See also: Henry Rollins: Why I'm Not Playing Music Anymore

RADIO BROADCAST #216
05-19-13

Fanatics. I am sitting in a Starbucks in Washington D.C. in my old neighborhood. I am on my second pass of the last few singles the Buzzcocks recorded for United Artists. I don't know why I trip on them so often. I guess it's because I think the songs are better than a lot of the ones found on the album they recorded right before these called A Different Kind of Tension. It's a great album but these songs are really happening when some of the ones on ADKoT never really hit me as hard. Perhaps later this summer, we will play all of these songs together and see what you make of them. Perhaps some of them will be new to you and you will dig them. I have been obsessed with the Buzzcocks UA recordings since I was in high school. I am still knocked out how damn good these songs are.

See also: Henry Rollins: Harmony at Dischord

Immediately, I would like to apologize for writing to you from my current degree of exhaustion. Though I am seemingly too tired at day's end to even lift my fork, I have to say that things are going well.

I have been living in the Arlington, Va., area for about two weeks now, working on a history-based television series that probably will roll out later this year. That is a lot of good talk, but we have to get the thing done first. Our excellent producer has set the bar very high, and we are all leaping up to it as best we can.

The days often start early with a crew meeting in our first cameraman's room. Walkies are redistributed, now charged, gear is checked, and our producer breaks down the day's locations, considerations and potential challenges. Permits. Lots of permits. We are briefed about our guests; their time limits, range of expertise, etc. Personnel are divided into groups and directed to different vehicles and away we go, into the snarl of morning Pentagon- and city-bound traffic.

RADIO BROADCAST #215
05-12-13

Fanatics. I would like to thank the girls from Honest Marquee for giving us one of their new tracks for us to play. I think it's a great one.

Sunday's show is packed with mix tape goodness and I think you're going to dig it.

I want to thank you for all the letters you have sent in about the radio show and its move to Sunday nights. The best part of the show is knowing that some people are listening and that they are getting something from it. As you can imagine, a lot goes into making the show happen week after week. It's never easy, always worth it.

See also: Henry Rollins: Thinking For Myself

I am writing to you from one of my favorite spots anywhere. I am at Dischord House in Virginia, home of the mighty Dischord Records, one of the ground-floor record labels in America.

Dischord is owned and operated by Ian Mac­Kaye of Minor Threat and Fugazi fame. His current band, the Evens, just wrapped up several SoCal shows. I have been visiting this place since Ian and some other Dischordions moved in here almost 32 years ago.

Ian is a few feet away from me, in his small office wallpapered with album covers, photos, letters -- some of these have been tacked up since the early '80s.

In the doorway that joins the dining room to the kitchen, there is an adjustable chin-up bar. This was mine from when I still lived in D.C. It is bent from the time the members of Rites of Spring collectively hung from it in 1984.

RADIO BROADCAST #214
05-05-13

Fanatics. I hope this finds you well. I am in the Washington D.C. area, working on some television stuff. We have a tremendous mix of music here that I hope you will like.

Thank you so much for the letters you have sent in over the last several days. This show is all about two things: the music and you. That's it, that is what it's all about. This fact keeps our priorities clear.

See also: Henry Rollins: Pride Getting the Best of Me

In my line of work, one needs to be adaptable -- very adaptable. My pursuit of employment has taken me many places, through many job descriptions. For the next few weeks, I will be doing some historical documentary work in the Washington, D.C., area. I apologize for being so vague, but contractually, that's about all I can say. It should be interesting, with lots of sleep-deprivation opportunities.

Before all this started, I had to pick up a rental car at Dulles airport and drive about 100 miles southwest, to Crozet, Va., for a couple days to sign the first edition of my new book, Before the Chop. They are stocked at MusicToday, the merch company that warehouses all my stuff. It was decided that I would unpack, sign, repack and stack almost 4,000 books in two days. No problem. It helps to be adaptable, if your life is one protracted improv.

RADIO BROADCAST #213
04-28-13

See also: Henry Rollins: Pride Getting the Best of Me

Fanatics. Presently stationed in Washington DC. I will be here for a few weeks, working on a documentary series. Contractual obligations do not permit me to elaborate at this time but when I can, I will let you know what I am up to.

I can tell you that I will be in the Hawaii Five-0 episode airing on May 6, I think it is. I was told today that it was going to air on the first Monday in May.

What is of the utmost importance at this moment is the music we have prepared for you tonight, or whenever are listening to this.

See also: Henry Rollins' KCRW Show Moves to Sunday Nights

I have come to the conclusion that it's a waste of time to have too much pride in anything. Perhaps it's good to have a sense of duty, a jealous zeal to protect or improve, but pride ultimately is only that which stands vulnerable to offense and degradation. Pride is a thing that I have tried to abandon completely. Try as I might, pride still creeps into many of the things I do.

Repetition and a dedication to consistency as a standard make me prey to pride. I, through some insecurity or unresolved/undealt-with issues, tend to overdo everything. I put a lot of time into all tasks I obligate myself to, perhaps too much.

A few nights ago, I did a show in the Midwest. The audience, whom I overcare about to the point of obsession, was great to me. After the show, the impact of three days of multiple flights, hotels, shows and not much sleep started to make its presence known.

KCRW BROADCAST #212
04-21-13

See also: Henry Rollins: Dead Children in Afghanistan

Fanatics! Our show has moved, or that is to say, has been moved by forces much, much greater than The Big Three and now we find ourselves on Sunday nights from 8 to 10 pm. The wisdom or lack thereof shall make itself known to us as time goes by.

As you might feel along with me, it's really not a Sunday night kind of thing we do and I don't know how it's going to fit at this new time.

For me, Sunday is a grim proposition. Monday looms and one must prepare for the week to come.

See also: Henry Rollins: Joe Cole and American Gun Violence

I use music to keep my life in check. Really, I do. I can get through almost any tough situation if I have the right soundtrack.

I become genuinely excited when I find out about a new release. I often pre-order the record or petition the label for an advance copy. Music -- listening, acquiring, discovering, the facts, the history, the minutiae -- it never gets old. I have been hooked in this way since I was teenage. I would like to think that I'm only getting warmed up.

Music helps me to fortify myself against the often depressingly grim realities the state of things currently offers.