The DisinfoCast with Matt Staggs: Episode 18: Henry Rollins

By on July 25, 2012 in Podcasts, stories 45

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Musician, writer and world traveler Henry Rollins joins the DisinfoCast for an insightful discussion about politics and civil discourse, his musical past, and how your host can be a better American.

If you enjoy this articulate iconoclast’s take on the events of the day, you can catch him during his “Capitalism” tour.

Visit his site for dates and more information.

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  • rtb61

    The thing to be discussed now is the two positions to take with the US, either struggle to prevent the psychopathically driven capitalistic collapse or  to help to accelerate it upon the basis the quicker it happens the less likely the US is to take the rest of the world with it.
    A mass population to let burn with the psychopaths and narcissists running the joint but it might be the safest way of dealing with the Tea Bagger problem, let them destroy themselves and everyone associated with them as quickly as possible.

    • The Baffler

      I support your position.

      Let the corruption burn itself out, and we will handle the mop up.

  • Monkey See Monkey Do

    Why is a piece of paper so integral to your freedom? its not, its only valuable if people agree to it.
    Why vote? The democrats and republicans are both bought parties. As was the plan all along under capitalism. Vote for the greens?
    Voting is a last act of desperation from a hopeless situation, its truly sad when your only voiceis in a vote, especially in a rigged system.
    He likes capitalism but fails to understand how it actually works. People are rarely awarded for their innovations.Sorry Henry but Soviet Russia and Cuba was not socialism - much like henry rollins analogy – they hid in a dark room shouting socialism without ever turning the light on what they actually were.
     
    Henry Rollins is refreshing in his honesty though. I like his outlook of getting off your ass and just doing it.
    And yes, society will break you but be careful of how you build youself back up.The bit at the end where he dismantles all the cliques was great too. Don’t abandon movements though, just be more inclusive and don’t let hierachies form.
     

  • Anarchy Pony

    Henry, you were in a band called Black Flag for fuck’s sake. Do you even remember what a black flag represents? Go here: 
    http://www.infoshop.org/page/AnAnarchistFAQ  and learn something about the way capitalism really works, not this middle school level propagandist bullshit.  

    • tooCents

      He got older. It is an all too familiar pattern. Old age inspires “conservatism” in people. Rollins is somewhat disappointing.

      • Anarchy Pony

        Getting old sucks.

        • Jin The Ninja

           here here!

        • tooCents

          Chuckle. I KNOW. Well seems to me you can rage against the dying of the light or (dis)gracefully decline.

        • tooCents

          Chuckle. I KNOW. Well seems to me you can rage against the dying of the light or (dis)gracefully decline.

      • The Baffler

        Theres a reason I had the Red Star marked onto my flesh. It would serve as a reminder of betrayal if I ever strayed from the path.

        • tooCents

          Are you a guy named Henry Rollins? I was referring to that guy. 

          • The Baffler

            I know. I was just stating a fact.

  • http://twitter.com/jasonpaulhayes jasonpaulhayes

    “Capitalism needs to be shacked to a chair” Henry Rollins

  • Happypedro

    Well, Henry, there are things you say in this interview which are great — being open and caring about people, yes, that is awesome.  But there are things you say which don’t make sense if one does just a bit of research and thinks more critically. 

    Your view of the “Founding Fathers,” for example, is terribly limited.  The “Founding Fathers” were wealthy landowners who profited greatly from slavery, who were looking after their interests, not the interests of the people, and who and set up the Constitution and our three-tiered government no so the people would have easy access to their government, but so that it would be more difficult to do so.

    Or as Dr. Michael Parenti puts it in his book Democracy For The Few:

    _______________________

    The men who gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 strove to erect a strong
    central government. They agreed with Adam Smith that government was
    “instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor” and “grows up
    with the acquisition of valuable property.”  That is, acquiring wealth.

    As James Madison, known as the “Father of the Constitution,” himself wrote in Federalist No. 10:  “The first object of government” is
    “the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring
    property.”

    The framers were of the opinion that democracy was “the worst of all
    political evils,” as Elbridge Gerry put it. For Edmund Randolph, the
    country’s problems were caused by “the turbulence and follies of
    democracy.” Roger Sherman concurred, “The people should have as little
    to do as may be about the Government.” According to Alexander Hamilton,
    “All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first
    are the rich and the wellborn, the other the mass of the people. . . .
    The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine
    right.” He recommended a strong centralized state power to “check the
    imprudence of democracy.” And George Washington, the presiding officer
    at the Philadelphia Convention, urged the delegates not to produce a
    document merely to “please the people.”

    “The problem with capitalism is that it best rewards the worst part of
    us: ruthless, competitive, conniving, opportunistic, acquisitive drives,
    giving little reward and often much punishment — or at least much
    handicap — to honesty, compassion, fair play, many forms of hard work,
    love of justice, and a concern for those in need.”

