By Michael A. Knipp
A product of his upbringing in 1970s Washington, D.C., Henry Rollins sees the world a little differently than most people.
With a culture-lover extraordinaire for a mother and her gay men friends as role models, his life was shaped by the unconventional. Lucky for him, that environment, paired with his indubitable wisdom, has led to a successful music career in Hollywood and a lasting livelihood within the media. From punk rocker to his own publishing company, the ultra-tattooed Rollins has a lot on his mind. And when he speaks, people listen.
In a recent interview, the '80s icon discusses the very essence of what makes him tick. He travels through his early years to the problem that resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and everything in between, while providing a moment of clarity in an otherwise chaotic world. His hardcore days may be over, but Rollins still rocks.
Michael A. Knipp: As a child, you were primarily raised by your mother. How did that affect the way you turned out?
Henry Rollins: I'm sure it did but I am not exactly certain as to how. Perhaps I would have been different if I had the mother/father in the same house situation. I am not a subscriber to that masculine/feminine side idea so I don't acknowledge any of that. Since I spent a lot of time under her roof, I do see similarities now that I am an adult. I have a lot of books and records, as she does. Both of my parents were very hard working and very intelligent. Perhaps my mother was more eclectic than some and that has certainly rubbed off on me. I still listen to some of the records she played when I was young.
MK: Your dad wasn't around very much. Did that affect you positively, negatively, or at all?
HR: Due to that parental agreement thing post-divorce, I would see him on the weekends and he lived in town and was available by phone, so it never seemed like he was far away. At a young age, I think I saw the set up for what it was, some days you stay with your mother and some you stay with your father, it was no big deal and I don't know what the overall effect of all that was. Perhaps a feeling of things being temporary and contractual but not necessarily conditional.
MK: Do you have a relationship with him now? Or did you at some point?
HR: I have not seen him in 16 years. I don't know where he lives and don't really care to know but I wish him all the best. He's a very sturdy person, I'm sure he's fine.
MK: There are a lot of single mothers out there. What can a single mother do to ensure she's raising the best kid she can?
HR: My mother set a lot of good examples. She was not a drinker. She took me to museums and the theater. She got me into reading before I was in school. I think that was all good. I consider the plight of a single mother to be quite challenging. It must take all of a woman's strength to carry it out. I think it's best if the mother never does drugs in front of the child and if she's dating, be very careful about how the man is brought into the household. My mother was never a drug person and was considerate of me.
MK: What did your mom do for which you truly thank her?
HR: She gave me an eclectic taste in art and a love of literature.
MK: You were raised in D.C. in the 1970s. What was it like in the city back then?
HR: Very racially intense. Beautiful in places and scary in others. Race mattered in where you could go and what you could do. That part sucked.
MK: You got your first glimpse of homosexuals by way of your mom's friends. How did that affect your outlook?
HR: I quickly realized that they were just people. Someone's sexual preference or orientation was never an issue with me. It's a non-issue really. I did notice in high school that not everyone was like that.
MK: There's a story about when you were in high school and a gay kid was taunted by the other students and at one point by a teacher. What advice do you have for the kids that don't live in progressive areas?
HR: That's a good question. It's easy to know that being gay is nothing different than being straight. It's just the way it turns out and that looks good on paper but when you really get to it, there's no way it's going to be that simple. I have to think there are some absolutely heartbreaking stories out there. What to do? I don't know, perhaps find like minded people to hang out with and perhaps this will give you a chance to figure yourself out some. Young, gay and stuck in Arkansas? Sounds like a horror flick.
MK: Do you think American kids are learning to be more open-minded or do we just see that because we're in the city? Are the backwoods kids still being taught that fags are sinners?
HR: I don't know what happens in the backwoods of anywhere quite honestly. I would like to think that we are getting more open-minded and shedding our ignorance as we go, but I'm sure there's pockets where you just can't reason with people.
MK: You're very outspoken about gay issues—why?
HR: Because to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation is repellent and completely despicable to me. It is a deal killer for me. It is as simple as that.
MK: Have you ever had or thought about a sexual experience with a guy?
HR: Never had one. Never had any interest. I find females overwhelmingly attractive.
MK: But as an admittedly straight guy, you've dealt with teasing from the media about your own sexuality. How do you handle that?
HR: The whole 'Henry is gay' thing was interesting. The best comedy came inadvertently from my press agent at the time. This is great, I swear this happened. I asked her what she thought about all the Henry is gay stuff and she said, 'Are you kidding, it's great! It means you're getting famous! Everyone who gets famous is gay for six months!' I thought that was brilliant. There's also a line in a Rick James song I always thought was funny, I am paraphrasing from 'Below the Funk.' 'Some people say I'm a faggot. Me and all my ladies laugh at that.' So, it's impossible for me to take it seriously because it's not a bad thing being gay. It tells you something about the people who spread the rumor. It tells you that they value that status as a putdown. I have always been very fortunate in being able to have sex with women. It's some of the best times I've ever had.
MK: The media portrays itself as liberal and understanding, but when straight people, especially celebrities, fight for gay issues, they're often teased about possibly being gay themselves.
HR: I think there will always be an element who wants to take down a peg someone they see as up a peg. It says a lot about what the accuser is all about more than the accused. All the people who are down one, trust me, they put themselves there. I think the media should be seen as what it is. It's business, nothing more.
MK: What do you say to the journalist who harps on your sexuality and makes their career out of poking fun at you?
HR: They must either really dig me or have no life for themselves. I think it's cute. I am a gray-haired man, almost 44 years of age, who cares what I am? I love confrontation. Pick a juicier topic and let's do it.
MK: What do you think of Bush?
HR: I think he and his administration are dangerous to America and what it is to be an American. I think he's the wrong guy for the job and I am sorry we have lost all those good boys and girls in Iraq.
MK: How do you feel about Kerry? Do you think he's the lesser of two evils? He doesn't want to recognize gay marriage.
HR: I don't think Kerry is a great man. If he were to be elected, it would prove to be a four-year resting period best used to resuscitate relations with our friends in Europe, the UN, depolarize ourselves from the rest of the world, come to grips with our relationship with the Saudi family and really try to annex all free nations in the war on terrorism.
MK: What can Americans expect if Bush wins?
HR: More American KIAs, more occupation in the Iraq region. Putin will flatten Chechnya; Bush will tell us that Putin is a man of strong will. More children left behind, more craziness and recklessness from organizations like the EPA, the Reproductive Health Drug Advisory Committee and extraordinary funding of faith-based organizations. Seems to me, most people who would vote for Bush, can't really afford the guy.
MK: How do you feel about the so-called Christians, who are supposed to love all of humanity, when they picket a gay person's funeral?
HR: Perhaps not the best representation of Christianity. I think a lot of Christians would tell you that.
MK: You seem like kind of a bad boy? Are you a bad boy?
HR: Not really. Perhaps impatient and annoying would best describe me. Self-absorbed too.
MK: How come you don't ever want to get married?
HR: I like to go where I want when I want and I like to travel and do most things alone.
MK: Does that help with women?
HR: I don't know one damn thing that would help with women. Usually I get the women who want me first.
