Rollins Band
Henry Rollins, founder and frontman with Chris Haskett (background)
Background information
Genre(s)	Punk rock[1], heavy metal[2], post-punk, noise rock, hard rock
Years active	1987—2003, 2006
Label(s)	2.13.61, Sanctuary, Buddha, DreamWorks, Imago, Texas Hotel
Associated acts	Black Flag
Website	Official site
Former members
Henry Rollins Chris Haskett Melvin Gibbs Sim Cain Theo Van Rock Andrew Weiss Jim Wilson Marcus Blake Jason Mackenroth Keith Morris

Rollins Band was a rock group led by singer and songwriter Henry Rollins. Henry Rollins (born February 13 1961 as Henry Lawrence Garfield) is an American singer-songwriter Spoken word Artist, Stand-up comedian, author Chris Haskett is an American guitarist He is probably best known for his membership in the Rollins Band from 1986 to 2000 A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Post-punk was a popular musical movement in the mid to late 1970s following on the heels of the initial Punk rock explosion of the early 1970s Noise rock (also known as noise punk) describes one variety of Post-punk Rock music that became prominent in the 1980s Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock See also Musical groups established in 1987 Record labels established in 1987 Events See also 2003 in music (UK Musical groups established in 2003 Record labels This is a list of notable events in Music that took place in the year 2006. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music 21361 Inc is a publisher and record company founded by musician Henry Rollins and named after his birthday ( February 13, 1961) Sanctuary Records is a Record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Buddah Records (now known as Buddha Records DreamWorks Records was an American Record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary Texas Hotel Records was an Independent record label based in Santa Monica California, which released records by quadriplegic singer Vic Chesnutt, Black Flag was a Hardcore punk band formed in 1977 in southern California, largely as the brainchild of Greg Ginn: the guitarist Henry Rollins (born February 13 1961 as Henry Lawrence Garfield) is an American singer-songwriter Spoken word Artist, Stand-up comedian, author Jim Wilson is an American Guitarist in the band Mother Superior and previously in the Rollins Band. Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both Henry Rollins (born February 13 1961 as Henry Lawrence Garfield) is an American singer-songwriter Spoken word Artist, Stand-up comedian, author

They are best-known for the songs "Low Self Opinion" and "Liar", which both earned heavy airplay on MTV in the early 1990s. " Liar " is the sixth track on Rollins Band 's fourth full-length album Weight, released in 1994. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. Critic Steve Huey describes their music as "uncompromising, intense, cathartic fusions of hard rock, funk, post-punk noise, and jazz experimentalism, with Rollins shouting angry, biting self-examinations and accusations over the grind. Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Post-punk was a popular musical movement in the mid to late 1970s following on the heels of the initial Punk rock explosion of the early 1970s Noise rock (also known as noise punk) describes one variety of Post-punk Rock music that became prominent in the 1980s Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States "^[3]

History

Pre-history

Rollins was the singer for Washington D. C. 's SOA (State of Alert) from 1980 to 1981. State of Alert (or SOA) was a Hardcore punk group from Washington D Afterwards, he sang with California-based hardcore punk legends Black Flag from August, 1981 to the group's dissolution in early 1986. Black Flag was a Hardcore punk band formed in 1977 in southern California, largely as the brainchild of Greg Ginn: the guitarist Black Flag earned little mainstream attention, but through a demanding touring schedule, came to be regarded as one of the most important punk groups of the 1980s.

Less than a year after Black Flag broke up, Rollins returned to music with guitarist Chris Haskett (a friend from Rollins' teen years in Washington D.C.), bass guitarist Bernie Wandell and drummer Mick Green. Chris Haskett is an American guitarist He is probably best known for his membership in the Rollins Band from 1986 to 2000 Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Mick Green (born Michael Robert Green, 22 February 1944 Matlock, Derbyshire) is an English Rock and roll Guitarist.

