Tooling

With Super Bowl XL a week away, it's a mad dash in downtown Detroit to get shit done and cleaned up. A lot of streets have already been closed and there appears to be scaffolding and trucks everywhere.

I screwed around downtown a little bit on Saturday, shooting some restaurants and doing a little bit of freelance housekeeping. Poked my head into The Woodward, this new, style-y kind of restaurant slated to open today inside of the Campus Martius Building. No menus available, but the inside looked sharp, a lot of slate rock, wood appointments, very sleek, but not too stuffy. I spent some time on foot, which is always good, not to mention good for you.

I putzed around in New Center for a little bit, shooting the new Frank Taylor restaurant, Grand City Grille, before taking the Lodge service drive back north. It turns into Hamilton, which is a street I’ve never before been on. Interesting, to say the very least. Lots of fucked up-looking buildings and people everywhere.

It was a nice day and an unusual amount of people were out, but they were mainly punks and derelicts, none of them friendly by even a modicum of means. I get really tired of ghetto territorialism. This is MY neighborhood. YOU are not welcomed here. I’ve been getting that trip since the day I moved to Detroit. As a young journalist I once covered this protest outside of a Detroit supermarket. Some community group was giving the owner a hard time for selling old, outdated food, but the neighbors were having nothing of it. A group of them nearly pummeled the protestors, as well as the press covering the event, namely me. I thought it was curtains for the Chicken with this big dude up in my shit with both feet, talking about “We don’t even want you motherfuckers here!” I would’ve left on the spot, but I had a job to do and I stayed to do it. It was quite the exercise/lesson in ghetto mentality. Fine with me. Keep your rotted fruit, green meat and 40-dogs on credit. Knock yourself the fuck out. So when I was coming up Hamilton Saturday, I got my fair share of shitty looks, especially when I’d park, get out and take some shots, paying extra special attention to the dude by the bus stop and estimating that it’s about, oh, 100 feet between me and the weirdo over by the corner. Hawing about whether I wanted to shoot one building in particular, I kept circling back before finally doing it, much to the chagrin of a guy having a sidewalk sale consisting of old doors, broken shoelaces and his pancreas. By the third time passing, he kept mad-dogging me, finally standing up from his seat and yelling at me. Don’t worry fella, I’ll leave you and your pocket full of piss alone soon enough. With that kind of attitude, you deserve to have shit like this on your block. Bitch.

I'm sure that THIS is going to last

From mlive.com today

New kiosks to offer directions in downtown Detroit

DETROIT (AP) — It's going to get a little easier for people to find their way around the city.

Detroit said Thursday that workers have started installing 35 permanent kiosks to help visitors and residents get around downtown. Officials hope all will be ready in time for the Feb. 5 Super Bowl at Ford Field.

The 9-foot tall, green kiosks are adorned with an ornamental cap of the Detroit skyline. They display arrows pointing to locations including sports stadiums, Campus Martius, Cobo Center and Hart Plaza.

A map of downtown is located inside a window on each kiosk.

I guar-awn-tee these things will be destroyed by this summer. Some hipster shitheads will pry the ornamental caps off and do something dumb with them like hang them around their neck, or the junkies will abscond with them and sell them for scrap. Expect the windows to be busted soon, if they’re not carved upon first with words like “fagit” or “fuck you bitch.” Urine will be the new coat. Good luck.

Because they got more rhymes than J.D.'s got Salinger ...

One of the many reasons why the Beastie Boys continue to inspire me, nearly 20 years after I picked up “License To Ill” and 17 years after “Paul’s Boutique” changed the way I listen to music.

From NYTimes.com



This Is Not Spinal Tap: A Concert Film by Fans

By LORNE MANLY
Published: January 19, 2006

In the decades since Woodstock, many a concert film has gotten mired in its own clichés. Cameras on booms swoop high over the crowd. Handheld cameras off to the side lovingly capture guitarists teasing out notes or windmilling riffs. Obligatory shots of ululating fans follow - all, increasingly, on pristine high-definition video.


But as the Beastie Boys set out to commemorate a concert at Madison Square Garden, the hip-hop group had a different idea. Why not smash the model?

They decided to lend hand-held video cameras to 50 fans, told them to shoot at will, and then presented the end result in movie theaters in all its primitive, kaleidoscopic glory.

The result of this brainstorm is "Awesome ... ," which will be shown Saturday night at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, before being released by ThinkFilm in late March. The movie is more than a new twist on an old form. "Awesome" - its full title praising the fans' involvement in the final film cannot be printed in this newspaper - plugs into some of the currents surging through the media and entertainment worlds.

Technology has unmoored some the constructs that have girded those businesses for decades, giving the consumers of pop culture a growing ability to watch or listen to their entertainment on their own terms and on their own time, and re-evaluating the role of traditional distribution companies. "Awesome" pushes that tension further, giving the ultimate user a chance to actually create the content. "It's the democratization of filmmaking," said Jon Doran, a producer of the movie.

As with most films, of course, there is a benevolent despot - read, a director - involved. And that would be Adam Yauch, who is known as MCA in the band, but who prefers the archly pretentious nom de plume Nathanial Hörnblowér for his directorial and photographic endeavors.

New York punk rockers turned rappers turned caring hip-hop artists and family men, members of the Beastie Boys have more than most musicians used technology to involve fans in the creative process. They have been posting a capella songs on www.beastieboys.com, for instance, and inviting fans to use those building blocks for remixes of their own.

While perusing the message boards on the site one day in mid-2004, Mr. Yauch came across a concert photo snapped by a fan with his cellphone and found himself taken with the shakiness and rawness of the image. "The energy of it looked cool, and I thought it would look interesting to document a whole concert," Mr. Yauch said.

Three days before the October 2004 concert at Madison Square Garden, the Beastie Boys decided to go ahead. The band posted a notice on its Web site seeking volunteers. The instructions were simple: " 'Start it when the Beastie Boys hit the stage and don't stop till it's over,' " recalled one cameraman, Fred Zilliox, a 35-year-old cook from Keansburg, N.J. "Other than that, it was up to us to do whatever we wanted."

The camera-toting fans took those instructions to heart. They shot the band, they shot the fans, they shot their fellow camera operators. Four even took their cameras along on their bathroom breaks.

"I wasn't very jumpy," said Sharon Gruber, a 26-year-old fan from Bayside, Queens, who was sitting in the top-most row of the Garden. "I basically shot a lot of close-ups of the stage."

