Henry Rollins has been in countless movies and TV programs, in addition to a rather long and distinguished career as a punk musician, most memorably in the band Black Flag, but he is likely best known for being angry. It’s kind of his thing. And he brings the noise to Toronto this month for a spoken word show. Post City caught up with Rollins to ask him about the upcoming American election and why designer shops sell Black Flag shirts for $315.
You’re coming to Toronto next month. What do you think of our fair city?
I think it’s an amazing city. I have been all over the world and it’s one of my favourites. Fond memories would be the audiences. They are a consistently good bunch. I worked on a film there once and lived there for the better part of a month, and it was great.
Are you going to be talking politics with Trump and Clinton fighting it out?
A little but not much. What is there to say that the audience wouldn’t have already come up with themselves? It’s a tough place the U.S.A. has put itself in.
Are you done making music?
I’m done. There is nothing to do with music other than repeat, and that’s not interesting to me. I gave what I could to it.
There is a store selling T-shirts from your old punk band Black Flag for $315. Thoughts?
It means as much to me as a Beach Boys shirt selling for that price. Has nothing to do with me.
We’re enjoying watching your election this year, thank you. But what happened?
Glad to provide the entertainment. My theory is that there has been a systematic dumbing down of the American electorate. At least since the Reagan administration to now. It fills battlefields and prisons more easily and engenders a more pliable electorate. It makes the selling of the invasion and occupation of Iraq easier to perpetrate.
Should we be frightened of a president Trump?
I think Americans should be. He would be dangerous for minimum wage workers, minorities, pretty much anyone who has financial insecurity in U.S.A. If you’re rich, your life won’t change. I don’t see what he could do to Canadians. You all are too smart to allow him to have any influence on your affairs. You might want to avoid a trip to U.S.A. for a few years if he’s elected. Maybe even longer if he loses. His fans won’t take it well.
Will the Republican Party implode?
Absolutely not. They are unable to self-examine. They will go on as if nothing happened. They’ll think they’re fine. That’s the problem.
Have you mellowed out yet?
Not really. I am, however, more focused with my anger, and I try not to waste my time on that which I cannot change.
What continues to get you fired up?
I am amazed we still battle homophobia, racism, misogyny. It’s depressing and keeps me distant from humans on some levels.
What makes you excited about the future?
There are a lot of things I want to do. Places I want to go, things I want to write about. I am not all that excited about people. I hope for the best, but overall, the rich aren’t budging, and everyone else is having a very hard time. It shouldn’t be as hard as it is for good people to get through a life. I am not trying to be selfish, but I am one person. I would like to see things get better, but there is only so much I can do. At a certain point, I must conclude that this is what people want. Like in America, look at how bad things are. I’m not happy about it, but I am outnumbered. I have to let these people get on with it and get way out of the way and do my own thing.
