Henry Rollins’ magical musical tour
Kevin Bronson on
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By Meriah Doty
“You have never heard this before until now,” Henry Rollins explained as he sat center-stage at the Echoplex during a listening party he orchestrated as a fundraiser for KCRW-FM on Thursday night. It was a sold-out show featuring music he cannot play on his radio show and personal stories from his past. It did not disappoint.
Known for his eclectic taste and obsession with some of the rarest music in the world, Rollins played 24 “top-shelf” cuts of never-released songs (sometimes comparing them to their “official” versions) from artists including Public Enemy, Queen, Bad Brains, Charles Manson and, yes, Black Flag. He played them loud, filling the venue with the best-quality sound I have ever heard there.
The room was uncharacteristically fitted with couches and chairs. Recording devices, photography and cell phones were strictly prohibited. The reason? For one, Rollins didn’t want to incur the wrath of Danzig for leaking “Arch Angel” to the Internet – what he considers the lost Misfits track. “I’m not copying it, I’m just playing it,” he explained.
Rollins spoke of his early days living in an abandoned van in the parking lot of a liquor store and getting kicked out when a band mate wanted to get laid. He talked about corresponding with convicted killer Charles Manson to get his prison record released. He relayed the great lengths to which he would go to attain recordings that, to him, were important pieces of history that need to be digitized and cherished.
It’s difficult to rate them, but one of the finest tales started when Rollins criticized David Bowie’s “anemic mix” of Iggy Pop and the Stooges’ “Raw Power,” released in 1973. After playing Bowie’s version, he blew everyone away with his throbbing remix, which heightened the focus of backing vocals, the rhythm section and guitars. The colorful tale behind the feat was just as thrilling to hear. It included world travel – to retrieve the original unmixed tracks – getting sign-off from Iggy himself and a nod of approval from the Clash’s Joe Strummer, who happened to be in the studio where Rollins was mixing. He said it was one of the best nights of his life to get that level of praise.
Each track came with a story more unforgettable than the last. The show ended at 11 p.m. (90 minutes later than scheduled) as Rollins’ enthusiasm perceptibly swelled.
Rollins graciously spoke with fans and journalists before the show. During our pre-show chat, he told me how thrilled he was to now be on KCRW. “They all love music,” he said of his colleagues, adding that they have the freedom to play what they love. That, too, is exactly why his “fanatics” love him.
Photos by Jeremiah Garcia
Henry Rollins’s “Rare Cuts and Conversation” KCRW Benefit Set List
Queen ”“ “Killer Queen” (vocals only)
Black Flag — “Just Give Us a Break”
Black Flag ”“ “Depression”
Black Flag — “Louie Louie” ”“ with Henry Rollins on Vocals
Black Flag ”“ “Chipmunk”
Nick Cave ”“ “From Her to Eternity” (album version)
Nick Cave ”“ “From Her to Eternity” (alternate version, just vocal and piano)
Birthday Party ”“ “Wings Off Flies”
Birthday Party ”“ “Little Doll” (Stooges cover)
The Stooges — “Raw Power” (original album version)
The Stooges — “Raw Power” (version re-mixed by Henry)
Iggy Pop ”“ “Untouchable” solo acoustic song with lyrics from Henry’s writings
Black Sabbath ”“ “The Rebel” (an early version “without the bells and whistles”)
The Misfits ”“ “Arch Angel” (with Glenn Danzig playing everything but bass. Henry called it “the missing Misfits track.”)
Public Enemy ”“ “Yo Bum Rush the Show” (demo version)
Dee Dee King (w/ Debbie Harry) ”“ Mashed Potato Time
Dee Dee King ”“ The Goon (unreleased demo)
Joey Ramone ”“ “I Don’t Want You” (solo with acoustic guitar, found on a cassette in Johnny’s closet)
The Ramones ”“ “I Wanna Be Sedated (live at Agora)
Bad Brains ”“ “Pay to Cum” (original single)
Bad Brains ”“ “Pay to Cum” (live version from their 2nd ever live show)
Bad Brains ”“ “The Man Won’t Annoy Ya” (Black Dots version)
Bad Brains ”“ “The Man Won’t Annoy Ya” (Ian MacKaye’s mix)
Charles Manson ”“ “SST Recording Studio”
The Gun Club ”“ “Mother Earth” (demo)
Meat Puppets ”“ “Up Around the Bend” (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Brief Weeds ”“ “Ambrosia II” (members of Fugazi and Rites of Spring)
Fugazi ”“ “Waiting Room” (first ever Fugazi demo)
Awesome night. I, for one, am hoping for more.
So envious. I found out about this after it was sold out. I love hearing Henry speak though. Going to see him at the Largo in February.