Then Mr. Yauch, Mr. Doran, assorted editors and others took over. The postproduction phase stretched more than a year as they waded through nearly 60 angles and about 100 hours of material. (The band supplemented the 50 camera-wielding fans with five friends who had digital video cameras and several high-quality cameras fixed on stage.)

Though one of Mr. Yauch's favorite concert films is "Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii," "it's basically the antithesis of this movie," Mr. Yauch said with a laugh.

"Live at Pompeii," filmed in 1971 in a 2,000-year-old amphitheater devoid of fans, is filled with languid shots without a cut, some shots lasting five minutes. The longest cut in "Awesome" barely breaks a minute. Many shots clock in at less than a second. All told, the hour-and-a-half "Awesome" contains 6,732 edits.

ThinkFilm, the independent distributor behind films like "Murderball," picked up the movie last fall for a fee in the low seven figures. (The film will cost the Beastie Boys about $1.2 million when the sampling fees are added in; the band returned all the Hi-8 Sony cameras (a step above a typical camcorder) to the stores where they were bought, in some cases for a full refund.

"I loved the notion that this was a film for the fans, by the fans," said Mark Urman, head of ThinkFilm's theatrical division.

The film will open on March 31 in 10 to 15 markets, including New York and Los Angeles; a DVD will be released about three months later. But to attract people who may not be hard-core Beastie Boys fans - the band's latest album, "Solid Gold Hits," has sold fewer than 140,000 copies since its release in November - ThinkFilm and the band are lining up other promotions.

At Sundance the Beastie Boys will be the headliners at a party next week being given by MySpace, the social-networking Web site, to celebrate the debut of its filmmaker-community site. And MySpace will hold a contest urging its members to create a video of one of two Beastie Boys songs, "Sabotage" and "Shake Your Rump."

MySpace, in its two years of existence, has allowed more than 660,000 aspiring bands and solo artists to upload their music to the site, where it can then be discovered by the site's nearly 50 million members and perhaps even by music labels. "We're trying the same thing for filmmakers - a platform for our users to express themselves creatively," said Chris DeWolfe, the company's chief executive.

Independent filmmakers will be able to put their films on the site, allowing users to stream and watch selected work at no charge and making it possible to network with other filmmakers. But while music label representatives regularly troll MySpace, it remains to be seen whether studio executives will follow suit and deviate from the typical way talent is discovered.

Still, movie executives understand the business is changing, and they may end up combing through what promises to be a virtual slush pile of submissions. "I don't rule it out," Mr. Urman of ThinkFilm said.

Progress?

The Free Press reported today briefly about the Motown Headquarters building downtown and its pending doom. They also reference detroitfunk.com’s
page of the building. They say that thing is going down any day now. I owe a certain amount of thanks and gratitude to The Rooster, who in his creeping, crawling and climbing about our fine city, presented me with these goodies from his travels as a birthday present, some paper relics from the building. Once they level that thing and put a fucking Starbucks and a parking lot in there, I’ll still have a piece, albeit small, of the city’s rich musical history. Thanks, money.

Detroit continues its spit-shine for Super Bowl XL. Streets are being cleaned, unsightly building facades have been renovated, new bars, restaurants and other retail operations have opened up shop downtown where nothing, and I mean, nothing, previously existed, and viable housing has been created where once rats and weirdos only roamed. Great start. Listen, as I initiate the golf clap here.

My mother had a term for this type of insta-clean, she called it “perfuming the pig.” My allegiances are torn on the new development like this in the city. I’m all for it, especially bars and restaurants, as I have a vested interest in those entities, for every new one that opens, I write about it and, ergo, make a little freelance cash. So open up all the shi-shi martini bars and “ultra-lounges” you want. But again, and my motives are purely selfish, much of the new developments will see nary a dime of my loot nor a slice of my interest. A $12 plate of waffles from restaurateur Frank Taylor and former Detroit Lion Robert Porcher? Don’t think so. Killer loft space at $3 a square foot? Looks great, but it’s out of my price range and I have no interest in being a part of Wayne County services. A new, bumpin’ nightclub with fancy blue lights, $10 drinks, a $20 cover, too much security everywhere and insecure people overdoing it on overpriced clothes and blind machinations? Fuck that and fuck you for even building it. I’ll take a Heineken and a shot of Crown at the bar at the end of my street, thank you.

Misguided duality aside, the mayor — and his cozy developer pals in their orgiastic no-bid love fest —
can tidy up the city all they want, especially for the big game. International media, corporate hoo-hoos, movers, shakers, celebs, the eye of the nation on the city, all of the hype will mean nothing in the face of two very important elements — if everyone behaves themselves and nobody acts like an idiot (especially with a gun), and the city maintains the momentum long after the game.

All it takes is one fool to sully the whole deal, one malcontent with a disregard for anything but himself (and maybe his “boys”) to undo whatever it is this city is trying to get done. Look no further than two specific instances in recent years. On June 23, 2004 while maybe, I don’t know, 1 million people were packed into downtown Detroit for the annual fireworks display, some knucklehead opens fire into a pack of revelers, shooting nine and killing one person, 48-year-old Donald Murphy. Last year, during the early days of the North American International Auto Show, a pack of homeboys got into it inside Cobo and then moved the fight outside. Couple that, with Pistons fans showering the Indiana Pacers with debris as they left the court following the now famous brawl at the Palace and you have a fraction of the litany of shit people around the country don’t like about us.

Which, ultimately leads me to this — why should anyone care? Does it really matter what the eyes of the world sees when it looks at Detroit, or if the editor of the London Times thinks the city is a raging shithole? Katie Couric? Tony Kornheiser? Busta Rhymes? Does it concern us with what they think? Should it? The throng of Super Bowl people coming to town? When Feb. 5 comes and goes, so will they, so it matters not how clean the gutters are, or that they have ample opportunity to get high-priced call girls sent to their hotel rooms, or that they are even ARE enough hotel rooms. Because when they leave, and the alleged spotlight dims and fades, we are still going to be left with our crumbling infrastructure, our tattered bus lines, our bulimic skyline, mismanaged mayor’s office, three-ring-circus of a city council, painfully unacceptable illiteracy rate, fear-inducing crime rate and so, so much more. Address those concerns and start sanitizing this city from the inside out. And in the meantime, Maxim Magazine is having its Super Bowl party at The Max, downtown, so fuck it. Pass the Chandon and watch me get my swerve on, bitches.

