Yes, we know. He’s not from Maine. But it’s Henry Rollins, damn it!
I was lucky enough to send him some questions before he went on stage to interview Dinosaur Jr. at Port City Music Hall Monday night.
For those not in the know, Rollins is touring with the band for eight shows where he will interview the band before every performance. Here’s what he had to say:
What are you hoping to accomplish with these eight shows interviewing Dinosaur Jr.? Obviously there is always something to performing and being on stage, but is this any different from what you’ve done in the past?
I thought about what the objective was with these questions. I came to the conclusion that we could perhaps provide some context for the audience by talking about those times. The time the Bug album was released was a very important time in Indie music. This was before Nirvana’s Nevermind album and before things had broken open for bands like Dinosaur Jr. What is now “how it is” wasn’t always that way. I think it’s interesting to get some facts on that. Maybe the audience will appreciate the songs a little differently. Otherwise, it’s just a bunch of really good songs.
Is there anything especially intriguing you find about the band?
One of the things I find great about them is that they have been around a long time and are still making records you want to listen to over and over. Kind of rare these days. There are no Dinosaur Jr. albums that are not really good. There’s no moment where you wonder what the hell happened. In a career as long as theirs, that’s pretty rare. It’s real songwriting. So many bands get tired of really working and they start slamming riffs together and call it music. They are amazed that it came together so quickly and think they are just really good at it now when in fact, they are lazy. Dinosaur Jr. isn’t like this. The records prove it very well.
How will the progression of interviews work from show to show? Will you be asking the same questions every time, or will every interview continue somehow from the previous one?
Good question. I want to keep the band fresh but I don’t want the fifth show’s questions to be so out there that the audience is left wondering what the hell we’re talking about. I will have to meet with the band and talk with them about how they want it to go. Ultimately, it’s their thing. I am working for them. If the questions are same-ish, then I think they will be pros and handle it in stride. It’s not like they have not been interviewed before.
Will all of the interviews be documented somehow?
I have no idea. I have no recording equipment of my own.
Do you have any particular thoughts on what purpose music journalism/criticism should serve?
Context, curiosity, history at the forefront. Being a fan of the First Amendment, I reckon you should write what you want but when the review lapses into pettiness, that’s when I pull back. A good music critic, one who really had heard a lot of music and can provide an informed opinion, that’s a good thing. Perhaps they turn someone onto some new music.
Are there any projects you’re taking on after this tour?
I am finishing three Nat Geo docs in the next few weeks. We just got out of India and Vietnam and now we’re shooting in America. After that, festival dates in Europe and then some travel that I am trying to arrange now. New book out in October. I will be in America to promote that for that month. Nov. – Dec. I will travel somewhere in the world. January 2012 – February 2013 I will be touring for the most part.
*photo credits: Erika Johnson.
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