Driving to DC to see Rollins at the Smithsonian

10/15/14 03:40 Rockville, Maryland

For some reason I can’t sleep so I write.  I drove down here yesterday to see Henry Rollins at the Smithsonian.  I respect him for his work ethic as well as social justice stands.   I wrote a few blog entries about Rollins, from reviewing some of his books as well as his spoken word performances.  This year, he has made infrequent public appearances.  It seemed a Rollins show was an annual event, but he’s busy working on his show for National Geographic as well as he described, “Hollywood stuff.”   Last night event was titled, Henry Rollins on the DC Punk Scene.  It was the closest Rollins event which I could make, so I bought my ticket weeks ago and knowing the event would be a sellout.  Who else would drive more than five hours from Long island and take a subway into a humid October night?

I used my Marriott points and rented a car since my beast has more than 160,000 and I was not risking the drive.  Packed my things, brought some books and CD covers as well as an album by the evens, since I hoped Ian Macaye would be there.  After roughly five hours of easy traffic, passing autumn vibrant in orange and yellows and weary of the highway patrols, I checked into the hotel in Rockville Maryland, dropped off my bags and checked some emails before driving to the Metro station in Shady Grove.   The Metro ride was closer to 45 minutes.  I was not the tourist this time in DC.  I was on a mission.  I barely noticed the Washington Monument when I stepped outside onto the mall, oh there it is, and on the opposite side, the capitol building, the dome is under scaffolds.  I made my way to the museum of natural history.    

DC is Rollin’s hometown.  In his books he writes about the city like James Joyce created - referring to his mythic Dublin. 

The auditorium in the National History seats more than five hundred.   The ceiling is tiled and the acoustics were perfect.  I had an aisle seat and sat four rows back.  Chris Richards was the interviewee and handled himself very well.  There was a familiarity between the Rollins and himself, not only on the subject but more for Rollins support when Richards played in his punk band.   Rollins started out describing his friendship with Macaye, who he still considers his best friend since he was twelve.  They shared and continue to share music,  Macaye lived, “about a four minute bike ride from me.” They swapped Hendrix albums and eventually made a pact; we will either be comedians or musicians.  Music motivated them.  Punk transformed them.  Rollins said they continue to share music as well as artistic influences.  If you don’t know Ian Macaye, he is famous in the punk movement for bands, Minor Threat, Teen Idols, Fugazi.  He is known for creating the movement - straight edge - as well as Dischord records. Not in that order.  Rollins said straight edge has taken off and become more extreme which was never the intention.  If there was one thing missing on the stage, it was Ian Macaye.  I would have enjoyed hearing them swap stories and as Rollins said a few times, Ian was in the audience.  But seeing Rollins take charge and not giving Chris Richards much of an opportunity to carry out the interview…makes me reconsider - I am not sure what we would have seen with Ian up there.  I would assume it would be a moment when Rollins was on a stage and spent a great deal just… listening.

The interview became less of a DC punk movement to a Rollins interview.  There was an emphasis Bad Brains who gained fame for opening for The Dammed.  Seeing HR and getting closer to the stage as others backed up, frightened by the singer HR.  Seeing The Cramps in a very small venue, The Ramones played in a wine and cheese place, he got so close to the stage some sweat from Dee Dee fell on him.  But there was little about the influence of DC punk other than the Bad Brains.  The Cramps and The Ramones hailed from New York.  Early in the discussion Black Flag was raised.  Ian was interested in SST Records and called them up to learn more about the independent record business.  The fact he called impressed Rollins.  “Typical for him.  You did what?”  I called SST and spoke to Greg.”  On a side note, this is typical DIY.  While Black Flag toured, they would stay at Macaye’s parent’s house and this is where Rollins got to know the band.  Their bassist Chuck Dukowski influenced Rollins, suggesting he listen to The Stooges and MC5 and would call Rollins from time to time.  