    “Wealth and poverty are not just juxtaposed, they are in a close dynamic
    relationship. Wealth creates poverty and relies on it for its own
    continued existence. Without slaves and serfs, how would the master and
    lord live in the style to which they are accustomed? Without the working
    poor, how would the leisurely rich make do? Were there no
    underprivileged, who wold be privileged?”

    _______________________

    And what is often called “communism” or “socialism” is not communism or socialism.  China is not communist, it’s a totalitarian state.  What Lenin did was not communism or socialism either.  Not by a long shot.  Prompting Marx himself to say, “If anything is certain, it is that I myself am not a Marxist.”

    What is often called communist or socialist but is in reality not anywhere near it does suck enormously, but that’s usually because capitalist forces work hard to make it suck — for if
    good examples of it showed up in the world, don’t you think that would
    be a serious challenge to the idea of exploiting the people of the world
    and destroying the world’s eco-system for profit, which is what
    capitalism does?

    Most capitalist countries are very poor and getting
    poorer; it only works well for an elite few. 

    Henry, you would do well to
    read these two books: 

        Democracy For The Few by Michael Parenti

        Democracy
    Inc by Sheldon Wolin. 

    And to type…

       “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”

       “The
    Story Of Stuff”

       “Manufactured Landscapes”

    …into YouTube and watch what a world based on extraction,
    consumption, and waste — which are mainstays of capitalism — have
    done and are doing to this planet. 

    Also, to watch the documentary “The
    Corporation” (it can be seen for free on YouTube) and to read Alfie Kohn’s book “No Contest: The
    Case Against Competition”.  

    You can type “The case against competition”
    into Google and get a summary article about book, which is an excellent
    read, to learn how competition is deeply corrosive.  Because in
    competitions most people lose, and one succeeds at the rate one beats
    down others. 

    I was hoping to hear more insightful and inspiring and informed tidbits from you, Henry.  There were a few — like the joy and importance of being good to people, helping others, being caring toward others.  And voting.  All good stuff.

    But I would invite you to look at the materials mentioned here and question some of your assumptions and ideas a bit more.

  • mole_face

    I’m happy for Henry that he’s found some peace within himself in recent years, but to an extent I also feel like he’s been placated by his success. It seems to me like he feels indebted to the system just because he’s been able to make a comfortable living within the capitalist framework.

    I’m not taking that accomplishment away from him – the guy’s one of the most intense, driven people ever. But this sort of overly optimistic assessment of America always comes from people who have personally flourished under the system. “If I can find success by working hard, then anyone can. That’s what’s great about America – anyone who works hard enough can live their dreams” blah blah blah.

    My favorite oldschool Rollins quote-

    “After the show I’m sitting in a place eating and a woman sits down and
    tells me that she likes what I do but the only thing she didn’t like was
    what I said about pigs. She’s a pig herself, and she says that she’s an
    individual. I tell the pig cunt that when she puts a uniform on she
    loses all individuality. I told her that I party down when I hear that a
    pig has gotten wasted. I hope she goes out and gets shot in the knees
    by some low-rent motherfucker who laughs in her face. She really thought
    she was a human being. I don’t know how they brainwash these shitheads
    into being so self-righteous about being a bag of shit that should be
    taken out and shot in the face. Fuck these people. You never know when
    they are pigs in disguise. Fuck you, you stupid pig bitch. I hope you
    get Magic Johnson disease and die in some ward.”

    • Joeverb

       If thats your favorite, that says a lot about you fuck face.

      • mole_face

        Are you even familiar with Rollins’ work? Or do you just like acting indignant about shit on the internet?

        That quote perfectly summed up the tone of Henry’s work before he went soft in recent years – entertaining, over the top misanthropy. That’s what made his earlier books so great and cathartic to read. I thought the quote made for a funny, striking contrast to Rollins’ tone in this interview.

        • What

           Maybe he just used to hate cunts.  Perhaps he’s getting laid these days.

          • PissOnHenry

            Sure, in the ass by the Republican elephant.

          • PissOnHenry

             Ain’t we all?

          • PissOnHenry

            So I guess the difference between Sir Henry and the rest of us is that he kinda likes it.

  • http://twitter.com/TheMightyCE Crazy Elf

    Matt Staggs? Are you the guy that posted on Animalball but got upset because you didn’t find happy planes and sad buildings funny?

  • Sandman_365

    Anarchy means having your own opinion and your own set of personal credos. But it also means knowing that everyone has that same right. Henry makes perfect sense that even RL has his own voice (even if it is hateful) Make everything have a purpose, vote , have an opinion, stay hungry, don’t strive to be the boss but be the thorn. What is Anarchism ? Statement one BE YOUR OWN MASTER. This should be the only one. You are your own master which also means that you are not someone else’s master. Get it Do not bow down or force anyone to bow to you or any one. 

