HARD VOLUME: A ROLLINS BAND THREAD

[Birds in Hell]

[William Bloke]

In related news, I saw one of his speaking shows about 2 years ago with my bro.

It was a'ight.

[William Bloke]

Back fully on topic:

[Birds in Hell]

I've never seen Rollins do one of his spoken-word shows but man oh man, I wish I'd seen Rollins Band back in the day. Total full-on jazz metal groove, a bunch of seriously great musicians.

They had a brief reunion in 2006 but it was only a handful of US shows and a TV appearance (the last video I linked to above - which shows they hadn't lost a thing in the intervening years), here's hoping there's another one day.

[VinylGuy]

I used to be such a Rollins fan.

[McParadigm]

I always loved Hank's spoken stuff, but never fully "got" the music when I was younger. I don't really bond with his lyrics at all, and heavier music is pretty hit or miss for me.

But yeah, I've come around over the years to loving his backing band(s). Chris Haskett and the lot are just fantastic, but even sometimes-guys like Bernie Wandel can play their asses off.

Not to take anything away from him, but how Henry managed to constantly stumble into working with such a high caliber of musicians, I'll never know.

[matt reeder]

[Birds in Hell]

Here is the first song of the set. Henry Rollins let me shoot his band at the Cat Club in NYC. I think this was just their 5th show. I had to borrow a camera and it had to be plugged in, so I had to shoot from the back. The camera had an exrernal VHS recorder that you strapped on like a purse. SO this is off that VHS tape. This was such an intense show and The band sonic youth were there in the audience too! I often kick myself for not finding A/C up at the front and getting better footage. By the way..No One has seen this footage except for me, untill now.

[Birds in Hell]

This interview is from 2014 but I just happened upon it yesterday; guess I won't hold my breath for a Rollins Band reunion anytime soon.

http://www.joelgausten.com/2014/10/a-li ... n-ian.html

Since Life Time was the Rollins Band's first album, what was the greatest thing you learned about working together in the studio for the first time that helped shape the band's working relationship on subsequent recordings?

That Andrew would always be an asshole. That never changed and proved to be the “thing” about every recording we ever made. A distinctly unenjoyable experience every single time.

After Come in and Burn (1997), you formed a new version of the Rollins Band with the guys from Mother Superior. What changed in your working/creative relationship with the original band – especially Chris and Sim – that necessitated moving forward with new musicians after spending so many years together?

It was great working with people who were into it, ready to go, were happy to travel, didn’t whine and didn’t talk about money all the time. Playing with the Mother Superior guys is probably the only time I was in a positive environment making music. It was great to be in a band without drama or cliche adult rockstar problems and just play really hard every night.

With the exception of Andrew, the original Rollins Band lineup reunited for a tour with X in 2006. Why didn't this incarnation of the band continue beyond that point?

Because it was a bad idea of Chris Haskett’s that I said yes to. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to fall back in with those people. That’s a summer I’ll never get back. It should have never happened. The playing was good, but the experience was awful. I blame myself only.

[daft twat]

I saw the Rollins Band at a festival in the late 90s - Edgefest (Strat, were you there?). I remember 2 things: 1) I could see him jumping up and down side stage, getting pumped up in his black shorts. 2) People had to be lifted over the concrete wall in the front because they were being crushed.

[Birds in Hell]

This still goes so hard.

[armogi]

Henry is god.

[Birds in Hell]

I don’t know about that.

I’m ambivalent about Rollins as a public figure, but he was a good singer for the band (who were great in their own right).