Art by Mitch Clem
You might know Henry Rollins for any number of reasons, whether you’re a Black Flag fan, an I.F.C. movie buff, an avid political reader or someone who’s crazy about watching stand-up comedy and spoken word. Seeing as I am all of the above, it’s understandable that I was interested in interviewing him. He’s currently touring and if you are a member of any of the aforementioned groups, I would suggest you find a way to go see the man. Also, if you enjoy that What Would Henry Rollins Do? picture as much as I do, I would urge you to go to www.mitchclem.com and check out his other stuff. He does a few webcomics which I adore.
Twangville: What’s the best thing you’ve read in the past year (and for that matter, what are you reading right now)?
Henry: The best book I have read in a great while is Dark Ages America by Morris Berman. I learned a lot and it made me think. I am starting on a book called War Made Easy and wrestling with Alfred Jarry and Proust as well.
T: What’s your favorite venue you’ve performed in, and is there any particular reason why it means something to you?
H: I think the best venue in America was Club 57, otherwise known as Webster Hall. It’s in NYC and it’s such a perfect sound in that place.
T: Who’s your favorite new artist and where did you hear about them?
H: I don’t know if I have a “favorite†but I have been listening a lot to new bands like The Epsilons, Bark Bark Bark, Real Shark Fake Zombie, and others but there’s a lot of kind of new bands that I listen to a lot. Yellow Swans, Wolf Eyes, Black Dice, Mar Shi, Excepter, Deerhoof, who are not all that new but what great records they make. There’s a ton of happening bands at the moment.
T: If you could see any artist or band perform live at any point in their career, who would it be and when?
H: Hendrix 1970, Coltrane 1965.
T: Who’s your favorite author?
H: That’s hard to answer. Thomas Wolfe, Camus, Miller, Hamsun, Selby, Fitzgerald, Kapuscinski, Kharms, there are many writers who have moved me.
T: Do you prefer touring on your own or with the band?
H: Both have upsides but as far as the actual act of touring, I would rather be on my own.
T: What’s your favorite city to travel to alone?
H: NYC, Melbourne, Casa Blanca, Cairo, Washington DC, Tokyo, there are many.
T: Who’s your favorite West Wing Character (completely a question just for me)?
H: CJ!
T: If you had to choose, who would you volunteer for in the ’08 election?
H: Edwards
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