail. You have all the smarts, tools and energy. We’ll see what you do with the information and the opportunities you have. I don’t know what else to say to an adult. They’re adults, at some point; you take your hands off the wheel and wish them the best of luck.
As a high school graduate, who successfully has had such a vast career with music, journalism, publishing and activism, what are your thoughts in regard to the education system today, as opposed to when you were attending school? Would you consider the work-load too lenient with students or do you think it depends on the school board within their own jurisdiction?
I think America is investing in crime and war. Teach to the test, don’t allow young people to learn to use their minds and you will quickly have millions of people who will fight for shitty jobs, be eager to go to war and haul their asses into new mega prisons. You want a country that is impervious to invasion and destruction from outside, you make it strong on the inside. Read Lincoln’s speech from January 1838, the Speech to the Young Men’s Lyceum. Tells you all you need to know:http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/lyceum.htm. How do you do that, you educate your people. If they are stupid, they will do stupid things. You might want to think about what kind of country you want to live in. It starts with you.
Regarding Black Flag, could you tell me an interesting story, be it funny, serious, or a mix of both tones, regarding a time you were on tour with that band? How did this story affect your life, both positively and negatively regarding the outcome?
Too tired.
What current bands are you listening to at the moment?
Marnie Stern, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Fuzz, My Cat Is An Alien, High on Fire, Savages. Those are good bands.
Your aggression and abrasive nature are well known and oftentimes completely misinterpreted by members of the press and fans alike, yet there’s an emotional honesty and self-awareness that you seem to exude. How do you approach the misguided critic and/or fan? I know the easy answer is to say “Fuck them,” but there has to be some response you have to those who have these misconceptions about you and what you do and create.
It is up to me to be as clear as I can. If something is not understood, that was my fault and I have to get it better next time. As to critics, I don’t pay any attention to what anyone writes about me. Perhaps if there was something slanderous, like if someone said I had assaulted someone or whatever, sure, but if someone didn’t like my show and wanted to write about it, the First Amendment green lights that and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Based on your experiences, you’re a man of tenacity, a hard working ethic, and dedication. You’ve gotten those skills from working with Black Flag, as well as being an ambitious person, knowing you had to strive to make it. What skills, besides those, have you learned from being on the road, from the 80’s Hard-core Punk scene, up to present day as you’re still touring doing tours with your spoken word performances?
I don’t have any skill really. I have tenacity and a lot of anger. I am an angry person. I don’t want to hit anyone or anything. I want to do things. I want to go. I want to know. I want to do something all the way, finish it and then run at something else and do it and go from there. It’s not about money or fame, it’s about kicking ass and getting onto the next thing. That’s it.
What would some advice you would give to an aspiring writer, musician, or journalist starting off in this era of creativity?
Don’t ask for advice. Just do your thing. I never asked advice. I never asked if I should be in a band and what would happen if it didn’t work out. I went for it. The idea that things were not going to work out was impossible for me to believe. I was ready to die for it. If you have to ask, perhaps you shouldn’t go. For myself, I was not going to be stopped by anything; it never once crossed my mind.
What lies ahead in the future for you, in regards to your life, your hopes, your dreams and your future works; whether it be books, films, or any form or artist media?
I keep things open. We’ll see. I have a lot of things lined up, television, books, film, travel, etc. Hopefully something else will come up to keep things interesting.
Thanks for your time Henry.
It was my pleasure.