On 31st December 2009 I emailed Henry Rollins asking if he would be interested in conceiving an interview to Rockonnection on the 15th January, as he would be in London doing his spoken word show. Expecting no answer whatsoever, a few hours later I received Henry’s reply, where he said he’d be up for answering some questions via email. Great! I quickly fired him some questions and, to my surprise – or maybe not – he answered them all in a matter of hours.

How do you think Obama’s been doing so far?
Obama walked into a house that had been hit by a cyclone. If a year later, the place still looks pretty bad, you have to remember what went into all the years before him. That being said, he enabled failed banks to have another life. This will be bad later on. He’s not hard enough on those who oppose him. This could be a strategy that will serve him well later on. USA still has Gitmo, we are still in Iraq, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is still in effect. There’s a lot of things that you would hope would be different by now but they are not. I think president Obama has saved America a depression and improved America’s image abroad a great deal.

In what aspects you think Obama should improve?
You would see a lot more things happening in America if Republicans were not doing everything in their power to stop anything from happening. When things get “better” it will be bad for them. Less war and alternative fuel sources spells decreased profits for several big corporations and the politicians who suck up to them. They have a lot to lose so they don’t plan on losing. All this makes president Obama look bad.

Obama recently sent another 30.000 men to Iraq for 18 months, saying it was necessary just to settle things down. How bad you think this is to the USA and the world?
If you look at the history of Afghanistan, all invaders leave one way or the other. If we got out of the Afghan’s way, they would eventually expel the Taliban and any other occupier, that’s what they do. Next year, they will kill Americans and any other army foolish enough to be there.

In the last few years, many conspiracy documentaries have been produced and widely promoted. It seems to me that many more people have been sparked to “go after some truth” after DVDs like Zeitgeist, Illuminati, Bush Family Fortune and stuff like that have been promoted on Youtube. Have you watched some of those? Which one of those documentaries you think are lame or lacking evidence, and which ones you think are actually accurate and ‘inspiring’? Do you think this kind of material can make a difference?
I have seen many of them. The best thing I saw on the internet was the Power Of Nightmares three part series. I have watched that one twice.

Have you ever doubted man ever went to the moon?
Yes.

Do you think punk is still alive? Is it well represented nowadays?
I think punk is whatever is happening at the time. Velvet Underground, Stooges, Sex Pistols, etc. Hopefully, there will always be young people pushing back.

Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name of’ went number one this xmas, after a ‘daring’ campaign. How relevant, important or necessary you find this kind of action?
It’s a corporate non-issue to me.

You made it really clear in past interviews that reforming Black Flag wouldn’t be a good idea. After all those years of animosity between you and the other members, would you consider at least trying to speak to them or you see no use? Do you know what Greg and Chuck are up to nowadays?
It’s not animosity among the band members as much as no one would really want to spend any time with Greg Ginn. I talk to Dukowski quite often, he’s the man. I have not seen Greg Ginn in twenty years. I am not interested in the past, not mine at least.

Have you ever considered calling Glenn for being interviewed at your TV show when it was still on? Do you still keep in touch with him? What do you think of Jerry Only fronting the Misfits today with Dez on guitars?
I really don’t know Danzig. I have spoken to him a few times over many years. I don’t pay attention to what Jerry and Dez are doing with the band, I hope they are having a good time, whatever it is they’re up to.

Do you miss playing music at all? Can we expect a Rollins Band new album, or maybe a one off appearance? Do you jam in a studio or someone’s house sometimes?
Not feeling any music at this time. I don’t have much time left. Not all that interested in playing old songs and doing old things, it’s too easy. 
 
I saw you are busy with spoken words until May. Are you still booking dates? If not, what do you intend doing the rest of the year of 2010? Any new books, CDs, DVDs releases?
I’ll be on the road doing shows and traveling until about November. I think we have a couple of talking CDs coming out, a DVD as well as the retail version of my last two books.
 

Denis Augusto
photos: Jill and Gary (www.henryrollins.com)