Down-to-earth Rollins visits A2

In a musical climate where talent seems to take a back seat to effort, Henry Rollins stands out as one of today's hardest-working and most-committed artists.

Before heading out on his present tour, Rollins spoke candidly in a recent interview about his "overwhelming will to survive" as an entrepreneurial artist. The students of Ann Arbor will have the opportunity to spend an intimate evening with Rollins on Sunday when he comes to The Michigan Theater for a spoken word performance.

For the past six weeks, Rollins has been at home in LA finishing up his new book, "The Solipsist" and writing lyrics for a new album. He also is planning to record a spoken word album during his present tour that will be released this summer, followed by a national tour of larger venues across America.

Now that he's been on MTV and had a book published by Random House, how does Rollins react to critics who call him a sell-out?

"Don't even go there," he said. "See all the money I make. If you amortize it over the time I've been doing this stuff, I make minimum wage." After all, he still lives in an apartment and sleeps on a futon. Much of his income gets funneled back to his publishing company, 2.13.61, which has published works of notable authors like Henry Miller and various independent writers.

Henry Rollins PREVIEW

Rollins admitted that working is what makes him happiest. "I'm a travelaholic," he said. "Last year I was in like 30 countries. I was in Japan twice last year, Thailand twice, Australia three times, Europe six times and finished up in Africa and Madagascar. It was insane, man."

Rollins also makes time in his busy schedule to talk with young college students and support artistic development. "In the winter or between records I do a lot of universities." He feels that in college "you can get your mind in shape, strengthen your aptitude so you can learn anything and adapt anywhere."

Courtesy of Chris Cuffaro Henry Rollins, commonly known as an eccentric musical artist, will give his spoken word performance Sunday at the Michigan.

"Flex some entrepreneurial muscle," he said. "Those who really succeed in life are those who have perspective. You get a perspective by just getting your ass out there. Utilize the time you have at this place to really stoke your mind with mental fuel and not treat it like the Stroh's four-year vacation. You can really take this time to get your mind happening."

Rollins also looks forward to the opportunity to inspire frustrated artists during the campus stops on his tour. "Uncertainty is a good thing because it gives you some awareness and makes you engage your intellect with your task. Let that education make you a brainier artist ... you need to sell your art to survive."

This "One-must-pay-the-rent" philosophy is one that Henry shares with many struggling artists, although he "never really thought about the money with art."

"I always thought about making music good and making books as good as you can make them. To make something good artistically, it has to hurt a little."

Often stereotyped in the past as an egotistical, testosterone-fueled maniac, Rollins seems to be developing a sense of modesty. "I definitely think I can be a better writer. I don't think I'll be remembered in the bigger picture, but that's not important. Not as important as doing good and working hard."

Despite this toned-down Rollins, he said he is ready to restart his busy traveling schedule.

"I've been home six weeks now. This is weird. I wake up on the same futon every day. I'm really itching to get out to see some weather and hear some great stories ... I'll be doing it when I leave tomorrow morning. I can't even wait."

"I have an idea of what I'm going to get at," Rollins said about what the audience can expect on Sunday night at the Michigan Theater.

Rollins prefers to leave it to the unexpected. "Why should I tell you now? You're going to have to wait."

Michigan Theater

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