Actor, author, musician, public speaker, social commentator… despite the many strings to Henry Rollins’ bow, the last few years have dealt him a whole new set of challenges. Discussion of which forms the basis of his upcoming spoken word tour, in Cardiff next month. Chris Andrews caught up with the former Black Flag frontman.

Hardcore punk vocalist turned actor Henry Rollins’ Good To See You tour was initially cancelled by the pandemic, and topically speaking will now be informed by it. So did the lockdown restrictions provide Rollins more material for this show, or indeed change its direction entirely?

“For the most part, my life between tours, informs what the material for the next tour will be,” he informs me. “This is why in the past I worked hard to travel far and wide, hoping for interesting things to happen so I’d have good material. COVID put that to an end, so I had to work on things from a fairly fixed location. Believe it or not, there was enough drama and high adventure where I was living at that time to provide more than enough material. This will be the first tour I’ve done in a long time that won’t have a large travel-related story.”

The last three years only seems to have made the world a far more divided place politically, morally and ethically. Being known for his no-holds-barred approach onstage, can we leave it to Henry to put the world to rights again on this tour? “I’m no scholar or holder of wisdom. I could not agree with you more on what you said. I do have some suggestions. In the USA things seem to be going backwards. This reversal in progress has an appeal to a minority. They’re loud, armed and dangerous. I don’t think there’s much to be done about them besides waiting them out. It’s not like information and facts work with them.”

Having not been musically active for over 15 years now, we’re likely at the point where a generation of people know Rollins as much for his spoken word shows like this one, or TV and film work, as his Black Flag or Rollins Band albums.

“I still get people asking me about music I did. It’s a mix of inquiry. I think the music questions come from an archaeological interest. ‘No way! He’s still alive! Let’s ask him about the time Charles Darwin came to his show in Shrewsbury and stole a t-shirt!’ I stopped doing music when I no longer thought lyrically. I can’t go back to it because I have nothing new to contribute. I believe in the ‘hard out’ where you’re done with something, and you leave and never come back. For me, most of the things I do are a time-and-place priority. Once the moment is over, I’ve got to go. To stay would be lying, basically.” 

A previous Cardiff show in 2008, included a quick visit to the city centre, including flagship record shop Spillers: something of an anomaly in his touring routine, it seems. “I try to see any city I’m in but my reach is often limited. My schedule’s pretty full and by 1800 hrs, all I can think about is the show. I strive for as many shows in a row as I can get. My road manager and I would rather have a show a night than a night off any time.”

Staying on the subject of touring how does Henry find touring these days; is it a case of missing the road when you’re home and missing home when you’re on the road? “The former but not the latter,” he says. “I live in a small house that’s fine and all I need. I’m close to the gym and it’s open 24/7, which is great. I don’t miss it or anything in it. I’d rather be on the road. Hotels, tour buses, airports. When I’m off the road, it’s OK, I guess. There’s work I get done there I can’t do out here and I do need to do it, so that’s OK, but I’m not one who misses his own bed.

“I must say, I do like being with my record player and my records and the gym is really good but past that, for me, it’s life on pause. I believe I like touring more than ever. It will eventually come to an end, and people will move on from me but for now, things are good. Most of the things I do have a ‘use by’ date on them. 

I’m so glad that he mentioned his beloved records. His reputation for being an avid record collector is well known – but is there a super rare pressing out there that continues to elude him?

“At this point, it’s down to acetates, test pressings and mispressings. I am still looking for the Indian pressing of Hawkwind’s Silver Machine 7”. I saw one for sale over a decade ago and someone beat me to it.”

So after nearly five decades on the road, if 61-year-old Henry Rollins could offer a nugget of wisdom to 21-year-old Henry Rollins what would it be? “Patience. There’s nothing special about you. Insecurity is not your friend.” A typically forthright answer from one of the best in the business.

Henry Rollins: Good To See You, Tramshed, Cardiff, Mon 3 Apr.

Tickets: £29.50/£25. Info: here

words CHRIS ANDREWS