The Rollins Band, C/D, S/D

Anyone remember Wartime?

Incidentally, there is a long Rollins rant on one of these records about some washed up glam metal star then working in a video store: could this be anything to do with the Motley Crue guy who got the same back tattoo as Rollins?

Yes, but you don't go calling on Rollins when you're looking for tunes. Or subtlety for that matter. That said, End of Silence was a pivotal record for me, the one that took me away from early '90's chart-indie and into pastures unknown. So, for me, Classic even though I haven't listened to it for a few years and I just know that I'm not going to love it like my 15/16-year old self did. So it's probably best to stick with the memories. Damn good live, too.

I haven't played either in about 8 years, though.

And its video gave rise to some classic Beavis and Butthead dialogue, along the lines of 'Woah! his neck rules!'.

I'm shocked no one has mentioned "Lifetime," a record that is incredible and hilarious at the same time. It's produced by Ian MacKaye, Hank's voice is superhuman in its strength, and the band is solid and tight, playing preposterous heavy metal with lots of hardcore power.

Pardon my ignorance, but who originally wrote/performed "Move Right In"?

The Rollins version of 'Do it' is terrific. Pink Fairies number, I believe?

I THINK YOU GOT A LOW SELF OPINION, MAN..

hah. So classic. Weight came out a couple years later (1994), I remember suddenly getting sick of them once "Liar" got to be so damn popular.

But I ain't one of 'em so carry on

April 1st isn't today, so... ?

I was just listening to Hot Animal Machine for the first time and was quite surprised how good it is! I probably like this better than some of the late Black Flag stuff.

Still playing those Mother Superior discs on a regular basis - must pick up the extended session recordings.

Dunno what record, but someone had one of these on in the van and it sounded gooood. Should I be buying a record?

Yes. Hank has two basic speeds: Heavy and grinding, or fast'n'rockin'. If you can remember which setting, or any lyrics, we should be able to clue you in.

'end of silence' is intense, in a great way, and is his best i reckon

seconded... great album, that. some amazing tunes on side 1 (LSO, obscene and almost real in particular), and side 2 is just 100% punishment.

rollins band is oretty underrated, imo. the intensity of the classic haskett/cain lineup obviously stomps all over the mother superior period, but even those slightly queasy cock-rock albums have some fantastic tracks.

has rollins totally quit music now? the last time I saw him play was years ago, on the west memphis 3 black flag tour.

i think he has, for now at least. he's made comments that he feels too old to be rockin, and seems busy enough with his books, spoken word shows and TV work...

I prefer the rock'n'roll side of Hank's work. Personal favorites are 'Life Time' and 'Get Some, Go Again', both of which saw me through tough times.

I wouldn't describe the Mother Superior albums as cock-rock. I associate that with Whitesnake et al, and the sound is more early/proto metal, as evidenced by guest shots from Wayne Kramer and Scott Gorham.

End of Silence was a seminal record for me, though I haven't listened to it in many years at this point. I wonder if it's held up.

Also, the early RB stuff doesn't get enough credit... Life Time and Hard Volume are both terrific records. Also, the live album Turned On is an absolute classic. It's the only album that has the track "Out There," which is among the best the original lineup ever did.

The intensity of Rollins in this period, in songs like "Out There" and "Down and Away" and of course "Gun in Mouth Blues"... it just goes way deeper than anything he was doing with Black Flag, just in terms of raw, ugly emotion. There's some truly dark shit going on in the early stuff.

Yeah, I don't know if a recorded version of "Out There" would have really captured it, though - I saw him play a set at City Gardens in Trenton, NJ in about 1990, a benefit for something or other with Alice Donut and Tesco Vee's Hate Police, and they did a version of "Out There" that was almost Swans-like in its intensity.