  • Design

    he didn’t just get older, he also got SMARTER

    • The Bored

       SMARTER….right.

      • Notatroll

        S.M.A.R.T.E.R.  Small Minded Artist Reverts To Empty Rhetoric 

  • franfetch

    just as
    Wendy implied I’m stunned that any one able to profit $6403 in 1 month
    on the internet. did you look at this website http://www.LazyCash49.com

  • PissOnHenry

    Henry Rollins? Is this the same Henry Rollins from BLACK FLAG? My apologies to those that have previously excoriated Mr. Rollins for this drivel. I’m so angry that I must respond immediately. YOU showed me the way motherfucker. And now you want to “rock the vote”. Oh yeah. I’m sure that the Republicrats will fix fuckin’ everything you sell-out son of a bitch. I’m your age Henry. And a combat vet  from a conflict where the US Government deliberately propped up a murderous dictator. I wore my best friend’s guts on my uniform for that shit. What the fuck have you done? By all means, keep voting for these thieving assholes so Henry gets his retirement money.

    History does not blink en eye.

    • What

      Bullshit.  You’re a combat vet of the Masturbation Wars.  You never served.  I can spot you fuckers a mile away.

      • PissOnHenry

         Damn, wish I would have seen this one sooner. If this his how good you are at spotting shit, give me the starlight scope, go back to the TOC and suck a GOAT testicle asswipe.

      • PissOnHenry

        Hey! They removed my reply! No matter. I liked it so much I’m to post it again.

        (Ahem) If this is an indication of your “spotting” skills, give me the starlight scope, go back to the TOC, and suck a GOAT testicle, asswipe.

        Sincerely,

        Audie Murphy

        • Matt Staggs

          We’re having some trouble with the comment system. No comments are being removed, that I know of.

    • Matt Staggs

      Hey “The Bored” /”PissOnHenry”: We’re having trouble with the comment moderation system. No one’s comments are being deleted, and you’re more than free to comment as much as you like. I’m hoping that this issue will be fixed very soon. If it makes you feel any better, I actually had two or three of my own comments disappear on the site. I know it’s frustrating, and I’m sorry about the inconvenience.

  • PissOnHenry

    To The Censors:

    A little too much reality for y’all? Wow. What a surprise.

  • PissOnHenry

    I’m now sure that my initial response is being held up. If anyone is still reading these posts, rest assured that your voice on Das Internet, and your PRIVACY, do not exist anymore. REMEMEBER, the CEO of Sun Microsystems (now defucnt) said in ’99 ” You have zero privacy anyway…Get over it”.

  • PissOnHenry

    This site sucks. I live in LA. I know a lot of people, and I will tell a lot of people about the disinfo that they will get @ disinfo.com

  • PissOnHenry

    Too bad you readers don’t get to see my other posts.

  • Sbonnie40

    Henry Rollins is genious for motivating all of you through anger.  Most of you admit that he’s motivated you in the past- obviously that’s not working any longer.  You ought to use that anger in an advantageous manner rather than vivaciously complain through an anonymous online venue and insist that the situation is hopeless so that you can continue to bask in your laziness.

    • Notatroll

      I’m not angry at all.  His rhetoric in this interview was pointless and doesn’t address any of the real issues.  I’m just disappointed honestly.  I was hoping to hear something insightful and transcendental.  Instead we hear the same bullshit politicians and businessmen spew forth on a daily basis.  It’s silly to believe your vote is going to change anything in regards to the corruption of government and business.  

    • Notatroll

      I’m not angry at all.  His rhetoric in this interview was pointless and doesn’t address any of the real issues.  I’m just disappointed honestly.  I was hoping to hear something insightful and transcendental.  Instead we hear the same bullshit politicians and businessmen spew forth on a daily basis.  It’s silly to believe your vote is going to change anything in regards to the corruption of government and business.  

    • Notatroll
  • Hang-on-to-your-hairs

    The eyes say it all. He’s been to a reconditioning center. He’s probably a tracker now, programmed to find dissenters. You will see a lot more like him in the years to come.

  • Notatroll

    Holy shit!  I’m stupified…  Henry Rollins has become a serious bitch.  Vote??  Yeah I’m sure that’ll work out great for him.  Just like it always does.  Jesus fuck he’s outta touch.

  • Notatroll

    Holy shit!  I’m stupified…  Henry Rollins has become a serious bitch.  Vote??  Yeah I’m sure that’ll work out great for him.  Just like it always does.  Jesus fuck he’s outta touch.

  • “Big” Richard Johnson

    Rollins is a cool dude. The only way to think, is to think. Go your own way.

    Walk the Earth.