Hank

This is an interview with Henry Rollins from the Washington Post. I dig this guy, fully and completely.



Rollins Live (Updated 1.12.06)

Henry Rollins
Actor, Musician, Spoken Word
Wednesday, January 11, 2006; 2:00 PM

Updated 1.12.06 a.m. | 1.12.06 p.m.

Actor, musician and spoken word performer Henry Rollins was online Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss his career, pop culture, the news and anything that's on your mind.

(Photo Courtesy 2.13.61)






Rollins has come a long way since growing up in D.C. He first made a name for himself as lead singer of '80s punk band Black Flag. Then, with his own Rollins Band and as an actor with appearances in movies ("Johnny Mnemonic", "Dogtown and Z-Boys") and TV. In the past decade, though, Rollins really hit his stride performing one-man spoken word shows -- addressing topics ranging from politics to the environment to sexuality to his own neuroses. He's also host of "Full Metal Challenge" on the Learning Channel and the upcoming (April 1) "Henry Rollins Show" on the Independent Film Channel. Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, Rollins has also toured with the USO to perform for troops in the Gulf.

____________________

Washington, D.C.: You clearly know the difference between supporting a war, and supporting the people who have no choice but to fight in that war. What's your take on why so many Americans don't understand that you can support the troops without supporting the actual war ?

Henry Rollins: I think the president has done a very good job. Fox News has done a very good job and a lot of conservatives have done a very good job in blurring those lines. I think there was a concerted effort to make people who ask questions about the war seem unpatriotic. Which is completely offensive to me. Because you can't rationally attack someone who has a conflicting point of view any other way on this topic.

_______________________

Maryland: Hey Henry --

Two things: First, I wanted to thank you for something not mentioned in your introductory write-up, the fantastic stuff you've done with 2.13.61 publishing -- not only bringing us your words, but important works from writers ranging from Nick Cave to Joe Cole, from Iggy Pop to Hubert Selby.

Secondly, to get a little more irreverent, how did you wind up recording with the almighty Shatner, and what are your thoughts on the results?

Henry Rollins: The Shatner project was a request from Ben Folds, who is a great musician. He was producing an album for Shatner and asked if I would take part and I said life is too short -- and said sure.

What was interesting is that we had no song. We just went into the studio and recorded what happened. The result was great and I've spent a few evenings at the Shatner home since and it's been great. He's a very nice man.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Henry,I'm curious about your thoughts on satellite radio and other avenues, such as blogging, that are now allowing us to exercise our right of free speech.

Henry Rollins: Satellite radio I think remains to be seen how well that's going to work. In theory I like it. I just don't know if people are going to dump traditional radio for it.

As far as blogging, I think it's great. Perhaps it'll teach Americans how to write, and form a sentence. And I think having an opinion is a very healthy thing and blogging gives people a chance to articulate without impacting much else on someone else's life.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: I really enjoy your spoken word shows. I enjoyed the story of your train trip across Russia. My favorite was your story of going to see Kiss live.

I would give you a hug for all of your USO work.

The Question:Were you a vegetarian at one point? Did you give it up ? If so why?

Thanks

Henry Rollins: I am basically a vegetarian who will sometimes eat red meat when there's no other protein option. For example, in the middle of nowhere on a USO tour. Past that, I'm a vegetable and fish guy.

_______________________

Potomac Falls, Va.: How do you stay so healthy and train when your schedule calls for so much travel -- is it just finding a way to pump some weight, do cardio, stretch and eat well?

Henry Rollins: Eating well is becoming easier on the road as more places are health conscious. Gyms are easy to find anywhere there's electricity and traffic. Time is the hard part, but I do my best and I learned a long time ago that without recuperative sleep, good nutrition and constant exercise, this high stress lifestyle of traveling, etc., quickly takes a toll.

And how do I do it? I just see it as a very important thing and make sure I get it done.

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Washington, D.C.: Mr. Rollins,

How has the experience of growing up in the DC area affected your music/acting (i.e. are you more politically aware than if you grown up in Kansas)?

Where in Arlington did you live?

Thanks.

Henry Rollins: Growing up in D.C. affected me musically by nature of being in the D.C. music scene and having people like Ian Mackeye be such a heavy influence on me. My mother spent her whole career working in the government, basically trying to help Johnny to learn to read, so politics was always around me.

As far as my acting, I'm just trying to get through that day, so where I came from will not help or hinder. Fear of failure gets me over that wall.

In Arlington, I lived right behind right behind the Marriott on Pierce Street. The apartment building has apparently been leveled.

We all left home and migrated across the Key Bridge. I became an Arlingtonian. It was finances. I worked for $3.50 an hour in 1979.

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Arlington, Va.: Will a version of the Rollins Band tour again? When?

Henry Rollins: I hope so. And I am working towards that.

_______________________

Anonymous: Can you lift more than Joe Piscapo?

Henry Rollins: I doubt it and who cares.

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Sacramento, Calif.: How do you adapt your spoken word shows to international audiences? Do they get the stuff about Walmart or do you talk about the things that have more mass appeal (like your trip in Siberia)?

Henry Rollins: Good question. I do a lot of shows internationally. I am very aware of losing impact if I tell a story with too many "inside" references. So when in Germany, I leave out the Fox News names because I'm going to leave them behind if I talk about O'Reilly or Hannity. That is not to say that I dumb down the message, because the audience isn't stupid. But there's a way to have impact with an audience and concentrate on broader themes and that's where the travel stories come in marvelously.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: Can you share with us one of your fondest memories from your childhood/teenagerhood with Ian MacKaye?

Henry Rollins: I think my fondest memory would just be having Ian as my friend for over 30 years and there's been so many good times, it'd be hard to pick out one. It is one of the good fortunes of my life to have him as my friend. He's truly inspirational to me. I often ask 'What would Ian do?' and he's been a great help to me.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Dear Henry,Why should we listen to you? What is your aim in adding your voice to the public discourse. Money, fame, responsibility or something else. I'm not saying that you're not intelligent and articulate but I'm thinking in more general terms. With the constant spin and occasional bald lying that are thrown around in today's public discourse why should we believe that you are not infected by the same insane bias and underlying agenda.

Henry Rollins: There's a great possibility I am somewhat infected. And I would never assume to be so important than anyone should stop what they're doing and listen to me. I do think I tell a pretty good story. Past that, your point is absolutely valid as far as could I be as corrupt as anyone I say I am against. Absolutely. But money or fame or an agenda are really not part of my agenda.