I wouldn't describe the Mother Superior albums as cock-rock. I associate that with Whitesnake et al, and the sound is more early/proto metal, as evidenced by guest shots from Wayne Kramer and Scott Gorham.

yeah, I was being slightly facetious... it's just that those albums rock in a 'strutting arena peacock' kind of way, as opposed to a 'drinking black coffee, crying into your journal and doing pressups' way. it's something rollins plays up to, too, what with the naked woman and leather trews on the 'nice' album cover.

Dunno what record, but someone had one of these on in the van and it sounded gooood. Should I be buying a record?

Most everything that's in print is (US) $5 at his online shop right now, so there's probably no better time to try.

decided to listen to WEIGHT for the first time since the late 90s. forget how it actually shreds. also lyrics:

you gotta have a gun then you're just another pig to me
you think you're different but you're just another pig
you gotta have a gun, you're a pig to me, just a pig to me
you gotta have a gun, you're just another pig to me
you got a gun, you're just another pig

ahhh *forgot not forget.

I get excited by Hot Animal Machine, Henrietta Collins & the Wifebeating Childhaters, Do It! [Pink Fairies cover! Always a sign of the coolness.], Life Time, Hard Volume. The shows during this era were amazing spectacles & probably the loudest shows I ever heard. After that they were OK, but not as perfect for me. Henry is an amazing guy. Tons o' respect.

word

"get excited by Hot Animal Machine"

yeah, so underrated!

just jamming 'gun in mouth blues'. A++++++++++++

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAZQ9qQDotg

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http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/obituaries/article53625760.html

man this band is too much

"TOO...MUUUCCCHHH!!!!"

If Haskett was a more interesting soloist they would have been the best band that ever was. To me, anyway.

Got to catch the Rollins Band twice as an opening act back in the 90s in front of Jane's Addiction and the Beastie Boys. They were great, especially the drummer Sim Cain.

Something that occurred to me that I was curious about was if the Rollins Band ever played a gig with Fugazi? Considering the connections, I was wondering if they ever shared a bill.

Saw 'em three times with the original lineup between '90-'92 (once at CBGB, once at City Gardens in Trenton, and once at Lollapalooza), and once in '97 or so at Irving Plaza, with the Mother Superior lineup. Never saw them with Melvin Gibbs on bass; wish I had. I listened to them A LOT between '89-'95 or so; I kinda gave up after Weight, though there are a few good songs on Come In And Burn.

Saw them at Reading in 1994 with the Melvin Gibbs band. They were immense. Volume 4 off Weight is generally my go to track.

Vol 4 off Weight is brilliant (as is the riff to Civilised), but as that album progresses you can literally hear them becoming less and less compelling. End Of Silence is an absolutely electrifying text, to me, and Weight's brightest moments like the last sparks of greatness, followed by an almighty pointlessness.

I was mad obsessed with them circa End of Silence and all the records up to that one (I've heard Turned On roughly 1 billion times) but even by the time Weight had come out the sheen had worn off some. Weighting, the outtakes/jams record is pretty great, with Charles Gayle of all people sitting in, he's actually a perfect fit for them.

Come In and Burn I've never really spent much time with.

Some guys I played with we did "Low Self Opinion" and "Tearing" for a friend's birthday party one time and as cool as though songs are I had forgotten HOW LONG they are, "Tearing" is like 5 minutes. When we were learning them it was like "oh my god another instrumental section? jesus christ get there faster!"

Just played a Rollins Band track on a whim, first time I've heard them in about three decades, and...it sounds like Van Halen! Albeit with shoutier vocals. Why didn't I notice this first time around? Was it deliberate on their part?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=124h159Xcd0

I listened to Life Time, Hard Volume and The End of Silence earlier this week myself, writing retrospective reviews for the Shfl. They really were an amazing band; Haskett gets my vote as most underrated rock guitarist of the late '80s/early '90s. He had this virtuosic punk/metal/fusion/noise thing going on that nobody else came close to, a kind of postmodern shredder.

The first two aren't on streaming services for some reason, though. I wonder who has the rights at this point.

End Of Silence is sublime. The perfect distillation of Rollins' oceanic rage.