Henry Rollins: Frequent Flyer Tour - An evening of spoken word
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Henry Rollins: Frequent Flyer Tour - In the '90s, Henry Rollins emerged as a post-punk renaissance man, without the self-conscious trappings that plagued such '80s artists as David Byrne. Since Black Flag's breakup in 1986, Rollins has been relentlessly busy, recording albums with the Rollins Band, writing books and poetry, performing spoken-word tours, writing a magazine column in Details, acting in several movies, and appearing on radio programs and, less frequently, as an MTV VJ. The Rollins Band's records are uncompromising, intense, cathartic fusions of hard rock, funk, post-punk noise, and jazz experimentalism, with Rollins shouting angry, biting self-examinations and accusations over the grind. On his spoken-word albums, he is remarkably more relaxed, showcasing a hilariously self-deprecating sense of humor that is often absent in his music. All the while, he has kept his artistic integrity, becoming a kind of father figure for many alternative bands of the '90s.
Born on February 13, 1961, hardcore vocalist Henry Rollins grew up in Washington, D.C. and began his music career with punk pioneers Black Flag, when as a fan he literally jumped on stage at a show and began performing with them. Rollins toured and recorded with Black Flag from 1981 until the band's break-up in 1986.
Living in New Jersey, Rollins formed a new, more metal-oriented band with guitarist Chris Haskett, bassist Andrew Weiss, and drummer Sim Cain. By the end of 1987 the Rollins Band recorded Hot Animal Machine with Ian MacKaye, toured the U.S. and Europe, and adopted soundman Theo Van Rock as a permanent member of the group.
The band released its second album, Hard Volume, the following year, recording a live album in 1989 while on tour in Europe. In fact, Rollins Band became renown for its marathon tour schedule, traveling worldwide several times a year without a break.
The Rollins Band's first mainstream recognition occurred in 1991, when they signed to major-label affiliate Imago Records and appeared later that summer at the first Lollapalooza festival. More disturbingly, late that same year Rollins and his best friend, Joe Cole, were held up at gunpoint and Cole was shot and killed.
Rollins Band's Imago debut, The End of Silence, was released in 1992. After a year of touring the group took 1993 off so Henry Rollinscould release a spoken-word recording, write a book or two and appear in the Charlie Sheen movie The Chase. In fact, throughout the existence of the Rollins Band, Henry periodically has taken time off to engage in spoken word tours and write books for his own publishing house, 2.13.61. In recent years he has become a generational icon thanks to appearances on MTV and in movies, magazines and ads.
After replacing bassist Andrew Weiss with Melvin Gibbs in late 1993, the Rollins Band returned with 1994's Weight, their biggest album to date, one which earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Band. Riding on the success of their single "Liar," the Rollins Band toured throughout much of 1994, including an appearance at Woodstock '94.After Imago was abandoned by its distributor, BMG, the Rollins Band signed to the new DreamWorks label and recorded its 1997 release Come In and Burn.
Rollins continues to work at a feverish pace. In September 1998 he released a double spoken-word CD, Think Tank, recorded at live shows in Chicago and Australia. A long-form video, You Saw Me Up There, capturing one of Rollins' spoken-word shows in Los Angeles was released at the same time. In addition, Rollins contributed a track to the Small Soldiers soundtrack, on which he collaborated with Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and Flea.
Rollins took time out from his busy recording schedule to write a book, "Do I Come Here Often" and to appear in the feature film Frost, starring Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston. His latest album, the spoken word recording A Rollins In The Wry, was released by Quarterstick Records in 2001.
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