The Rollins Machine Turns You On (to Some Amazing Long Jams): Henry Rollins on the Velvet Undeground, Fela Kuti and Sleep's "Dopesmoker"!

Maura Lanahan

Our new columnist, Mr. Henry Rollins!

This installment includes Henry's report from his European trip, his thoughts on the so-called "Ground-Zero mosque" controversy and the awesomely annontated playlist for his KCRW BROADCAST #78 for tomorrow, Saturday 8-28-10. For more details please visit KCRW.com and HenryRollins.com]

Took a few days but I have finally shook off the jet lag that had been dragging me down. I am writing to you from Edinburgh, Scotland. I am here for the Edinburgh Festival. I have been here for a few days now, three shows into my seven show run that will end this coming Sunday.

I arrived in Europe days ago in Belgium for the Pukkelpop Festival. I think it was my sixth performance at that one. Always a great time.

I flew to Scotland into two days off, which I spent trying my best to wrest myself from the surreal grip of jet lag, a state I find myself in quite often. Five trips to the gym in five days later, I think I am finally here.

I have been having a good time here. This is my third time at this festival. I have a fantastic audience in Edinburgh and look forward to the show every night. It's not easy only having a seventy-five minute set. I want much more time up there but I am getting better at consolidating my ideas up there as the nights go on. It still feels cramped!

My good times here have been greatly stepped on by what I have been reading about happening in America. The ugliness over the "Ground Zero Mosque" is truly depressing and distracting. The stabbing of New York City taxi driver Ahmed H. Sharif by Michael Enright is sickening.

I am sure many of you have read about this and you don't need me to tell you what news to check out but if you get a chance, please read up on this. Just my opinion but I think this uproar about a Muslim Community Center being built in Manhattan is about something much bigger and far more threatening. There are some people in America who want some kind of epic confrontation with Islam. Hats off to Mayor Bloomberg for stepping up in the way he has to ease this ridiculous tension in his city. Damn. I want things to be better than this. I don't want this to be my America. Ugh.

The good part is that America is full of switched on people who will keep the light of sanity burning brightly.

So, one of the many upsides of being here in Edinburgh is, for me at least, the weather. Sure, there's some rain but it's been infrequent since I arrived. It's the night time that is the great part. The air reminds me of American east coast autumn. So, I get to start my post summer, end of squalid heat enjoyment sooner than later. I walked for quite awhile last night, post show. Looking forward to hitting the streets again tonight.

Hey! This is a music blog, let's get cracking!

And now the notes for this weekend's radio broadcast on 89.9 KCRW. I am on Saturdays from 6 pm until 8 pm. After I sign off, Liza Richardson will take control of the airwaves until 10 and then Mario Cotto steps in to take it to the midnight hour. Get more info at KCRW.com.