Henry Rollins: King of All Media

Disclaimer

I already know what you’re thinking: “Howard Stern is the King of All Media.” This may have been true years ago, but those days are long over. Howard’s only real claim to fame is changing the game for radio shock jocks. His only step into film was a movie that was about his radio days. He also had a TV show, but that was just a broadcast of his radio show. One radio show, plus a movie, and a TV show about the radio show, does not make a king of media, at least in my opinion. These days, the case has to be made for Henry Garfield, aka Henry Rollins, as the new King.

Music

The first things that usually come to mind when Henry Rollins is mentioned is Black Flag, the seminal punk back he fronted in the early-80’s, or Rollins Band, the band he fronted after leaving Flag. Both bands were major influences on the punk and metal bands that followed, as well as the artists of today.

Sadly, the amount of punk bands nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is slim to none, so don’t expect to see Black Flag or Henry Rollins there any time soon, not that they’d show up anyway. “If I were inducted, which would never happen, I wouldn’t bother to show up,” Rollins said in a recent phone interview. “It doesn’t matter any more and doesn’t mean anything to me. I won a Grammy years ago, and I gave it away.”

The future of Rollins Band, which had been inactive for many years, came into question when they reunited in 2006 to play an episode of Rollins’ show on IFC. It appears that was just a one-off performance though. “I like playing live music, but I’ve been there and done that enough to where it’s not all that much of a creative medium to me and it would be kind of ritualistic,” he says. “I went and saw Van Halen the other night and enjoyed it, but what I saw on stage is kind of how I would see myself up there right now: You know, a guy in his 40’s, well, they’re in their 50’s, but a guy in my 40’s playing music I wrote in my 20’s and 30’s, I just don’t want to do that.”

Motion Pictures

It’s been said that movies are just be a means of income for Henry, but it’s always interesting to see him in various pictures. “Oh, I enjoy acting, but I’m no actor,” Rollins said. “I think I should be employed 365 days a year, so when that kind of work comes up, I jump on it. When I’m on that set, I’m as serious as a heart attack; I memorize the entire page and everyone else’s lines, too.”

While movies don’t play that big of role in his life, you have to give him props for snagging a role in a star-studded classic like “Heat,” which featured him being manhandled by Al Pacino. While suffering a beat-down in a movie is not the most macho role you can land, it’s hard to turn down a role when the man responsible for the beating is an Oscar winner. I wonder what he thought when memorizing Pacino’s lines for that scene.

Writing/Publishing

With over 20 books authored, Henry is no slouch in the writing department and runs his own publishing company, 2.13.61. What started as a way to release his own work, 2.13.61 has now become a place to release his own work as well as the work of other such as his good friend Nick Cave.

Radio

Oddly, the media form Henry prefers most is radio. When asked why, he had this to say, “If I had to choose one, that’s the most fun and causes the least amount of stress, it’s the radio show.” He added, “I don’t have to be seen, other people do the work, all these other bands are playing instead of me, I can just play music and its fun, but it’s not really work for me.” You can catch Henry’s show, “Harmony in My Head,” streaming on Indie103.1.fm on Tuesday nights.

Television

The great thing about the Henry Rollins Show, on the Independent Film Channel, is not just that it’s the best talk show on TV, but has also introduced him to a whole new audience not familiar with his music. While other talk shows are a mixture of bad comics, actors promoting their new movies, and major label stars lip-synching their newest radio single, Rollins’ show features interesting guests, as well as great indie-rock artists.

After two seasons of the show, Henry is not doing a third anytime soon. “We’re not doing one this year, we’re doing a lot of specials,” he said. “The show is good, but when we get a great guest, we get great ratings, and when we have an ass guess, we get ass ratings. What we get huge ratings on are live specials. For ‘08 we’ll just do a handful of those. We just shot the first one in South Africa about two weeks ago.”

Spoken Word

One of the most impressive things about Rollins’ spoken word tours is how much he’s actually on the road. How he keeps himself healthy and voice intact while performing almost every day is a wonder, although its nothing compared to touring with Rollins Band. “I try and get to my bunk sooner than later after the show,” he says. “The band tours are way harder on the voice, but with both your voice is your instrument and you always have to watch out to not overdo it.” Either way, traveling the world and playing almost every day is a testament to his will and fortitude.

Another thing Henry has participated in many times is USO Tours. And while he doesn’t have anything lined up for this year, it’s always a possibility. “Basically, with the USO stuff, I call them with my availability and they have like seven weeks to let me know if they need me or I’m going to book those times. And sometimes they can use me and sometimes not, and that’s how it goes. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”

One of the thing I was most interested in knowing is how much of his spoken word show is scripted. “I know the stories I’m going to tell. How I get there, and what happens in the middle depends on the night, but the truth of the story doesn’t change.” He adds, “If I didn’t get the girl in the real story, I’m not going to get her on stage. I’m not going to change the truth of the story, but what becomes a priority in the story will sometimes change night to night.”

For anyone that hasn’t seen a Rollins special or heard him on disc, the length of the segments can change at any time, and some can go on for what seems like forever. “Sometimes you go off on a tangent inside the thing or you reference something else. It’s the idea of being very, very tight so you can be very, very loose. If you really know your material you can tangent off it and come back to it. It’s just a matter of being very prepared and that’s how I like to be.’

If You Go

WHAT: Henry Rollins
WHERE: FM Community Theatre
WHEN: Saturday, March 15, 8:00pm
HOW MUCH: $29.00
WHO: All ages
INFO: (701) 235-1901