Freedom of speech and expression is what I'm after.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: I just started reading "Devil's Knot : The True Story of the West Memphis Three" by Mara Leveritt. Are you still involved with the defendants? Has any progress been made in freeing the boys or obtaining retrials?

Henry Rollins: Yes, I'm still involved. There was today an alarming news byte where state governor Huckabee (of Arkansas) says in his opinion there has been no new info brought to light that would make the case in any way compelling to be retried. In light of the fact that DNA evidence from the crime scene was processed and from what I know the results are waiting to be analyzed, I don't know how he can say that. Those who find themselves interested in this case can go to the WM3.org Web site. Or read Mara Leveritt's very fine book.

_______________________

McLean, Va.: Henry,

I have seen several of your spoken word shows and really enjoy hearing about your travel adventures (I cannot enter an airport without thinking of your "standing in line" rant). What are your top three favorite places to visit and why?

Henry Rollins: Afghanistan, because while dangerous it is unbelievably fascinating to me -- historically and geographically. I have been there twice with the military via a USO tour, but given the opportunity, would love to stay for an extended period to learn more.

Parts of Africa I have visited have made me very curious and inspired and made me want to explore more.

The other very interesting place: Russia, where I visited five times and find the people, culture and history fascinating.

_______________________

Los Angeles, Calif.: While in Iraq did you perform classic Black Flag songs such as "Revenge," "No Values," and "Damaged"? And do you think you might become the next Bob Hope?

Henry Rollins: On USO tours I go on my own in what is called a handshake tour. Much like what Brad Pitt and George Clooney do -- you hang out, tell stories, crack them up, etc. No music has been performed as of yet.

As far as being the next Hope, we'll leave that to Wayne Newton's very capable dyed black coif.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: Because you have been doing your spoken word tours for so long,you've covered numerous topics. Is there anything you regret saying or any major ideas or beliefs that you have completely changed on?

Henry Rollins: No. Not as far as spoken word. As far as life experience, the more laps you take around the track, hopefully your mind changes as you go. As a young man, I had a fairly narrow scope -- which is one of the great things of youth. As a middle aged man, I see a slightly bigger picture.

And those changes have always been aired on stage.

_______________________

New York, N.Y.: Henry,

In light of his recent passing, I was wondering if you could comment on Richard Pryor's standup and how it has perhaps influenced what you've tried to do with your spoken word shows.

Henry Rollins: There can't be enough accolades laid on Pryor as far as his bravery and what he did for the genre of comedy. As a young person, I remember those early records and he perhaps helped white America understand black America through comedy better than a lot of other attempts to bring Americans together.

_______________________

Henry Rollins: His bravery is not lost upon me.

_______________________

USO Shows: Are you allowed to say what you want on your USO shows, or do they ask that you keep your political (e.g. anti-war) views quiet? I hope the troops out there understand how many people are like us: supporting the troops and hating the politicians who put them in harm's way.

Henry Rollins: Great question. Believe it or not, never once have I been told to cool it or to not say exactly what I want. And I have. I also go out of my way to let these brave men and women know that no matter who Americans voted for, about 99.999 percent of America supports the troops. That no matter what an American's take on the war is, support for their safe arrival back home is absolute.

What is distressing is how many soldiers did not understand that and think they are hated at home.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: Hi Henry,

What kind of music have you been listening to lately? How do you usually come across new music?

Henry Rollins: The first half of the question is way too broad. I like what I like and that seems to take in every genre of music I can think of -- even country western and techno -- where I'm not all that conversant.

How do I get music? Curiosity makes me buy CDs by the pound. Recommendations from people and things people very graciously send me. Basically, I am open to anything where the musicians have given their all to the piece.

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Sterling, Va.: Hi Henry,

Just got through reading Fanatic! and am psyched to hear that Harmony in my Head is back on the air. For those of us poor working stiffs on the East Coast who can't listen to the show live, are there any plans to archive the new shows so we can listen to them later? (The last one I can find online is Nov. 2004)

Really enjoyed the Birchmere show last fall, and look forward to seeing you again when you're next in town.

Henry Rollins: Yes. At http://www.rollins-archive.com/, started by a fan, she archives every show -- including last night's and you sleepy people can download the music.

Also, those who are curious, please go check out harmonyinmyhead.com for annotated notes of the songs and streaming information. I get letters from people all over the world who listen to the show.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I have been a big fan of yours for years -- I saw you with Black Flag, saw you again with the Henry Rollins Band (it was heaven seeing you and the Butthole Surfers back-to-back on the original Lollapalooza tour!), and have managed to catch a few of your spoken-word shows as well. I would like to know what inspired your move into the realm of spoken-word performance -- was it something that was always there inside you or did you have any sudden inspiration or "aha!" moment?

Henry Rollins: As a young person, there was always a premium put on being able to tell a great story. Amongst my friends being able to imitate everyone else and crack everyone up put you high up on the teen food chain. Of course, this is not unique, but I never lost my love of storytelling, imitating others, etc.

As a scrawny, Ritalin-addled youth in HS, which was all boys, I learned to stave off the beating, by making the gorilla laugh before geometry class. Hence, the opportunity to go on stage without a band, tell stories and express attitude, was extremely attractive to me when first offered in 1983.

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Aldie, Va.: Henry, in all your shows, books, music, you act like an angry guy and don't hesitate to say you are one. But you seem like such a nice guy, and would be willing to help anyone if you could. How do you reconcile the two personalities?

Henry Rollins: I don't think being helpful or nice doesn't allow you to be really pissed off. My anger is mostly a civically oriented one. I am tired of the little guy getting bullied by the rich, the mean and the opportunistic. This sentiment, of course, is not unique, so... anger is good when directed in a positive way and so, yes, on occasion I am a pretty nice guy, but I hold my anger in high regard. If it ever goes away I will know I have lost the plot.

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Ectomel, IA: Hi Henry. We share a common favorite band; Black Sabbath circa 1974. (How incredibly cool was it to be a supporting player in the genesis of that reunion?!)

I know you have been on close terms with Sharon and Ozzy, so what I wanna know is this; I have always read between the lines of Ozzy's seeming addle-headedness and thought that he was actually pretty smart and damned funny, too. What's your take? Is the Ozzy that you see on TV what you get, or is he crazy like a fox?