This line-up released two records: Hot Animal Machine (credited as a Rollins solo record and featuring cover art drawings by Devo leader Mark Mothersbaugh) and Drive-By Shootings (credited to "Henrieta Collins and the Wifebeating Childhaters"). Hot Animal Machine is a Hardcore punk album by what is essentially the Rollins Band. Devo (pronounced DEE-vo (IPA /'diːvoʊ/) or dee-VO (IPA /diː'voʊ/) often spelled "DEVO" or "DEV-O" is an American Mark Allen Mothersbaugh (born May 18, 1950) is an American Musician, Composer, Singer and painter. The music was similar to Black Flag's, though it flirted more with heavy metal and jazz. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States

First edition (1987-1994)

Soon after, Rollins formed Rollins Band with Haskett, bassist Andrew Weiss, and drummer Sim Cain (Weiss and Cain had previously played with Gone, an instrumental rock group led by guitarist and Black Flag founder Greg Ginn). Andrew Weiss may refer to Andrew Weiss (economist, American economist and investor Andrew Weiss (guitarist, American bass guitarist Drummer Sim Cain (b July 31, 1963) was born in London, England but grew up in the United States from the age of three in Princeton New Instrumental rock is a type of Rock music which emphasizes Musical instruments, and which features no or very little Singing. Gregory Regis Ginn (born June 8, 1954) is a Guitarist, Songwriter and singer Live sound engineer Theo Van Rock was usually credited as a band member.

Critics Ira Robbins and Regina Joskow described this line-up as a "brilliant, strong ensemble . . . the band doesn't play punk (more a jazzy, thrashy, swing take on the many moods of Jimi Hendrix), but what they do together has the strengths of both. James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27 1942 – September 18 1970 was an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter The group's loud guitar rock with a strong, inventive rhythmic clock borrows only the better attributes of metal, ensuring that noise is never a substitute for purpose. "^[4]

Second edition (1994-1997)

Weiss was fired following the End of Silence tour; he was replaced by jazz and funk bassist Melvin Gibbs, who'd been highly recommended by guitarist Vernon Reid; Cain and Gibbs had also both played in different versions of guitarist Marc Ribot's band. Melvin Gibbs is an American Bass guitarist composer and producer who has appeared on close to 200 albums in diverse genres of music Vernon Reid (born August 22, 1958) is an English Guitarist, Songwriter, composer and bandleader Marc Ribot ( born 21 May 1954 in Newark New Jersey) is an American Guitarist and Composer.

This version of Rollins Band had some of the most overt jazz leanings of the band's history: Gibbs had begun his career with the jazz fusion group of drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Rollins' obsession with the late '60s/early '70's era of iconic trumpeter Miles Davis also shaped the band's music. Fusion or more specifically jazz fusion or jazz rock, is a Musical genre that merges Jazz with elements of other styles of music particularly Ronald Shannon Jackson (born January 12, 1940) is an American Jazz Drummer. Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. In this era, Rollins Band recorded with flamethrowing free jazz saxophonist Charles Gayle, though these sessions remained unreleased for some years. For the Ornette Coleman album after which this genre was named see Free Jazz A Collective Improvisation. Charles Gayle (born February 28, 1939) is a Free jazz saxophonist, pianist, Bass clarinetist and percussionist

The first video from 1994's Weight, the schizophrenic "Liar", was a huge hit on MTV, with Rollins sporting numerous costumes (including a cop and a nun). The band appeared at Woodstock '94, and Rollins was a guest-host for several MTV programs, including 120 Minutes. Woodstock '94 was a Music festival organized in order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival of 1969.

Rollins Band signed with the then new major label Dreamworks, who released 1997's Come In And Burn The album was not as successful as Weight and, after touring for Burn, Rollins dissolved the group, citing creative stagnation. DreamWorks LLC, also known as DreamWorks Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, or DreamWorks Studios, is a major American Film studio

Third edition (1997-2003)

Rollins replaced the Haskett-Gibbs-Cain lineup with the rock band Mother Superior, retaining the name Rollins Band, and released Get Some Go Again (2000) and Nice (2001). Mother Superior is a Los Angeles based rock band consisting of guitarist/vocalist Jim Wilson bassist Marcus Blake and drummer Matt Tecu Get Some Go Again is the sixth full-length studio album by Rollins Band, released in 2000 (see 2000 in music) Nice is the seventh full-length studio album by Rollins Band, released in 2001 their first on Sanctuary Records. They also released a two-disc live album, The Only Way to Know for Sure. This line-up was a more straightforward hard rock group: their first album featured "Are You Ready?" a cover of a Thin Lizzy song, featuring Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham; Rollins has often expressed fondness for Thin Lizzy and its founder, Phil Lynott. Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock Thin Lizzy are an Irish Hard rock band who formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1969 Scott Gorham (born William Scott Gorham March 17, 1951 in Glendale California) is an American guitarist and songwriter Philip Parris Lynott (20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986 was a Singer, Bassist, Instrumentalist, and Songwriter, who first came to prominence

