Tall, burly and covered in tattoos, Henry Rollins isn’t the type of guy most people would want to tick off. But on Feb. 27 and 28, fans of the author, actor and former frontman for seminal punk band Black Flag will pack Greenpoint’s Warsaw to watch him get hot under the collar in his new, live show, “Provoked: An Evening of Quintessentially American Opinionated Editorializing and Storytelling.”
Part of a 20-city tour, “Provoked” is in the same vein as “The Henry Rollins Show,” the Independent Film Channel series featuring Rollins and a variety of guests (recently — Iggy Pop and Don Cheadle) sounding off on topics of the day. For Rollins, however, the nearly three-hours long live show is an unparalleled experience.
“I go up there and I talk about where I’ve been, what I saw and how I feel about it,” Rollins told GO Brooklyn. “Most of my references will be from 2007 when I was in Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. I was in Pakistan when [Benazir] Bhutto was assassinated, and that kept things lively. I just got back from South Africa about 72 hours ago, and I had some amazing experiences there. I spent a few moments sitting in [Nelson] Mandela’s cell and that was completely intense. That’s basically what it is: me storytelling and recounting. There is a lot of editorializing as we Americans are wont to do.”
But Rollins isn’t just another armchair pundit. In addition to his endless travel — he plans on taking his 26th trip to Australia later this year and claimed — “I have a favorite restaurant in every city. I know where the gym is, where the good record stores are; I know where the good sushi is all over the world,” although he wasn’t sure of a spot in Brooklyn — he’s also immersed himself in politics and culture.
“I learn a lot about foreign affairs by going to foreign places and having affairs,” Rollins said. “I’ve read books about Iran, but it’s nothing like going. You have to go see things for yourself. So that’s what I do, and that’s where I get my stuff from: being there and seeing that.”
Since 2003, Rollins has traveled to Iraq with the United Service Organization (USO) on a number of occasions to meet with U.S. troops.
“This endless thing in Iraq literally keeps me up [at night],” he said. “There are so many unanswered questions and the lack of critical thinking of so many Americans is what makes me mad.” Still, Rollins, who has also been an outspoken advocate of gay rights, is a staunch supporter of our military.
“The troops I like,” Rollins said. “The troops don’t start wars. The soldiers I’ve met are remarkably apolitical, and the conflict that we remark upon from the safety of our homes is different than the one they fight. For 12 hours, [a soldier’s] job is to not get killed and to get his buddies back by sundown.”
With such strong opinions, it’s no surprise that Rollins discourages audience participation at his shows — if everyone shouted out his dissenting ideas, the performance could take even longer.
“There will be quiet while the old man is speaking,” said Rollins, 47. “I’m not looking for audience participation, but we’ll talk later after the show. I’m on a mad tear, and they need to let me do it.”
That’s all right with fans.
“He comes from an enviable place where he’s experienced a lot of stuff that’s become historic,” said Matt Molnar, a 28-year-old Bushwick resident with a Black Flag tattoo on his left bicep. “Having played a very large hand in developing the Washington, D.C. punk scene and then being in Black Flag in LA, he’s had his finger in a lot of pots, and so people are still paying to go see him.
“I think going to see Henry’s spoken word might be too much of him. I’ve always been kind of apprehensive about it. But I’ll forgive him the majority of his egotism, because he did sing on Black Flag’s ‘Damaged.’ ” Molnar didn’t plan to attend either of the Warsaw shows.
Whether a crowd is made up of diehard Black Flag fans or those familiar with Rollins’s work as a television host, the man himself thinks this performance is his most essential.
“This is easier than playing with a band,” said Rollins. “A song is a song. There aren’t many words, and if you blow out a lyric, the snare drum covers you. Now, I’ve got no meter but myself. If I stop talking, there’s no show. That weight is all on me, and I quite enjoy it, but that makes it way more complex than a band gig. The talking show is a front-loaded, mental, intellectual exercise.”
“I am very prepared,” he added. “I don’t want to go on stage and ramble. I’m not pulling a string out of my chest, but I come very loaded.”
Rock ’n’ Rollins
Henry Rollins has been a bold-faced name for over 20 years. From his years singing for Black Flag and the Rollins Band, to his career as a globetrotting talking head, author and actor, Rollins has made himself a star. Here’s a look at how he’s done it.
1980
Rollins joins State of Alert, the Washington, D.C. punk outfit that released one album and three songs on the 1982 “Flex Your Head” compilation, which helped launch the careers of local bands including Minor Threat.
1981
Rollins joins Black Flag and leaves Washington for Los Angeles. The same year, the band releases “Damaged,” a seminal West Coast punk record, with Rollins on vocals.
1987
Having left Black Flag and released two solo albums of spoken word, Rollins forms the Rollins Band and releases the 14-track “Life Time.”
1994
After endless recording and touring, Rollins wins a Grammy award for his spoken word; releases “Weight,” a record that hit 33 on the Billboard charts and spawns the hit song “Liar”; and makes his film debut in the Charlie Sheen movie “The Chase.”
2002
Rollins gains a wider audience when he becomes co-host of TLC’s “Full Metal Challenge,” a game show where contestants build cars and use them to compete in various challenges.
2006
In April, the Independent Film Channel airs “The Henry Rollins Show,” a series that features him as host to a variety of guests and musical acts. In addition to hosting, Rollins performs spoken word and sounds off with political and social commentary.
2008
Having released “Uncut from NYC,” his latest spoken word album, in 2007, Rollins heads back on the road with “Provoked” to share insight from his latest travels and experiences.
Henry Rollins will perform “Provoked: An Evening of Quintessentially American Opinionated Editorializing and Storytelling” on Feb. 27 and 28 at 7 pm at Warsaw (261 Driggs Ave. at Eckford Street in Greenpoint). Tickets are $28.50. For information, call (718) 387-0505 or visit www.polishnationalhome.com.