Henry Rollins: First question about how cool was it? Are you kidding?! It was very cool to be with Black Sabbath for their reunion shows in Birmingham, England.

As far as Ozzy. He is easily one of the most what you see is what you get people I've met. He's not putting on an act. Ozzy is Ozzy 24 hours a day. He is extremely childlike in that he has not lost his enthusiasm for music and life and he is tremendously big-hearted, which adds to his appeal to me and lots of other people.

Hence, his seemingly endless appeal decade after decade.

So, no, I don't think he's putting on an act.

_______________________

York, Pa.: Do you feel let down by the apathy displayed by the younger generation in the face of war, America's ever declining worldwide reputation and heightening governmental invasion of privacy?

Henry Rollins: Those are three different topics.

Apathy. I think we are curing that problem. I think our newest crop of teenagers may be the most energized and politically aware young people we've had for quite some time. And that is why I am optimistic for the future of America.

America's reputation. President Bush has set America, in my opinion, on a very dangerous course. We are drawing lines in the sand and appearing as bullies in places where people will push back. Everyone knows this. The only thing that lifts my spirits in this depressing situation is our young people and their desire to turn things around and seek a better, peaceful and more rockin' situation.

Privacy. Good question. I don't know exactly where I sit on that, being someone with nothing to hide. If national security is at stake, I think extraordinary measures must be employed. What bugs me about Bush and his wiretaps is that he could have done it legally and chose not to.

Any of those wiretaps he sought, he could've gotten those warrants perhaps overnight, but his administration's arrogance and seeming attitude of "the rules do not apply" makes me pretty angry.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: Henry-

You always thank Mitch Bury of Adams, Mass., on your liner notes. I used to live in Adams, Mass. Who is he? I always thought he was a voice coach to help you with your singing, but I know there has to be a better story. So what is it?

Henry Rollins: Mitch Bury was Black Flag's road manager and very close friend of the band and myself. His family still lives on Crandall Street and I've just had a long friendship with Mitch Bury and to this day still see him, keep in contact with him and keep up my tradition of thanking Mitch Bury from Adams, Mass., on everything I put out.

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Washington, D.C.: I'm in my early 30s and I'm pretty angry too. Do you think it has more to do with your personal make up or do you think it has to do with this issues of today? If it's the later, has your angry grown worse or stayed the same?

Henry Rollins: I think in my case at least it is a combination of both. I was an angry kid, an angry adolescent and am now an angry adult. Many factors have probably been a part of this. Washington, D.C., was an intense place to be young person in the '70s and '80s. As a child in the '60s, watching the riots, it had a profound effect on me. In my opinion, to be a conscientious American, you should be pretty damn angry.

Until things are perfect, we need to keep working. Anger and dissatisfaction are great fuel for change and betterment.

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Henry Rollins: Yes, and my anger grows daily.

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Anonymous: Since the White House staff is known to read these discussions, what would be your reaction should the Defense Department decide not to invite you back on another tour?

Henry Rollins: That would be sad and patently un-American.

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Kensington, Md.: I saw you doing a MTV video countdown years back and when you had to introduce a video from U2, you rolled your eyes in apparent sarcasm as you talked about the band. As a U2 fan, I always thought that was hilarious. Did you just never get them or their music?

Henry Rollins: While I applaud Bono's humanitarian efforts with great admiration, I think the music is for those who have lost their will to rock.

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Arlington, Tex.: Henry, enjoyed watching you speak when you came through Texas.

Do you think invention of online music stores is good for the artists?

I think you should look into using the Internet to get your masses more talking shows. It would remove any middle men that want to get in the way. The Pearl Jam guys have devised a great system to get bootleg music to their fans. Check it out.

Henry Rollins: I think the Internet has been great for musicians as far as bringing people to their music cheaply and efficiently. Hopefully, getting people who would would have never heard the music to hear it... which is what music is all about. Music wants to be heard. I do have a whole line of CDs that I sell from my Web site that never go to retail, which are extremely cheap and $1 from each sale goes to different charities.

So, dear writer, I do check it out and I thank you.

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Washington, D.C.: Henry-

Do you keep up at all with the DC music scene? Have you heard our radio lately? It's horrible....

What cities have the best radio for progressive/alternative rock that you've heard, and do any of those stations stream online??

Henry Rollins: Okay. Yes, I keep up with the local DC music scene as best I can. Being a semi-frequent visitor to my beloved hometown, I go to as many gigs as I can. I will confess I do not listen to much radio, preferring my own record collection to that of a radio station. All I know is the music's always good on my show and the station I'm on does stream -- Indie 103.1.

As to what any other station is doing, I'm unaware.

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Crete, Ill.: Henry, how did the idea come together for your film critiquing show on IFC?

Henry Rollins: The idea was that of Swift River Productions. Although they will not admit it, I know I was not their first choice. They came to me and pitched what basically became the show, since I love film, have an opinion on why I like and dislike them, and have done quite a bit of acting in film, they thought this might be interesting to me. It was, we made a pilot, IFC liked it, we made a season, they asked for another season, which we're already in pre-production on now.

And so far it has been really great. The name of the show has changed from "Henry's Film Corner" to the "Henry Rollins Show" and will now be weekly instead of monthly. There will be live music, some of the acts like Sleater-Keaney and John Doe, they're performances already in the can. Slayer and other acts are imminent.

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Henry Rollins: I can't thank you enough for all of your questions, your enthusiasm, your interest. It may sound cheesy, but I mean every word of that.

Also, being stranded out here in LA, it is very nice to see the names of the towns these letters are coming from (Arlington, etc.), cuz I really miss that part of the world every day I'm not there.

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UPDATED 1.12.06

Herndon, Va.: Your "Tom Waits Story" remains one of my most prized MP3's of all time. It's truly one of the funniest and best told stories I've ever heard. My Question is have you ever considered re-labelling what you do and using the More accessible term "stand up comedy" rather than the off-putting (to some anyway) "spoken word"?

Hnery Rollins: I have never liked that term either. I sure didn't come up with it! If I saw "An evening of spoken word with . . ." on a flyer I would run the other way in fear of being bored to death. That being said, I admire stand-up comedy and am a fan of the good ones but wouldn't want to have to make people laugh all the time. There's some stuff that's just not funny and I want to address that stuff without having to make light of it. Also, that circuit seems pretty intense in a way that's unappealing to me. Even a guy like George Carlin who's a pal and someone I greatly admire, must feel some pressure to keep the laughs going. I don't think I would fare well in that environment.

