Henry Rollins discaholic interview
Jan.17, 2013
Discaholic Corner Interview —- Henry Rollins, jan 2013
Are you an official discaholic?
– I have always had a hard time dealing with people. I don’t hate them but feel uncomfortable around them. I prefer them on records. Music keeps me company, actual humans don’t all that much. So, music has a large place in my life. I like all the different pressings and labels, it’s all very interesting to me. About as happy as I get is when I am listening to music
Are there any secret S.O.A test pressings / acetates, laying around… that we haven’t seen yet?
– There were some test pressings. I am not certain of the actual number. Perhaps ten or so. Past that, I think there were three pressings of the single, two for sure.
Was this your debut in vinyl ? the No Policy ep? Or are there any earlier results on vinyl? Why green vinyl on the 1st issue of No Policy?
– That was my first time being on a record. I thought green vinyl would look cool. That’s the only thought I had about it.
Are there any secret Black Flag test pressings / acetates, laying around… that we haven’t seen yet?
– There are test pressings for sure. Jealous Again, Six Pack, Damaged of two different masterings. Those are the ones I am aware of. There might be some for Everything Went Black but I am not sure. As far as I know, there were no acetates. We could not have afforded them. There are perhaps more test pressings. Honestly, it’s not a discography that interests me all that much. I don’t have all the records I am on,
Are there any secret Rollins Band test pressings / acetates, laying around… that we haven’t seen yet?
– Test pressings for Life Time, Hard Volume, Do It for sure. There is a Hard Volume Australian test pressing that a guy showed me but I don’t have one. As far as I know, those are the only ones. No acetates to my knowledge. Again, no money or need really.
Fav format in general?
– I would rather listen to a record or other analog source over digital.
What is it really… in between the grooves?
– I don’t know.
How come you got into Free Jazz?
– It seemed as punk rock or more punk rock than punk rock, which very often played it safe. Free Jazz doesn’t seem to care about getting paid, it sounds like truth.
Normally we deal and talk exclusively about vinyls on this site… but occasionally we have some rare cassettes and related that we think is worth spreading some lights on.
There is one AMAZING cassette with the music of Norman Howard that came into DC´s archive 20 years ago…. Were you at all involved in that release? There was some rumors about it at the time….
– I bought the masters of that album from a Scottish guy who somehow got them. I told the asshole at ESP. He asked for them and offered 1000 dollars, which was less than I paid but I said ok because I figured he could put it out and life would be grand. So, I gave him the tape and he never paid me. I would take one of his ears in lieu of payment because that is the kind of sociopath fuck I am but I don’t want to do the time. He should put it out.
Have you produced any other free jazz / improvised music on vinyl or cassette? Any plans for the future?
– I mixed some sessions for Charles Gayle and others. No plans to do more.
Are producing / releasing vinyls a useful tool to fight the stupidity back?
– I think music is a good thing to keep humans on their best behavior.
Do you believe in programmatic music to spread/ deliver a certain message? Or do u prefer to think about art and music as a way to open the doors up…. To make the people start thinking on their own and figuring out the shit themselves? Or do we need to be really clear about stuff in a more outspoken way? Has these things changed over the years ? Is it different now compared to the years of S.O.A and Black Flag?
– I think music is a great way to open up the mind and to bring people together. I like music festivals. I like seeing all those people together to dig some music and meet each other and prevent the next stupid war. I think music, like education, is the way out of a lot of the ills of the world.
Are Lists a good or bad thing? DC is not sure… and we are very ambivalent… but… meanwhile…we will continue publish them…
– I can’t do the list thing any more. My favorite record changes all the time.
Do you sort your private collection alphabetical or by genre?
– Genre / Alphabetical for the most part, mostly for efficiency. I do also keep some records by label, like American Tapes.
Which one is no sex at all?
– Please. Some of your friends might be on it.
What records do I wanna steal from your collection? More then the “Completion” test press?
– I don’t know. I honestly don’t know what I think is interesting holds any interest at all to anyone else. I have shown some of the rarest things I have to a few people and they only say something nice because they are being polite. Perhaps some of the test pressings or acetates would be of interest.
Is looking for vinyls with fellow discaholics the most fun you can do with your clothes on? Is trading records the ultimate intimacy?
– I don’t really hang out with many people. When I visit Ian MacKaye in DC, we will go into a record store. I don’t really trade records. I buy them and give them away. I sold some many years ago when I was poor but I would never do that now. I would give you one though.
What is the first section you hit, while arriving to a vinyl shop, where you have never been before? Secondly? Thirdly? The section where you would never look in?
– I always head for the Noise/Avant/Weird type of bin first. Past that, I go to the alternative then the metal, world and jazz sections. I never look in the country western or rap bins.
What is your favorite record shop in the world? In the past? In the present? Why?
– I don’t have one. I do think some of the last great ones left are in Scandinavia and Germany. They are stores that don’t put their stuff online, so you stand the chance of actually finding something interesting.
How do you find your records? Shops, internet, friends, enemies?
– Everything from curiosity to suggestions to hearing something on the radio or a venue or record store I am in. I don’t think one should have only a certain way of getting to music. Most of the records, bands and labels I really enjoy were suggested to me.
What record has it all? Great music, great cover, great feel, great rarity?
– I don’t know about all four quality but there are some records that year after year, still have the same effect on me. Stooges, Sabbath, Zeppelin, Ruts, Damned, bands like that.
Are u a completist of any artist, label or group?
– Yes. I collect a lot of labels in their entirety. There a few bands that I have or seek to have all the pressings, test pressings, acetates, artwork, etc. That kind of thing sends you on a lot of hunts and forces you to deal with some people who are perhaps a bit less than on the level.
any plan for future 7, 10 or 12” vinyl releases on your own?
– No. I am not interested in making music. Perhaps re-issuing old stuff.
What “impossible” record are you still looking for?
– I appreciate the question but will decline to answer as I would rather not have to disclose what I lack. I will say that most of those records would fall in the punk rock genre.
Henry Rollins, january 2013 januari 17
Read the Henry Rollins blog in LA Weekly! Terrific on all levels!!!!
http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/henry-rollins/
And finally some vinyl related quotes from Mr Rollins found in the LA Weekly blog:
“As an LP spins, your needle goes on the musical journey with you, traveling great distances as it deftly picks up the analog information and delivers the sonic message to you in real time. Vinyl is the people, a CD is the man.”
“Yes, yes, y’all, it’s not hipster, elitist hype — vinyl sounds better. Much better. There is actual music in those grooves. Technically speaking, there is no music whatsoever on a CD. Lots of information but no music. “
“Sitting in a room, alone, listening to a CD is to be lonely. Sitting in a room alone with an LP crackling away, or sitting next to the turntable listening to a song at a time via 7-inch single is enjoying the sublime state of solitude.”