The Portable Henry Rollins

February 9, 1998
Some books should come with warning stickers plastered on their covers. A prime candidate for such a label is The Portable Henry Rollins: "Warning: This book contains graphic images of abusive parents, gratuitous death and destruction, and sex with giant insects." Certainly not for the squeamish, this collection of excerpts from Rollins's 11 books published by his own company, 2.13.61 (including Get in the Van), jars readers with its rawness and hate. Much like his work in the seminal punk band Black Flag and now as a spoken-word artist and frontman for The Rollins Band, Rollins blurs his writing at the frayed edges where reality ends and imagination begins. This book is chock-full of irksome rants about suicide, the murder of Rollins best friend Joe Cole and the writer's obsession with death. This is not to say that some workings of Rollins's mind and pen aren't twisted genius. His simple, staccato prose and verse suit the voice in which he writes, and his gifts of honesty and observation shine through in accounts of life on the road. He even gives insight into the 1986 dissolution of Black Flag, why he despises love and his self-described role as a performer. Taken in small doses, this writing is tolerable; swallowed chapter after chapter, though, leaves readers anesthetized. Caveat lector.

September 15, 1997
Who would have thought the erstwhile leader of those seminal L.A. punkers, Black Flag, would become the darling of the pop-culture intellectuals? Rollins purveys poetry, spoken-word recordings, and a rather terse form of lyrics-oriented music. He self-publishes, acts in movies ("Johnny Mnemonic," "Heat," etc.), and advocates a strong mind in a strong body. He is sort of a Charles-Bukowski-meets-Body-by-Jake, with a nod to Kerouac and William S. Burroughs. For those on his wavelength, this intense collection, full of tough-minded attitude and imagery, will be a trusty companion. For the untuned-in, verses like "He got raped / By his mother's boyfriend / You think I'm joking / I wish" may seem to afford less than shimmering insight, but, hey, this is art! Get to know a little something about the peripatetic Rollins, for your own good. He is definitely one of the hot brands at the bar of pop culture these days. ((Reviewed September 15, 1997))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1997, American Library Association.)