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Los Angeles, Calif.: Do you think soldiers might be mistaken about America's support for the troops as a result of broadcasters such as Rush Limbaugh, who equate any dissent with treason and loathing for our soldiers? Where else would they get that wrong impression?

Henry Rollins: I definitely think that sentiment is propagated by those who are for one reason or another, in favor of what's happening in Iraq. I don't know how much of America is swayed by radio and television pundits and their opinions. I think the Bush Administration has done a lot of work, with evident success, to weld 9/11 to Iraq, Osama to Saddam, the response to the September attacks to preemptively strike Baghdad. If you don't diligently follow the spin and look at the real information, you could think anyone critical of the efforts in Iraq to be a negative influence. I am not saying though, that the TV/Radio right don't have an effect. They do. Your Hannity's are very forceful and their narrowness of scope often works to their advantage in attacking large topics. If you can fit it on a bumper sticker, it's not a reason to go to war. Novak left CNN and went to Fox! What a surprise!

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Detroit, Mich.: I'm watching the Supreme Court nominations, while reading this online interview/blog -- and a question came to mind. Do you feel that the administration, as a whole, has done so much damage that it cannot be undone, or do you believe with a shift in power and a change in those who have it will lead to an eventual rebirth in American politics in which people, again, have a voice in their own government. And I commend you on your work with the USO. You're doing the individuals and the country a great service.

Henry Rollins: Only my opinion here but I think the Bush Administration has put us on an aggressive and dangerous course in South and Central America and the Middle East and parts of Asia most certainly. To me, they demonstrate the actions of men who have not been in many or any fights. They either don't understand or seem to care that there's always someone who will hit back or at least take their best shot at whom they consider to be the schoolyard bully. I'm not saying we should hug a terrorist today but we should definitely do something in an attempt to understand where all this anger comes from and go to that as one of our measures against further terrorist attacks. It's hard enough fighting an enemy that doesn't mind dying. I am however, hopeful. My hope comes from all the young people I meet. The level headed, energized people I meet who really want to address the hard questions and do something. I think we are headed for a dramatic and historic turning of the tide in our life time. That is to say, something's gonna give.

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Portland Ore.: Henry, I've been a fan of yours since about 1991 when your spoken word helped me get through boarding school and broke me of my angst. I no longer blamed other people for my problems and looked toward myself. I can tell that the problems in this world bug you. They bug me too. Every time you come to Portland, inevitably someone yells that you should run for president. My question is this: Why don't you run for an elected office? You're intelligent, you relate to people and you kick ass. Isn't it time that you step up and live to YOUR full potential? I think Washington could use a little more punk rock than just the 9:30 club.

Henry Rollins: Damn do I love your city. I had a great time there the other night. I appreciate your confidence. I am however in no way cut out for office. I am of highschool education and I don't think I could do anyone any favors in that arena. Also, I really think I get some good things done being on the street and on the move. I think there's a lot more latitude out here than in an elected office. As far as living up to my potential, well, I'm not sleeping on that front, I assure you. Thanks.

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McLean, Va.: I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your work with the USO and your efforts to bridge the gap of misunderstanding that has been created (and exploited) regarding the difference between supporting the troops and supporting the war. I have had numerous "discussions" with people who, because of my open opposition to the war and to the Bush administration, have accused me of not supporting the troops and even of being a traitor to my country. These discussions often end soon after I inform them that I served for four years with the U.S. Army Special Forces. While it is handy to have this trump card available, it saddens and angers me that it is even necessary to play it. I served and fought for freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of association, and the freedom to dissent -- much of what you seem to be fighting for in your way. I think you are doing an excellent job and I wish more power to you.

Henry Rollins: Thank you and thank you for your service. Yeah, it's too bad you have to pull out your SF card. To me, being a traitor is having a party and cracking open the champagne whenever there's U.S. fatalities or blowing up something here at home. I don't know anyone who is remotely like that. Quite the opposite. When we lost that Black Hawk the other day, it's a year ruiner as far as I'm concerned. As far as being critical of an Administration, someone better be, even the ones who voted it into office. How else will we learn, be safe, not repeat mistakes, etc. Again, thank you.

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California: Would you describe Bukowski as a Slurred Word Artist? Also, if anger is properly channeled, such as in your case, is it still anger, or something else?

Henry Rollins: Those Bukowski books were fun to read when I was in my 20's. A great ride. Good question about the anger. It is perhaps something else, an awareness, a catalyst. All I know is, when everything seems to be going well, it feels like a scam!

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Washington, D.C.: Henry, I have long been a fan of yours, and you have certainly inspired me to be the independent person I am. Unfortunately life does not always allow this luxury. How do you cope with situations where individuality is not easily welcomed, i.e. politically or socially?

Henry Rollins: I guess it is a luxury come to think of it. When I encounter a confrontational situation, I usually run right at it. Where are you living? China, Arkansas?

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Rockville, Md.: Hi Henry -- why everytime I see you do you have a black shirt? How many of those you own?

Henry Rollins: I wear a black one onstage because it hides the sweat but most of the time I wear a gray t shirt. It matches my hair. It's my way of going with it.

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Santa Fe, N.M.: A case can be made that the Beatles played a major role in the fall of the Soviet bloc, do you think this a true and if so do you feel that any of today's music could cause change in the Middle East?

Henry Rollins: A case can be made that adult diapers played a major role in the fall of the Soviet bloc. I don't think it was the Beatles. I like that idea though. I think it was a lot of people wanting what their neighbors in the West have had for so long and all the stuff that comes with it. Mafia, corruption, MTV, all the good stuff. I have always maintained that if we dropped tons of Ramones CDs on Israel and Palastine perhaps we could get somewhere. I am more than willing to use music to cool out the Middle East. Let's send in George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars as the first wave, wait for the smoke to clear and then we come over the hill with Sabbath. Or, you could assault them with Britney Spears and they might just freak out and lose it completely. Honestly, I don't think music can do much to change anything. If it could, then it would have happened with all those great Dylan and Marley songs.

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Detroit, Mich.: As many others, Black Flag made some of the most powerful music I ever listened to. Are you still at all in touch with Greg Ginn?

Henry Rollins: I saw Greg in 1989. I guess that's a long time ago. He wrote some of the best songs I have ever heard. I don't really know what he's up to now.

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Washington, D.C.: What was it like being interviwed by Stacy Peralta for the Dogtown documentary?