It was in New York that Rollins took the microphone and sang his first Black Flag song at an after show party and right before he made the five hour drive back to DC to start his shift at Haagen Daz where he managed the store.   Some months later, Greg Ginn called him and said they are holding auditions in New York and would like him to try out for the band. 

Last Sunday, I took a punk tour of the Lower East Side.  It was led by John Joseph the singer for the hardcore band, Cro-Mags.  Part of the tour was seeing where Rollins auditioned for Black Flag.  I have to admit it was one of the highlights of the tour.  Last night, after the interview I had the opportunity to meet Rollins.  I told him about the tour and how the building was one of the stops.  “It’s really part of the tour?”  It is.  

Henry Rollins and Ian Mackay are currently archiving punk posters, records, as well as journals.  Eventually he would like to create a data base for people to see and learn more about punk.  This leads to one of the last questions which Chris Richards asked, regarding the recent Black Flag formations and their respective tours.  It was Greg who called Henry (although he denies it, per Rollins) to say he was leaving the band.  Well, in that case, there is no more Black Flag.  Instead of being somber, that day he wrote two songs which eventually became his first album and which eventually became the Rollins Band.  He described how he endured the break up and worked hard, starting a publishing company, touring with his band and giving spoken word tours to make money to pay his band, sending them money orders from the road – while his ex- band mates did little to further their career or to make money.  About the new Black Flag renditions, that time has passed.  They came to my office (FLAG) to ask me if I wanted to join.  No.  Not interested.  They are too old and getting close to sixty.  It pisses me off since Black Flag means so much to me.  It was like a war we created when we went on tour.  I was beaten up, stiches to my lip, eye, broken ribs, cut and bitten…both renditions were touring, FLAG contained most of the original members, but Greg Ginn also toured as Black Flag in 2012 and sued FLAG as well as Henry Rollins.  “I guess he sued me for good measure? It was like The Platters, well our version has the original session player from the first album which makes us more authentic.  They play these songs and are huffing through them.  It was a joke.”

   

It was well worth the drive and the opportunity to hear the man in person in his hometown.  And yes, I met Ian as well…the man is a gentleman and very gracious.  What was curious was to hear and learn the differences in the cities, especially compared to New York, punk fans in DC were more respectful and polite.  I don't think Rollins cussed once during the interview which was a contrast to getting a tour of New York by the street survivor John Joseph...

Taking a break from Disney - discovering nature

My apologies for not posting anything in the past few weeks. 7/15/12 14:05 Orlando I can sit in this spot and write for days. In the distance thunder fades away. The kids are watching TV inside the house. I went for a run earlier and finished the book on Lincoln’s summer retreat - the soldier’s home. It was informative and proved how valuable this house was for Lincoln. To get away from the executive mansion, to walk among soldiers who were protecting him and his family, where the emancipation proclamation was revised and finalized. Lincoln inspires me, this book more than the others shared how he developed as a man, especially his faith which evolved as a cynical approach as a young man to a man of faith in his later years. It’s a contradiction to the other books I read, like Team of Rivals.….Last night was the highlight of the vacation for me. Nancy and Hugh reserved a sea turtle expedition at a nature preserve on the edge of Cape Kennedy. In the distance, I could see the large luminous building where the rockets the Saturn rockets were assembled as well as some of the launch pads. We were fortunate to see a sea turtle lay its eggs in a nest it dug out of the sand, then cover it over and crawl back into the sea. Out of the hundred or so eggs, approximately only ten percent will survive. Since there was a lack of any wind, the mosquitoes were unbearable, gratefully we applied some repellant in the parking lot before we walked on the beach and were protected. This didn’t stop the incessant pests from battling each other and us - attempting to get into any crevice including our eyes. Beyond all of this, as I approached the surging water, I was struck by the magnitude of the night sky - a cluster of stars so thick which was the milky way. I can’t recall the last time I was so close to nature. The event was something of a holy experience, the park rangers using glowing red flash lights to avoid irritating the wild life especially the turtles were like the warm meditative candles at church, the back drop of the night sky and the dark outline of the reflective strangers on the dark beach. It was a holy experience. As I looked up at the stars, I lost my sense of isolation. I thought back to the earliest navigators on the oceans following the stars to their destination, the astronauts on the launch pads, peering into eternity, I was in touch with nature and the supreme power. I felt a presence as if God whispered, I am with you. God is with us. Last night there were two unfortunate events, Amanda accidently lost Summer’s keys on the beach, and Aunt Nancy closed the car door on some of her fingers. She was in a lot of pain. Amanda felt horrible. On the way back, we packed into Uncle Hugh’s car, stopped at Wendy’s and McDonalds and listened to Tom Petty, American Girl….make it last all night…she’s an…American Girl.

