I’m back on the wagon… the Henry Rollins wagon. Wait…or am I off the wagon? Didn’t Seinfeld go over this? Or perhaps I “Got In the Van…” (wink wink) or did I fall out of the van? Whatever, I’m addicted again!
Like most of mainstream American, I was introduced to Hank when “Liar” was in late-night rotation on MTV. It’s not the most amazing song ever, but it’s got some interesting lyrics, or at least they were to me at the time when I began…”experimenting” with the rock music (I was rock-curious, but am now a out-an-proud rock fan!) I got to see two Rollins performances in early 2001, right around his 40th birthday. After those two shows, I collected all the CDs, DVDs and books I could find.
In late May, I noticed Hank’s tattooed back on the cover of a DVD. I picked it up and discovered it was a collection of award winning short films and one was about him. The other week, I cruised a used book store and found an unauthorized bio about him for about a buck fifty and I also picked up a Rolling Stone coffee table book about celebrities and their tattoos, so of course he’s in there (along with Dave Navarro BEFORE he got “CE” tattooed on his chest). I just found a copy of a DVD which is excerpts from the Luna Park shows which became “A Rollins in the Wry.” I recently watched Henry’s short film, then watched some of a talking show called “Henry Goes to London”…I thought it was fitting.
All of these little incidents are taking me back to 3 years ago when I would listen to Think Tank and A Rollins in the Wry constantly: while I cleaned the kitchen, styled my hair, prepared to sleep… I knew all of the stories by heart, but I would crave the sound of his voice to entertain me and comfort me. Rollins and Maroon 5 are two entities which I consider to be personal addictions of mine. I feel a genuine compulsion to listen to them and they make me truly happy. I’m at work right now playing the CD of audio excerpts from Black Coffee Blues. I don’t feel comfortable playing it too loudly because of the content, but I consider his voice pleasurable white noise.
He’s like the verbally abusive husband that I can’t get away from.
All of my Rollins stuff is stored at my old place in Huntington Beach. Rather than harass my former roommate, it’s easier for me order Think Tank, A Rollins in the Wry as well the Portable Henry Rollins. I realized that I NEED these with me when I travel. He will be my inspiration as I travel and see and write in my journal about my adventures. He will be my inspiration to vomit my raw emotional feelings on the page (albeit the page may be web).