Henry Rollins: That was an all time great experience. I had not seen him in a long time and it was so cool to have him over at my office. He's a 100 percent great guy and someone I have admired since I was a teenager. I think I met him in the late 70's the first time and over the years would run into him here and there. It was great to be part of that documentary. Ian MacKaye and I got a credit on the film as contributors of some of the Jay Adams footage you see in Dogtown as we shot that stuff on my Super-8 camera many years ago.

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Washington, D.C.: I know that there are some books describing your role in the history of the D.C. Punk scene, but have you written your own memoirs of those days?

Henry Rollins: I have written about some of those times here and there in books I have done but not in one concentrated effort. I have taken a lot of notes, trying to remember everything I could as those were some of the best times I have ever had. I still remember those days with a great deal of fondness.

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Anonymous: Is there a release date for "Feast"?

Henry Rollins: Quite honestly, I have no idea. After I am done with a film, I never look back. I am only there for the work. What happens to it after I'm done is not really all that Important to me as there's nothing I can do about it and usually I am of such low level in a film, no one tells me anything. I don't get invited to the premier most of the time.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Henry, do you still skate?

Henry Rollins: No. I wish I had the knees left to but I don't.

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Washington, D.C.: Henry, Thanks for doing this chat. These are always a lot of fun and they get me through the work day. I read somewhere that you were in that terrible movie, St. Elmo's Fire, as a guy behind the counter at Haagen Daaz. Is this at all true? Were you simply behind the counter as they were filming? Is this a complete figment of my imagination?

Henry Rollins: Thanks. No. I was never in that film. You have a vivid imagination though. Had they asked me to be in it, I would have done it. I am always seeking gainful employment.

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Northern Virginia: During your lifetime technology and the Internet have changed radically in ways that impact all of the work you've done (music, writing, movies). Having heard Ian on a roundtable discussion last year, I'm curious to hear what your feelings are about music piracy and the like. Also, have you noticed these things have taken a bite out of your income stream? Also, do you have an iPod (or similar device)? If yes, what's on it?

Henry Rollins: I do not lose any sleep about anyone downloading anything I have done. I am told by young people that they download my talking records for free all the time. They sometimes apologize and ask if I am going to attack them. I always say to them what I will say to you: There have always been mechanisms in place to keep the artist from his or her pay. Be it the club owner, agent, manager or record company. Now, it's the fans too. Why should they be left out?! The bottom line is, I would rather be heard than paid and no, I willl not chase you down the street for my 35 cents. Unfortunately, some of the records that people download of mine have part of the money made going to charities so in a way, they're working negatively against some organizations they would probably really dig. And, I'm not the only one in the band so they are also taking from others, some of them with kids. As far as what money all that takes from me, I don't make much money from records and I don't really check to see what I make on them and I am certainly not going to go after someone for a few bucks. I would have loved to have heard what Ian had to say about all that. He always has an interesting take on things. I have three ipods for different places and they are full of all kinds of music. I have the 60 gig ones so I can take a lot of music out with me on the road. They are a great thing.

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Washington, D.C.: Henry, I love your writing and spoken word work. How much time on average do you spend every day writing?

Henry Rollins: Thanks. It depends on what I am doing. If I am doing a movie or TV thing, not much as the 12-14 hour day will be enough to drop me. The USO tours are hard to write on because of the exhaustion factor at the end of the day. On a good day, up to 8+ hours on and off. Most of the time, at least three. There are days at a time when I don't get anything done because of obligations and schedules. I have been writing a lot lately. More than usual.

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Sterling, Va.: Henry, I recently read Roomanitarian and loved it. Do you plan on appearing in more films this year?

Henry Rollins: You liked that book?! What are ya, a nut?! Thanks. I have no film plans for this year so far but something might come up in the summer as I will be in LA a lot working on stuff. It's not anything I persue all that hard. There are two films that I was in that are to come out at some point this year. Feast and Alibi.

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UPDATED 1.12.06 p.m.

Bethesda, Md.: Hi Henry, I was wonder if you have noticed any differences in either the troops you see or the condition of the Iraq people and country in your multiple visits. Do you think it's getting worse or better? Certainly it has to be tough on the many troops who are doing their second on even third tours of Iraq.

Henry Rollins: I have only been to Iraq once. I have been to Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan twice so far. When I was in Iraq, I met people who were two months in country and 14 months in country. The year-plus ones were the ones Rumsfeld held back for an unspecified period. They were angry. A lot of them had children they had not met yet. The ones who were in a couple of months were very focused and wired. I know at this point, there are people going into their third rotation there. I don't know what their morale will be like. Probably good. These are highly trained, highly motivated people. I am continually amazed at how great the troops are. It's very inspiring to be around them. As far as Iraq, I was told, when I was there at least, that there's more electricity in a lot of regions than ever before. That was the only progress report I was told about. That being said. I have seen a lot of reports that say exactly the opposite of what I was told so I don't know the answer to that one. Some parts of Iraq I saw were beautiful. I hope the place comes back all the way.

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Bethesda, Md.: Henry I read somewhere that you attended Bullis HS and a teacher there was very instrumental in your decision to pursue an artistic career. Can you tell us about that? My kids attend Bullis and love it, but I wonder why I haven't heard your name mentioned there. Have they ever asked you back for anything?

Henry Rollins: I did go there. I had an English teacher who was very cool to me. I would write stories about blowing the school up and burning it to the ground and give them to him and he would help me with the sentences but told me to never show them to others. He said creative writing was good. I was very frustrated in that place. A good school but I didn't have a good time. I was asked many times to come on campus and speak over the years. I always politely declined and some years ago, they got the message. I have never been back since the day I graduated in 1834. It was a long time ago.

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Washington, D.C.: So now that you are a big time Hollywood guy, when are they going to make you a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador?

Henry Rollins: As soon as I get a show on Scare America the home of Aggressive Talk Radio.

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KC: Have you read any good books lately?

Henry Rollins: I really learned a lot from Ahmed Rashid's book "Taliban." I just finished reading Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita" again. Those were great.

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Chicago, Ill.: I was really excited when you started 2.13.61 because it looked like you were going to reissue some old records worth listening to. I got the 30 seconds over DC comp, Trouble Funk live joint, and recently picked up the Negative Trend EP, do you have any other old gems in the works? Also which spoken word CD is your favorite?

