The two punk albums Henry Rollins couldn’t live without
Punk rock is a difficult genre of music to pin down. The moment that the punk movement found its feet and began to gain traction, there was division throughout the genre, as people were quick to try to pick out posers and who was genuine. It was an impossible task, as there really was no definition as to who was and wasn’t punk. However, when you look at someone like Henry Rollins, you know you’re dealing with one of the most intense and rebellious artists on the planet.
How do you describe someone like Rollins? If you could bottle his rage and authority and sell it, you would have an army ready for revolution in seconds. The Black Flag singer doesn’t compromise his values and is always looking for new ways to bring both punk and rock music forward. He is able to voice the frustration of those unable to speak up for themselves more effectively than anyone else on the planet.
It won’t surprise you to hear that there have been a number of influences at play who have helped Henry Rollins become the musician that he is celebrated as. Ever since he was young, he has been listening to punk music, and upon hearing the power contained in the ruthlessness of it, he has never wanted to make anything else.
One of the first bands that showed him how good punk music can be was The Clash. He had an arrangement with one of his school friends, who was giving him a musical education for free. The friend would give Rollins a CD for him to listen to overnight, and then Rollins would return the next day. Upon hearing The Clash’s self-titled debut, Rollins found himself in a predicament, as he had no intention of giving the CD back.
“One of the best records I have ever heard. It made me realise that authority was to be questioned, and I can thank Joe Strummer for giving me that attitude,” Rollins recalled, “Soon after hearing the first Clash album — February 15th 1979 — I saw The Clash play. It blew my mind and changed my life. The first album by The Clash is a game-changer and a pitch-perfect rock album.”
While The Clash showed Rollins how powerful punk music can be, there were other bands who showed him the versatility of punk. It didn’t always have to be distorted guitars and chaos, but any instrument and sound could be utilised in a bid to create tension and a fear of dread. He learnt this from the band Suicide and took the lessons they taught him on their debut album into his career with him.
“The single most intense song I’ve ever heard in my life is contained on this record and it’s called ‘Frankie Teardrop’, try it. It is easily the most intense song you’ll ever hear,” he explained, “It blew our young minds […] It became one of the most important albums of my life.”
Both of these records are quintessential listens for Rollins, not just because of the fact that he liked them, but because they taught him how to be the best punk artist on the planet. His authority and versatility were very much the result of these two punk albums that he simply couldn’t live without.
