Five reasons to go see Henry Rollins
The fast-talking raconteur returns to the Fringe
1. He’s a walking punk rock legend
The bratty ex-frontman for Washington DC upstarts State of Alert, Rollins became the physical embodiment of 80s punk rock after joining Black Flag. A tattooed hulk of a man, his turbulent tenure with the band dictated the shape of punk to come.
2. He’s funny
Although hardly ‘stand-up’, the two or three over-excited and over-caffeinated hours the man in grey spends howling at the audience split sides as much as they break hearts.
3. He’s got brains
Listening to a man in his fifties rant at you for hours would be bad if he didn’t actually have something useful to say. Thankfully Rollins has more pertinent opinions than tattoos.
4. He gets around
Rollins’ travels and encounters form the backbone of his shows, ranging from hilarious cultural clashes to heart-wrenching takes on the human condition.
5. He’s a man of many talents
Author, actor, broadcaster, musician … Rollins’ work ethic is exceptional, and gets tougher with age. His no-bullshit, attack approach to life is an inspiration for the lazy and lacklustre among us.
Queen’s Hall, 668 2019, 8–10 Aug, 7pm, £15.