Auto Train to Orlando

Last night we arrived at the Springfield, VA Courtyard a little after 9 PM. The pool was closing so we changed quickly and enjoyed the hot tub and pool. A father and his two daughters joined in and soon the kids were eying each other suspiciously and doing their own thing. The father took over the hot tub, and we dried off and headed off to the courtyard. It was warm last night. I bought a beer, and we headed back to the room. Lights were off a quarter to 11. By 6 AM I was awake and ready to go. I finished up some work, and wrote my weekly while the rest of the bums got dressed, took showers and watched the Disney Channel.
We ate breakfast, really brunch at Bob Evans, I had eggs and pancakes and sausage and OJ and coffee. The food wasn’t too bad, but the waitress had an extremely dry sense of humor. Not sure how he day was going, but she told us she was there since 5:15.
Afterwards, knowing we had time to kill, we drove to DC and went to FDR’s memorial. It’s a beautiful display, using boulders and water, and is the only presidential memorial which includes the first lady. Took some pictures with Amanda standing next to the statue.
We’ve been at the Larton terminal since 1 PM. This is our first time and we didn’t know what to expect. Not sure if our seats would be next to one another. The process was very easy. We drove the car, checked in and watched as our car was inspected and videotaped, since they wanted to make sure there were no erroneous claims of damage. I took Bell and Joe outside for a walk. We had an hour and half to kill. The depot building is very roomy and bright. The building is air conditioned and modern. A TV is playing in the corner, and there is a small café, a shop really in one corner. From the look of it, the place appears to be in Florida.
It appears as if people are boarding though there was no announcement made. Just waiting for Ali to get back since she bought TUMS. This place is emptying fast. Time to go?
We’re on the train. There is a lot of room. It’s very comfortable. Whoever is sitting behind me is playing with the foot rests. The seat is knocking. There is a family next and behind us. This is not going to be a quiet train, but let’s see how it works out. I can use an ADVIL.
Instead of Advil I had a couple of beers. Dinner was served at 5 PM and 7 PM – we chose the early dinner since there was a movie playing for the kids at 7…I had cod and veggies and rice. The food was very good. With dinner came white wine and water and choices like iced tea and apple juice for the kids. They were given the choice of chicken fingers, and mac and cheese. There was a lot of food. The other options were a beef or veggie lasagna. The settings were pleasant, a flower on each table as well as silverware, but the cups were plastic, as well as the plates. For dessert we had cheese cake with a couple of options, either covered in strawberry or chocolate.
Overall it was quiet, but one neighbor watched a movie on his laptop and the language was not appropriate for children. A couple had two little ones on-board and it took them a long time to fall asleep. Music came over the loud speaker but was shut off close of 8 PM and soon after lights were shut down and we got comfortable.
Sleeping was a little bit of a challenge. Trying to get my 6 foot 4 body comfortable – even in reclining chairs was interesting. I bent my legs and curled in the seat, and propped the small pillow on a corner as well as my sweat pants.
I’m typing this, knowing we’re expected to arrive an hour earlier. Amanda and I had breakfast and met an older couple from Florida. Cereal as well as warm bagels and muffins were served, coffee and OJ as well. A good start to the vacation…rise and shine we are in Florida.