Today, we bring you a double dose of One on One. Up first, legendary rocker/actor/author/radio host Henry Rollins.
You've done a lot of traveling lately with four weeks in Southeast Asia, then to Cape Town, South Africa, and Ireland. What was that experience like for you?
Well with South Africa, I was there with the Independent Film Channel to do a documentary, which was like two days of filming and then a live show. So we filmed in Cape Town and the next two days I went out and interviewed people in some of the townships, people at the prison facility where people like Nelson Mandela were locked up. We threw it together and it will be on IFC around October or November. We shot another one in Northern Ireland and another in the ninth ward in New Orleans.
The trip to Southeast Asia was two weeks in Burma, which I just got out of a few days ago, and two weeks in Thailand. In Thailand, I was living in Chiang Mai, which is to the north of Bangkok. I was there doing a documentary on hunger. It's basically me looking down the barrel of a lens talking about global famine. After that, the director and some crew and I drove to Burma and drove 1,200 miles around just grabbing shots. You know, being tourists, which actually got us surveilled in one town. Southeast Asia is interesting because it's a place where America left a lot of bombs and napalm, you know, gifts from your pals at Dow. But the hospitality there is amazing. These people are very friendly and go out of their way to be nice. I can't say enough about the people. In Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, where I was just before Thailand, you really get a sense of what the war did to those people. I mean they are still finding unexploded ordnance, there are landmines, and it's rough. In Burma, the Junta, they've done the people a great disservice. Again, wonderful people with this idiot, Than Shwe, for a ruler. So of course we slap sanctions on the guy, which sends that country into the loving arms of China and you know, the poor people get poorer and the Junta they never miss a meal. But it's hot and they have awful roads. That's about it.
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When you experience things like that and then come back to the states, how does it affect you?
It's a good juxtaposition. You come from a place where these people have nothing and then you come back here where people take half their day eating. You see that we have it so good that it's almost dangerous. Eating, drinking, driving too much to where we're almost squandering this fortune. You need to keep the water on 10 minutes when you shave? A guy in the Kalahari would have walked five miles for that water. It makes me think more globally. You come back and think 30 hours ago I was in a jungle that smelled like intestines eating something that looks bizarre. Then I come home and have Burger King. I'm not putting America down, I just think when you see hunger on a kid's face, it's obscene.
How do you feel about modern music? Is there anything you really like?
Absolutely. I'm almost spoiled for choice with all the good music out there. Now if you're looking in the Avril Lavigne section you might say it all sounds the same. Not putting her down, but it is what it is. But if you look like on the independent scene, small labels and such, it's so vibrant, so kicking your ass and so not begging you to like it. It's better than ever. People hear Miley Cyrus and they say, "Oh, music sucks now." Well I say let me deejay your party and I'll show you you're wrong."
You have a history of doing a lot of USO shows, but you're also very anti-war. How thin is that line for you?
I support the troops, not the war. I like the military, I just don't like this mission. When someone says, "Oh, you don't support the troops" I say, "No, they are doing a great job with the assignment they've been given. I just disagree with the assignment." People who say if you don't support the military, you don't support the troops, that's a coward who knows his talking points hold no water. So when I say to these people what are you trying to do over there and they say we need to win, what are you winning? They say "Don't you know we're at war?" Really? When did Iraq invade me? I don't remember that. This is an invasion and an occupation. When the Iraqi people say get the hell out, we need to listen and get our boys and girls home so they can keep their limbs on their bodies. I'm OK with being called out on this by guys like Rush Limbaugh, but if you call me un-American I'm gonna come over there. It's like now with Barack Obama. These guys keep bringing "Oh, he's black. Oh, his middle name is Hussein." Grow up and let's talk about the real issues. So yeah, I hate the war, but I love the troops. How many people hate the troops? Maybe like six. Six people and that's because someone hit them upside the head with a pan or maybe that (Fred) Phelps guy and his God Hates Fags group. But the rest of us, we may hate the war but we all love the troops.
You named the new tour "Recountdown." Where did the title come from?
It's the countdown to the end of the Bush administration. But the last two elections, I wanted a recount so maybe it's a countdown to another failed election. I don't trust Diebold machines. I trust Republicans, or at least the Rove-ian ones, even less. I can't sit here and put Republicans down categorically. I think there are plenty who are decent people I just disagree with them on this or that. But those disagreements are nice and civil and we discuss points. But when you play dirty and you lie, it's not a clean victory. I think some of these guys go there without hesitation. That's why I called it the "Recountdown" tour. Here we go again. Here we go again again. I don't know if this election will be fair. I want it to be. And if it's McCain so be it. I think he's gonna win. I've said that for a while. I think we'll end up in Iran soon and it will be "Who do you want in office, some half-black man who eats salad? Some dainty Harvard boy elitist? Or a grizzled war veteran who spent time in the Hanoi hotel?" And Americans go "Damn man, I like Barack, but with this climate I gotta go with the tough ex-navy man." That would not surprise me. I think no matter what happens, we're in for a very challenging four years. But this disagreeing between parties, I hate this (expletive deleted). We're up against it, man. We need to be together.
You've been a big supporter of human rights over the years and one of the issues you are involved with is that of the West Memphis Three, three boys imprisoned for the murder of three little boys in Arkansas with no corroborating evidence. How did you get involved with that?
I watched the HBO documentary like everyone else. (1996's "Paradise Lost") I watched it, went into my office and said find these people, get them on the phone and let's see what we can do. I met with family members in 2000 and did a benefit record for them and have done everything I could. It's a worthwhile cause. I don't think they are guilty. I hung out with Pamela Hobbs (the mother of one of the victims, Steven Hobbs) and she doesn't think they are guilty. I had a weird experience last year, where they found the bodies is now a truck stop. We were driving through and we got the bus washed over the location where they found them. I talked to some locals there and said, "Hey! West Memphis Three. What do you guys think?" Every response was like "(Expletive deleted) man, everyone knows they're innocent." When I did a benefit in West Memphis, everyone knows they didn't do it. It's like the town's dirty little secret. I think it's a definite possibility these guys will get to go home. But too, these guys aren't the only ones in the world wrongly imprisoned.
You've succeeded in a range of areas: music, radio, film. You've published books. Do you share a passion for them all equally?
Well, the talking shows are what I think I'm the best at and the radio is the most fun. Movies? It's work I'll take and I like it but I'm not really an actor. Music was the most fun. I just don't think I'm very good at it. I'm just interested. I'm very lucky. I come from a minimum wage working world so I have no illusions as to what waits for me when this ball eventually hits the ground. I don't have a college degree. I'm equipped to park your car and put mustard on that for you. So the opportunities I've had, I feel like I've won the lottery all the time.
It seems like no matter what you've ever done, it's been on your terms. In an industry that is so commercial, how have you managed that?
Well you lose a lot of work. You burn a lot of bridges. You insult people by saying, "No I can't do it that way" because he's expecting you to cave in. That's why I started my own book company, my own record company, my own DVD company, my own music publishing company. And believe it or not, all of them make a profit every year. And I'm not a prima donna. I'm not snapping my fingers at people every day. But if it smells south of kosher, I'll starve before I sign my name on the line. That's a rough patch of road at times. And if you can stick that out long enough, you get some respect. People go "Damn, he's succeeding on his own terms. Let's call him. My boss doesn't like him cause he told him to go (expletive deleted) himself ten years ago. But right on." And that's what it's been with my IFC show, we're 50-60 shows into it and never once have they told me how to do it. Ten years ago, it wouldn't have been that way. It's rumble, young man, rumble.
PHOTOS: Dept. 56 and AP
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