Blogcritics Comments on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Comment by toby on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Sat, 9 Sep 2006 01:48:12 EDT

Henry is godly when it comes to expressing hisself . I aint no philosophical guy but this man is something to look up to .A punk prodigy Whatever you do don't hate this man for making a living.He has the spirit of a GOD.unrelentless When you're a young punk an honest good guy for an idol goes a long way when you're on a lost path. ]]>

Comment by Andy on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 15:39:11 EST

Henry Rollins deserves everyone's respect. Whether you like his work or not. Personally, I think he is still head and shoulders above his peers and the new "bands" that populate MTV-land these days. Do they have anything to say that is worth hearing? I don't think so. Whereas Rollins always does. "Broken Summers" is a great read, go check it out. ]]>

Comment by Eric Berlin on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 02:00:07 EST

Nick - I saw a spoken word performance on video where he goes into the kidnapping and assassination-style murder of his best friend. They had just returned from the video store to watch a movie starring their favorite bad actor: Sly Stallone. When they returned home, they walked in on a robbery in progress. Brutal story that could easily wreck any person who lived through it. HW - I don't necessarily agree with your opinion, but it's a completely rational and respectable one. I agree with Eric and some of the others in denouncing the entire "sell out" idea. It's one thing to begrudge a talented artist for blatantly pandering to a low common denominator for cash... but even the most cynical of us must agree that the ability to figure out the buying tastes and transient interests of any demographic group is not easy. Anyway, just a few midnight ramblings... ]]>

Comment by HW Saxton on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 00:56:01 EST

Rollins can be f**king hilarious when he is on a roll. The other half of the time he is so self aggrandizing that it just about negates what was so entertaining about the guy in the first place.It all balances in the end I suppose. Black Flag played a show in Las Vegas,a long time ago with The Meat Puppets* as an opening band (they were both on SST at the time). Some of the local punkers thought they would be funny and spit on The MP's as they were playing,threw beer at them and all that other stupid shit that goes on at punk shows. The Puppets left the stage after about five or ten minutes of this bullshit.Understandable, right? It also sucked for those of us who wanted to see the Meat Puppets play. (Off the subject, but Kirkwood is a way under rated guitarist). Well, Henry got on stage and told the crowd to pull that shit on him and let's see what happens. He then went to the sound board, took out whatever punk was playing & put in Public Enemy, which got the punks even more pissed.Then Henry R. walked around the pit area in front of the stage just staring daggers at those pricks who were starting all of the shit with the M.P.'s earlier.He had them sooo motherfucking scared they wouldn't come within 10 feet of the stage during Black Flag's set. Henry jumped into the crowd during Black Flag's set and when he did the troublemakers scattered so fast we gut laughed ourselves sick. After that, I've always had a lot of respect for Mr. Rollins as a person though I don't like him much as a writer or a personality. *The show I've cited above gets a quick mention in his book "Get In The Van". ]]>

Comment by Nick Jones on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 21:45:53 EST

OK, it seems as if I was wrong about 2.13.61.: that's Rollins' birthdate. I don't know where I got the idea it was JOE COLE's, unless they shared a birthdate. There's a biographical entry for Rollins on TV Tome. As far as I can tell, his murder is still unsolved There's also a book out now called The Portable Henry Rollins. Wish I had the money to buy it. ]]>

Comment by Nick Jones on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:58:59 EST

Although I've only heard a handful of tunes from Black Flag and The Rollins Band, I've got all of his spoken word albums except Get in the Van. Not only is he smart, passionate and creative, he's also one funny motherfucker. Every one of the aforementioned spoken word albums are hilarious. I saw him once on TV (Comedy Central?), and he told a story about he and the band attending a live Thai sex show, and he managed to tread a line which let you know exactly what happened without being explicit enough to get himself censored. Now that takes talent! By the way, the name of his publishing company, 2.13.61, was the birthdate of his lifelong best friend (I'll have to Google for his name), who was murdered when two muggers tried to rob him and Rollins. The case appeared on Unsolved Mysteries, and as far as I know is still unsolved. ]]>

Comment by Eric Olsen on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 18:45:30 EST

I understand the "overplayed until I'm sick of them" angle, but I try to never blame the song or the artist - it isn't their damn fault they "succeeded" ]]>

