Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins (born February 13, 1961) is an American rock music singer and songwriter; he's also been active as a storyteller, author, actor and poet. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Related Topics:
February 13 - 1961 - American - Rock music - Los Angeles, California

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Born Henry Lawrence Garfield in Washington D.C., his parents divorced when he was young, and Rollins was raised primarily by his mother. He was prescribed ritalin as a child, and due to what he characterises as bad behavior and poor choices, he was sent to Bullis Academy, a Washington D.C. military school. He has expressed mixed feelings for his years at Bullis Academy: He disliked the authoritarian atmosphere and the boys-only campus, which impeded his early attempts at dating and made him uncomfortable around women for several years. More positively, he says Bullis helped instill a sense of discipline and a strong work ethic.

Related Topics:
Washington D.C. - Ritalin - Bullis Academy - Military school

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Garfield became involved in the punk scene through his close friend Ian MacKaye (who would later head Minor Threat and Fugazi). Bad Brains were one of Rollins' favorite groups; singer H.R. would sometimes coax Rollins onstage to sing a song with them. Rollins then joined State of Alert, which would release one EP before disbanding. Garfield worked at a number of jobs (including at the National Institutes of Health), before becoming the manager of a Haagen Dazs ice cream store.

Related Topics:
Punk - Ian MacKaye - Minor Threat - Fugazi - Bad Brains - State of Alert - EP - National Institutes of Health - Haagen Dazs - Ice cream

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In 1981, his friend Mitch Parker gave him a copy of Black Flag's Nervous Breakdown EP. Garfield soon became a huge fan, and began exchanging letters with the group. When Black Flag toured the East coast, playing Washington D.C. and New York City, Garfield attended as many performances as he could. At an impromptu show in a bar, he asked to sing "Clocked In." As vocalist Dez Cadena was going to switch to guitar, the band invited Garfield to a rehearsal. Impressed by his stage demeanor, they asked him to become their permanent vocalist, and despite some doubts, he accepted, due in part to MacKaye's encouragement. He adopted the surname Rollins after jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. His large, muscular figure and intense personality made him a perfect fit as their frontman.

Related Topics:
1981 - Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown - New York City - Dez Cadena - Guitar - Sonny Rollins

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Rollins toured and recorded with Black Flag from 1981 until their breakup in 1986. During Rollins' tenure, Black Flag's music underwent some dramatic changes. Though guitarist Greg Ginn was the primary songwriter, Rollins wrote a number of songs with Black Flag.

Related Topics:
Black Flag - Greg Ginn

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Throughout most of his time with Black Flag, Rollins kept a regular diary of his thoughts and experiences. In 1994 he published these diaries as Get In The Van; the book also featured many photographs, as well as Rollins' reminiscences of his time with the group before he kept a diary. Rollins read portions of Get In The Van for an audio book; this recording won a Grammy. Rollins later characterized the entire affair as "corny" and gave his Grammy statuette to an acquaintence.

Related Topics:
Get In The Van - Audio book - Grammy

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Rollins began publishing his own books during his time with Black Flag. His early efforts were self-made volumes (photocopied and stapled), though he quickly began printing chapbooks before moving on to establish 2.13.61, an independent publisher.

Related Topics:
Photocopied - Chapbook - 2.13.61

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Also while in Black Flag, Rollins met Joe Cole, an accquantence of Ginn's. Cole and Rollins quickly became close friends and roommates. Rollins and Cole were both robbed in 1991. During the incident Cole was shot in the back and died (the crime remains unsolved), and Rollins narrowly escaped without injury. Most of Rollins' efforts since have been dedicated to his late friend's memory.

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After Black Flag broke up in early 1986, Rollins quickly formed a new group and released a solo album and an ep with guitarist Chris Haskett. Soon, he added former Gone members Andrew Weiss and Sim Cain, calling the new group the Rollins Band. They gained popularity through the strength of albums like The End of Silence (1992) and Weight (1994). He also gained roles in movies and television shows (particularly as a VJ on MTV).

Related Topics:
Chris Haskett - Gone - Andrew Weiss - Sim Cain - Rollins Band - The End of Silence - Weight - VJ - MTV

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Beginning in his later years in Black Flag until present, he has toured as a spoken-word artist, focusing mostly on social topics, as well as recounting his life experiences. His blend of self-deprecating humor and serious discussion of important social issues has gained him great popularity. He has released nine spoken word albums through his 2.13.61 publishing company (and several through other record companies); 2.13.61 has also released books by Rollins, 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.

Related Topics:
Spoken-word - 2.13.61 - Joe Cole - Nick Zedd - Nick Cave - Michael Gira - Exene Cervenka - Hubert Selby Jr. - The Birthday Party - Gun Club

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Rollins is an avowed free jazz fan, having released albums by Matthew Shipp and Roscoe Mitchell on his 2.13.61 label. In 1990, Rollins guest hosted a Los Angeles, California college radio program and devoted much of this appearance to saxophone player Albert Ayler's music. http://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~mawillia/ayler.html

Related Topics:
Free jazz - Matthew Shipp - Roscoe Mitchell - 1990 - Los Angeles, California - Saxophone - Albert Ayler

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Rollins is also a co-host of the television program Full Metal Challenge on The Learning Channel as well as the host of a monthly series called Henry's Film Corner on the Independent Film Channel. In 2004 he became an outspoken human rights activist, most vocally a crusader for gay rights. He has pinpointed the rights for gays to marry as a "vital issue impeding on the rights of Americans today." He was the host of a benefit concert called "WedRocks" to raise money for a pro-gay-marriage organization.

Related Topics:
Television - Full Metal Challenge - The Learning Channel - Independent Film Channel - 2004 - Gay rights

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