In 2003, the Rollins Band released Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three. The West Memphis 3 are three teenagers tried and convicted for the murders of three children in the Robin Hood Hills area of West Memphis, Arkansas, The album features a number of guest vocalists (including Lemmy, Chuck D, Corey Taylor, Ice T, Tom Araya and others) singing Black Flag's songs. Lemmy (born Ian Fraser Kilmister, December 24 1945) also known as Lemmy Kilmister, Ian Willis or Lemmy von Motörhead Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1 1960 in Roosevelt New York) better known by his stage name Chuck D, is an American rapper author and producer Corey Todd Taylor (born December 8, 1973) also known by his number #8, is an American Musician known as the vocalist Tom Araya (born Tomás Enrique Araya June 6, 1961 in Viña del Mar, Chile Araya's older brother played the Guitar

Fourth edition (2006)

In between other commitments (His radio show Harmony In My Head, his cable/satellite TV show The Henry Rollins Show, and his spoken word tours), Rollins also reunited the Haskett-Gibbs-Cain lineup. ^[5]

In a blog entry on henryrollins. com, Rollins admitted, "Actually we have been practicing on and off for months now, slowly getting it together . . . It’s been really cool being back in the practice room with these guys after all these years. "^[6]

The band opened some concerts for X, and played on the first season finale of The Henry Rollins Show on August 12, 2006. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[7]

Rollins told Alan Sculley of The Daily Herald that this reunion with Haskett, Gibbs and Cain would not become long-term unless the group decided to write new songs: "Let's put it this way. I don't want to go out and hit America again without a new record, or at least a new album's worth of material. Otherwise the thing will lack legitimacy . . . Miles Davis would never do that. Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. And I'm not into a greatest-hits thing. I think a band, if you're going to be around, you should be moving forward and putting in the time and working for it, getting after the art. Otherwise you're just playing retreads. . . . Imagine a tree that grows canned peaches. It's nothing I want to do. "^[8]

Members

• Henry Rollins - vocals (1987-2003; 2006)
• Chris Haskett - guitar (1987-1997; 2006)
• Andrew Weiss - bass guitar (1987-1992)
• Sim Cain - drums (1987-1997; 2006)
• Theo Van Rock - Sound engineer (1987-1997; 2006)
• Melvin Gibbs - bass guitar (1993-1997; 2006)
• Jim Wilson - guitar, piano (1999-2003)
• Marcus Blake - bass guitar (1999-2003)
• Jason Mackenroth - drums, saxophone (1999-2003)
• Keith Morris - vocals (Rise Above Tour 2003)

Discography

Studio Albums

• Life Time (1987, re-release 1999)
• Hard Volume (1989, re-release 1999)
• The End of Silence (1992, double-CD re-release 2002) #160 US
• Weight (1994) #33 US, #22 UK
• Come in and Burn (1997) #89 US
• Get Some Go Again (2000) #180 US
• Nice (2001) #178 US
• Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three (2002)

Outtakes and Demos Collections

• Yellow Blues - from the Get Some Go Again Sessions (2001)
• A Nicer Shade of Red - from the Nice Sessions (2001)
• The End of Silence Demos (2002)
• Weighting (2003)
• Come in And Burn Sessions (2004)

Live Albums

• Do It - Studio Outtakes and Live (1988)
• Turned On (1990)
• Electro Convulsive Therapy (1993)
• Insert Band Here: Live In Australia, 1990 (1999)
• A Clockwork Orange Stage (2001)
• The Only Way to Know for Sure: Live in Chicago (2002)

EPs/Singles

• Tearing (1992) #54 UK
• Disconnect (1994)
• Liar (1994)
• Liar/Disconnect (1994) #27 UK

References

External links

• Henry Rollins official website