Comment by Mark Saleski on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:26:31 EST

yea, yea...sellout. henry seems like the genuine article to me. just doing what he has to do. i've never understood the 'sellout' thing anyway...just like that "i liked them until they became popular" stuff. ]]>

Comment by wally bangs on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:19:39 EST

I've been re-reading Get In The Van, so it was great timing for your excellentt review. Cries of sellout have been lobbed at Henry ever since he left DC to join Black Flag. I'm sure the poem would make hime chuckle before he sends the poem writer head into a wall. ]]>

Comment by Eric Olsen on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:36:37 EST

excellent points Shannon, and I doubt Rollins is living in the lap of opulence anyway ]]>

Comment by Shannon Okey on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:27:37 EST

The funny thing is, Henry Rollins would probably get a total kick out of that. I should print it out and take it with me when he's here for Valentine's Day. If you think he & Biafra are sellouts, who are you taking seriously? Is it better to make enough money to support yourself and be able to do your art full time, or to carp and whine from your post at Starbucks about the sellouts who succeeded where you were incapable? 2.13.61 and Alternative Tentacles risk money, time and attention on artists who wouldn't get the time of day from any other publisher. Don't call them sellouts -- if anything, they're heroes. ]]>

Comment by Eric Olsen on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:19:01 EST

if the bellowing noncommercial iconoclast Rollins can be considered a sell-out, is it possible to make a living via art and escape the label? ]]>

Comment by Eric Berlin on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:12:35 EST

By the way: I think it's still a fairly well kept secret that Rollins is one of the funniest people around. His spoken word shows are at least 50% laugh-out-loud funny. I saw him years ago in New York and was riveted. I'd love to see him again sometime. ]]>

Comment by Eric Berlin on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:10:57 EST

Looks like someone woke up on the jealous side of the bed. Any keen observer of Rollins knows that bro keeps it real: the guy lives -- literally -- to work and create. Should we begrudge success of any sort nowadays? ]]>

Comment by HW Saxton on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:04:38 EST

That IS really,really,really F'ing BAD. ]]>

Comment by rob on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 13:30:56 EST

that poem is quite possibly the most retarded thing i have ever read in my entire existance. i hope you get cancer ]]>

Comment by mike on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 13 Sep 2004 15:39:35 EDT

Henry Rollins drives a new BMW Next thing you know he will votefor 'double U' He was a punk rocker singing hate against the rich now he is just their rock n roll bitch He has a nice home and gets all the girls He has plenty of cash and maybe some pearls He used to sleep in a van and tour in black flag Now he is rich thanks to all the you punk fag Jello Biafra has a corporation I wonder what he drives , some speciallized creation? They used to be punks and live on the street now they are loaded and where the best on their feet Henry Rollins drives a new BMW I bet he has a maid and a really nice ocean view He still tours and played recently in IRAQ probably flew first class to there and back Many punks who thought they were some big anarchy now live in Malibu and go to starbucks for the chai tea they got all the goods and lost all the angst until they perform and take your money and say thanks So Henry Rollins can get his car detailed and forget about all the punks who probably failed Like me who never wanted to cash in I was told back then that it was a sin I wish I had me a brand new BMW and that house with the fuckin great ocean view but I cant seem to swallow that capitalist pill which Henry Rollins took and made a big kill ]]>

Comment by Chris Kent on Henry Rollins - Broken Summers

Mon, 19 Jul 2004 12:29:52 EDT

Mark, a great review on a book that sounds very interesting. Nice work. I saw Black Flag many years ago in Austin, and Henry was equally spirited during that performance. He jumped off the stage at one point to attack a man wearing a KKK t-shirt. Show came to an end, house lights were turned on - night abruptly ended..... Good to see Henry is still fighting the good fight. I have visited the Chelsea in NY, a sort of shrine to rock/writing stardom.....We stand at its front door, take photographs of ourselves benenath its sign, and dream of Sid, Nancy, Dylan, Wolfe, Dee Dee, etc...lounging within producing great work or just great "fuck-up" stories...... Henry's a rare bird to have survived that scene and to have branched into other creative areas. I was never a big Black Flag fan, but as the years pass and Henry continues to produce an interesting variety, I realize in some odd way, he's the real ideal...... ]]>