A need to talk

Rock raconteur Henry Rollins returns to NZ, where fans have given him magic memories in a past encounter. 

- RUSSELL BAILLIE

Once upon a time, Henry Rollins was the Incredible Hulk of American rock. As the frontman of hardcore band Black Flag in the 1980s and the Rollins Band in the 1990s, he was a shirtless, ripped-shorts ball of rage with a microphone. In recent decades, he's become ever more the Bruce Banner, the Hulk's mild-mannered human alter ego, though one still squeezing a microphone in spoken-word shows. The live punk-rock raconteur is part of a career portfolio of acting, TV presenting, podcasting, publishing and writing that included columnist stints at Vanity Fair, LA Weekly and the Huffington Post. A call from the Listener in advance of four New Zealand dates finds him at work in Nashville, his home of the past few years.

What's up for discussion on this tour?

If you've ever suffered through any of my shows before, there's always a travel component, but with Covid I couldn't go anywhere. Luckily, or unluckily, I had enough events during Covid domestically that made for good storytelling. They were unpleasant at the time, but in retrospect made for a damn good tale. That was my challenge this time around, because I often use an interesting location just for things to happen. But when you wake up in your bedroom every day, chances are not as good.

Given your many outlets, what is it that makes you keep touring? And how does a talking performance compare to your music days?