Henry Rollins picks his five favourite bands of all time
Henry Rollins, a multifaceted figure in the realm of American hardcore music, is most prominently recognised as the intense and perspiring lead singer of Black Flag. However, his talents span a wide range of creative endeavours, including poetry, publishing, monologue performances, DJing, voiceover work, and even a stint as a talk show host. Today, he stands as a living representation of the radicalism that defined American culture in the 1980s.
Rollins was born in Washington in 1961, coinciding with the emergence of punk music as a cultural force. During his teenage years, he developed a deep admiration for the punk sounds emanating from both the UK and the US. He actively engaged in the local music scene in the DC area, contributing his talents to various bands.
His journey with Black Flag commenced when, during one of the band’s live performances, the young musician impulsively took the stage and began providing vocals. Frontman Dez Cadena had been contemplating a transition to the guitar, and he invited Rollins to assume the role of lead singer. In this capacity, Rollins played a pivotal role in the creation of two of Black Flag’s most celebrated albums, Damaged in 1981 and My War in 1985.
When discussing his decision to step away from music, Rollins said: “I rang that bell very hard, very frequently, with a great deal of urgency.” Nevertheless, Rollins hasn’t relinquished his passion for unearthing new musical acts. He continues to find excitement in his role as a DJ for LA’s KCRW-FM and remains committed to acquiring at least one new record each day. Rollins’ musical preferences span a wide spectrum, encompassing everything from French cold wave and Nigerian funk to less-known American noise and psychedelic rock.
“I’m looking for more of the arcane, the little bit rougher, or eclectic, esoteric, way out there,” he said. It makes sense, then, as to why Rollins names the supergroup OFF! as one of his all-time favourites. “[Keith Morris is] one of my heroes, and he’s the boss, as far as I’m concerned,” says Rollins. “I like Off!’s ‘Upside Down’ – it sounds like Black Flag’s ‘Nervous Breakdown.’ I love it. Keith is real. He’s got pedal-to-the-metal or he just doesn’t do it. It’s a hell of a thing to watch.”
Rollins also has a particular fondness for John Olson, the frontman for experimental noise outfits such as Wolf Eyes and the Dead Machines and also the visionary behind the label American Tapes. “The guy has over 1,000 releases on his label, and I have almost 700 of them,” says Rollins. “I have a great deal of time for all of these noise terrorists – it’s modern avant-meets-stoners in a basement.”
Rollins also appreciates the spacey psychedelic sounds of Farflung and recalls being “stunned” when he first heard The Amazements on the radio. While being a huge fan of metal bands, Rollins also admits to becoming a converted Gallows fan when he watched them perform in Austin, Texas. “They played their asses off,” he said. “The whole band was melting like margarine onstage, and they just went for it. Every gig should be like pulling a ping-pong ball through your urinary tract. It should just change you forever, and it should really hurt. Gallows did that for me.”
Henry Rollins’ five favourite bands:
- Off!
- John Olson (Wolf Eyes, the Dead Machines, and American Tapes roster)
- Farflung
- Gallows
- The Amazements
