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Legendary record fanatic, radio show host on KCRW, authour, tv star, book publisher and front man of Rollins Band and Black Flag.... HenryRollins has been and done a lot in his 60 years on the planet and he is headed to cairns to tell us all about it in one of his spoken performances at Cairns Performing Arts Centre Theatre on Tuesday the 13th of June.

Of course Rollins is no stranger to Cairns performing at The Tanks Arts Centre twice previously, the last time in 2016.

 We caught up with Henry Rollins this week for 10 questions 

NDK:- Hi Henry where are you today and what are you doing? 

Rollins;- Right now, I’m in Zagreb, Croatia. I’m just back from the gym. It’s not always easy to get gym access without a membership in some places so I feel lucky. 

NDK:- Last year you toured the states with a huge run of shows after 3 years of covid stopping travel and many of the best aspects of life what are some of the themes your new show is exploring? what do you find worth talking about? 

Rollins;- This tour’s content has been stories pulled from the last few years. I’m used to traveling all over to get stories for the next tour but COVID kept me from doing that. Luckily there was enough things happening from my fixed position to give me some material. Anything to do with humans is worth talking about to me, always. 

NDK:- You have been running a book publishing company for many years publishing your own books. Like the music industry have you found the book publishing industry has been effected by technological change ? 

Rollins;- My company and “readership” are so small no change really affects anything we’re doing. A lot of people get the electronic version of my books, so I guess that would be a change but on any noticeable level, no. 

NDK:- Its well known you are a vinyl fanatic what is your holy grail album you have managed to find and one you are still looking for? 

Rollins;- At this point, I’m looking for test pressings and acetates of records I like. Records like that rarely surface at this point. I managed to find a test pressing of the second Cramps album Psychedelic Jungle this year, that was pretty cool. 

NDK:- You accompanied Iggy Pop on his tour of Australia a few years ago what was it like seeing him perform and just to hang out with? 

Rollins;- I was on the 2006 Big Day Out event and saw the Stooges play every day. That was amazing. I’ve met Iggy many times over the years and he’s always cool to me. He’s an extremely intelligent person. I try to read his interviews as they’re always interesting. 

NDK:- Are you ever tempted to “get the band back together” for a Rollins band tour or a Black Flag tour? 

Rollins;- No. I did music when I was young and then stopped. I’d never go back to it. 

NDK:- You are on the road a lot it seems what do you love and loathe about touring ? 

Rollins;- I like the nightly obligation of serving the audience. I like having to focus on that for the entirety of the day all the way to show time and once on the stage, go all out. My reward is earned exhaustion. I don’t loathe anything about it. Sometimes bad things happen. People steal, I get followed around, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. 

NDK:- What was the best gig you have ever been too ? 

Rollins;- I don’t know about a best one but I’ve been lucky enough to see some great shows, for which I’m eternally grateful. Led Zeppelin, the Clash in 1979, the Damned and the Bad Brains in June 1978, the Birthday Party in March 1983, the Cramps in 1979, the first Minor Threat show, Buzzcocks 1979, there’s been a lot of great shows I’ve been able to see. I can’t think of the best one. I guess they’re all in that “great night of your life” category. 

NDK:- You have recorded a radio show for KCRW for many many years and this happens wherever you are in the world at the time or what projects you are working on what drives you to keep that going ? (admittedly it is one of my favourite shows as I never know what music may appear on it ) 

Rollins;- Having a radio show, even though it’s only one night a week, for almost twenty years, has proven to be quite a lot of work. Completely worth it to be able to bring bands to people’s attention. I feel a duty to it, to serve the music and to serve the audience. That’s all most of the things I do are related to--service. 

NDK:- You have been to Cairns before, but there are many other places on this upcoming tour you haven’t been too before….what are you keen to do when you are in Australia and Cairns ? 

Rollins;- I’m not sure if there are any firsts on this run of shows. I hope to be able to go to some record stores. Mostly, the days are spent traveling to the city, trying to get to a gym and then preparing for the show. Anywhere I am, it’s pretty much about the show. I’m trying to be the best I can.  

Henry Rollins will appear at Cairns Performing Arts Centre Theatre on Tuesday 13th of June 

 Frontier Touring Pre-sale begins on Monday at 11am so sign up for that HERE