"I am trying to use words to understand life; it takes me to different places in my mind": Q&A with Henry Rollins

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"I am trying to use words to understand life; it takes me to different places in my mind": Q&A with Henry Rollins

POSTED: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 4:22 PM

Filed Under: Interview | Music

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Perhaps best known as the powerhouse lead of Black Flag, Henry Rollins has done anything but lose steam since. In his signature gravely-voice, he's hosted radio and TV shows (including a titular show on IFC), gotten all dramatic (like on last season's Sons of Anarchy) and currently heads up a publishing company/ record label called 2.13.61, Inc.

Rollins' interest and passion for human rights lead him to traveling to off-the-beaten track destinations such as Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Brunei and Senegal. Now, trading in his frequent flyer miles for a tour bus, Rollins will report on his travels through spoken word performances in his Frequent Flyer Tour, which stops at the First Unitarian Church tonight. Even though Rollins plays a new city each night, he took time out of his schedule to chat with City Paper.

City Paper: You've done extensive traveling around the world. What locations resonated the most with you on your travels?

Henry Rollins: I think the most thought provoking were Bangladesh and China. In Bangladesh I saw so much poverty but so many smiles. In China I always felt like I was being watched and handed a line. Everything felt like propaganda there.

CP: What themes or messages from your travels will you be sharing in your performances?

HR: I have a lot of anecdotes from recent travels: India, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, China, all the other places as well, all gave me very interesting stories. As far as themes, I don't think that hard about themes or overall messages. I think these things happen naturally.

CP: After so much traveling, how do you find America upon your return?

HR: What I see abroad makes me like America more. We have it very good here. I think if more Americans could see more of the world, it might make them value what they have and perhaps they would take better care of the place and better care of themselves.

CP: Is there more similarity or difference in songwriting versus writing poetry?

HR: I just write stuff and it turns into different things. It's just writing to me. I am not all that aware of a style of a difference in the methods. I would perhaps be more aware of a difference if I were a better writer. I am trying to use words to understand life; it takes me to different places in my mind.

CP: What about in singing versus performing spoken word?

HR: Talking shows are a lot harder. There's nothing onstage but me, and if I stop talking, then there's no show. I don't know how I get through them but I do. Band stuff is hard too but at least it's a group effort and my many mistakes on the bandstand are somewhat obscured by all the surrounding noise.

CP: So you've been the lead singer of a band, a radio show host, a publisher, and a poet, what can we expect next from you?

HR: I have been doing a lot of photography. I have been working on it pretty hard, trying to tell the story through the lens. It's not easy but I am getting a little better at is, learning about light and composition and all.

Frequent Flyer Tour with Henry Rollins, Thu., March 11, 7pm, $20, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St, 215-563-3980, r5productions.com.

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