So, last year, I had the opportunity to interview pop icon Henry Rollins for the Michigan Daily. It was via e-mail, and the guy was incredibly candid, funny and informative.
Alas, the interview came too late to be published, and I was left with a series of questions and answers that didn't go anywhere.
But here, now, is the unedited, unpublished interview with the spoken word artist and former Black Flag front man.
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As you re-enter Ann Arbor yet again this October, the Daily as well as our readers would like to know how you’re doing, what you’ve been up to and how it feels to be coming again to perform.
- I’m doing fine I guess. I have been working fairly nonstop, at least I don’t remember any time off in a great while. I have been traveling a lot and the television show on IFC took up a good part of the year as did the radio show I have. I did a lot of writing this year, that took a lot of time and now I am on this tour for quite a while. I am looking forward to the show in Ann Arbor, it’s always a good time there.
You’ve been a noted spoken word artist and Ann Arbor mainstay for many years now. How do like coming back to Ann Arbor? How long have you been coming here?
- Like I said, it’s always good to be back there and the audience is always great to me. I honestly can’t remember the first time I was in Ann Arbor, perhaps 1982. I have been doing talking shows there since the mid 80’s at least. Initially, I liked the place because I always found great used book stores.
How do you feel about your fan-base? Is there a strange new element of maturity (my brother interviewed you ten years earlier, is in his thirties, and still listens)? Do you like finding new, young followers? How reliant are you upon them?
- The people who check me out, I need them more than they need me. I am completely reliant on the audience. Without them, I am the tree that falls in the forest unheard. I don’t know how to find an audience. I am sure there’s a science to it or some kind of crass marketing ploys to seek out whatever. I just tour and do interviews and hope for the best.
What’s been on your mind these days? What do you want to talk about at the U of M?
- I have been telling stories of the places I was this year, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel. Going to all those places in one year perhaps has me on someone’s list somewhere. Mostly I was curious about these places and wanted to check out Tehran and Damascus before they are leveled or visas are suspended. We are living in interesting times so there’s always something to talk about.
How do you prepare for your performances? How much do you have to research or write what you want to say? Or is it like Lenny Bruce flies on the wall style? How does this compare to singing/screaming?
- Mostly, I just tell stories so there’s not a great deal of research to get those to go but I am always trying to learn more about events and the place I have been so there’s an endless amount of research one can do and I give that quite a bit of my time. I don’t trust myself to go onstage and just ramble and when Bruce did it, sometimes it didn’t go all that well. I would rather be fairly targeted and not waste time.
How do you feel about Ann Coulter being an alum?
- That really doesn’t mean anything to me. I am sure all the halls and dorms have been cleansed by now.
Is their any possibility of a Black Flag reunion soon? Or is that complete nonsense?
- I was one of many singers in the band and I am sure the audience would prefer one of the other ones. I think if a version of the band played, it would fall below expectation. It’s really not my band or my decision.
Former front man to classic bands. Outspoken public performer for many years. Notorious cult figure. Co-star of “Bad Boys II.” At this point in a long and miscellaneous career, what can you say has been the highlight? The low point?
- I don’t know what the high points have been, I am too busy working away and I don’t know exactly how one measures that. I guess some would measure by income or units sold, etc. I just work and that’s all I know. I do remember having some hard times in the major label world and feeling a lot of frustration there. All in all, I am surprised at how long I have been able to stay employed.
In an interview, you’ve claimed to be a man on the go, always trying your damn hardest to stay busy. What are your plans for the future?
- I have a lot of work next year. I will be doing a lot of shows and a lot of travel along with radio and television commitments and writing projects. A few weeks from now I will have most of 2008 booked out.
Sweet.
How do you prepare for your performances? How much do you have to research or write what you want to say? Or is it like Lenny Bruce flies on the wall style? How does this compare to singing/screaming?
- Mostly, I just tell stories so there’s not a great deal of research to get those to go but I am always trying to learn more about events and the place I have been so there’s an endless amount of research one can do and I give that quite a bit of my time. I don’t trust myself to go onstage and just ramble and when Bruce did it, sometimes it didn’t go all that well. I would rather be fairly targeted and not waste time.
How do you feel about Ann Coulter being an alum?
- That really doesn’t mean anything to me. I am sure all the halls and dorms have been cleansed by now.
Is their any possibility of a Black Flag reunion soon? Or is that complete nonsense?
- I was one of many singers in the band and I am sure the audience would prefer one of the other ones. I think if a version of the band played, it would fall below expectation. It’s really not my band or my decision.
Former front man to classic bands. Outspoken public performer for many years. Notorious cult figure. Co-star of “Bad Boys II.” At this point in a long and miscellaneous career, what can you say has been the highlight? The low point?
- I don’t know what the high points have been, I am too busy working away and I don’t know exactly how one measures that. I guess some would measure by income or units sold, etc. I just work and that’s all I know. I do remember having some hard times in the major label world and feeling a lot of frustration there. All in all, I am surprised at how long I have been able to stay employed.
In an interview, you’ve claimed to be a man on the go, always trying your damn hardest to stay busy. What are your plans for the future?
- I have a lot of work next year. I will be doing a lot of shows and a lot of travel along with radio and television commitments and writing projects. A few weeks from now I will have most of 2008 booked out.
Sweet.
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