Henry Rollins: I have some old stuff lined up but I am still working out the deals on them so it will take a while to get it all together. Best thing to do is check in on the site now and then or get on our mailing list and we'll let you know about releases if you like. 21361.com is the address. A favorite talking record of mine? I don't know. I make them and then make the next one. I don't really think about them as far as favorites.

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Raleigh, N.C.: Hiya Henry! What's your take on the separation of Church and State? Rock on!

Henry Rollins: I hope they stay well away from each other for the sake of all sane people in America.

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Woodbridge, Va.: With the recent revelations of the JT Leroy and James Frey being frauds, do you feel the literary world is fast becoming like the art world of the 1980's? Do people prefer entertainment to the truth? Or are JT Leroy and Mr. Frey using the tools of the culture against its ambassadors (Oprah, noted journalists, magazines, celebrity friends, etc...)? Consumer culture will purchase their products regardless.

Henry Rollins: If James Frey, a former drug addict made up some things in his book, anyone who would be surprised should maybe get a reality check. As far as books like that, if you liked it, got something from it, who cares if it's true? If you have to watch Oprah Winfrey to get your reading list, you deserve any literary hardships that come your way. A lot of people prefer fantasy to the truth. Wait until the upcoming State of the Union Address!

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Washington, D.C.: Do you believe Nick Zedd's work has proved influential to your own? And if so, in what way? Do you plan any co-projects with Zedd. Additionally I was surprised to hear that you were on the Stern show. How was that and what precipitated your appearance?

Henry Rollins: Nick is great but quite honestly, the only thing I have ever gotten through was his book. I have never been able to hang all the way through the films. I tried but couldn't do it. So, I don't think there's been any influence and I certainly have no plans to do anything with him. I have been on Stern's show twice and always found him to be alright to me. They asked and I went. I'd go again. I don't mind Howard. His thing with women at first bugged me but now I see he's just infantile on that front and not misogynistic. I didn't get that at first. I think he'd be the first to admit that. I like the guy

Fun in the wind

We spent the weekend in Chicago and it was worth every minute and every cent. Got to town at 5 p.m. Friday, checking into, of all places, The Drake (Kerry scored it for $99 from hotwire.com).

Up front, we decided that staying downtown in Chicago would probably no longer be an option for us. It was an ubelievable opportunity for us to lodge at an address as opulent as The Drake. It was a memorable experience in luxury accommodations. But downtown, the top of Michigan Avenue is mainly ubertourists and rich fucks, saturated with shops belonging to retailers with whom I have no business establishing a consumer-based relationship — not just socioeconomically, but principally. Saks, Tiffany, Nieman Marcus, Bulgari, Zegna, Ferragamo, Cartier, the whole deal, the Romper Room of the rich. Not my bag, not my income, surely not my size (“hey buddy, got this fancy man blouse in a double-X?”) and, most importantly, not my style (“what the fuck you mean I leave the cuffs opened?”). Sorry, I like my soup warm and my cuffs closed. But, we had a choice room at a legendary hotel and felt very much at home there. And Kerry, well-versed in the Chicago terrain, knew precisely how to make a weekend out of it. After hawing about where to eat dinner Friday night, I take the weekend’s only credit by suggesting Bandera, a pleasantly sultry bar/restaurant playing host to some of Michigan’s finest visitors from the Burke posse. Apparently, happy hours were legendary there back in the mid- to late-90s, or as Parker put it, “drinking on Doughtery’s sales nickel when none of the rest of us had nickels of our own.” Dinner was sublime Friday night, nearly perfect to be honest — a couple of quick martinis, followed by ribs for Kerry and whitefish for me. The kitchen made quick and perfect work of the whole deal, ushering a couple of plates of the best goddamn food either one of us have had in a long time.

Especially noteworthy was that the food came piping hot, which is a lost art in restaurating these days. Cooks — oh, sorry, chefs, the kitchen artists, or whatever it is they’re going by these days (I’ve always just internally identified them simply as the guys making my fucking food, and leave it at that) seem to take their time getting your hard-earned meal to you. This was hot, fresh and done perfectly. Another bonus was the style-y little jazz trio kind of kicking it behind us

Talented, but subtle, playing loud enough to hear them, while flexing their skills, without overdoing it.

We bolted from there, heading to the Billy Goat Tavern, an oasis of a bar that is part gimmick, part blue-collar-meets-white collar. It’s about three-fold in this place. First, and probably most noteworthy for the masses, is that this is the little restaurant that John Belushi made famous on Saturday Night Live with the “cheeborger, cheeborger” skit.

It’s been below Michigan Avenue forever and they still do that shtick to this day. Secondly, it is named after and is the source of that Chicago Cubs goat curse theory. The guy who owns this place is, I think, the kid of the guy who had the goat. And what is it anyway, with Chicago and its animal legends? Mrs. O’Leary’s cow starting the Great Chicago Fire, Bill Sianis’ goat Murphy cursing the Cubs? But third, and probably most importantly, Billy Goat’s is the official hangout of Chicago’s newspaper men and women. Mike Royko columns dot the walls ,

while reporters, photographers, managers, design people and even interns drink and unwind. It felt a lot like a version of Detroit’s Anchor Bar, before it moved to the other side of the block. I had a wordless feeling of familiarity and comfort in this place. It smelled like newspaper people. If City Chicken has a “kind,” that is it.

We cut out of there to Bar Louie, but it was packed, so we went to some lame bar down the street. The music there was horrible, so we figured since we were being so cheesey, we went to some meathead/shithead bars on Division, with names like Bootleggers. It actually worked out well. We wanted a place to sit and talk and have some drinks. All of the trendy places were packed with fuckers, so we headed to Dorktown We ended the night at Mrs. Parks for a late burger and a cocktail. I got this shot of the Hancock Tower. Man, that thing is high.

I like the city

Little is more precious than waking up on that first Saturday of a vacation or getaway, even if it is for only a couple of days. Simply removing yourself completely and briefly from the constant bullshit that composes our day-to-days. I woke up in the best mood. We had Tempo for breakfast and caught a bus up to the northern part of town, which is probably where we’ll be staying from now on. It’s a little more real in those parts, in terms of the way people look and behave. Visited a couple of stores, including The Alley, and Reckless Records, where we both hooked ourselves up with some new music. We have little in the way of indie record stores near where I live, where we once had two — Repeat the Beat and Off The Record. OTR spawned Wendell’s when it closed, but that shop is now out of business. Reckless Records is a good place. Unpretentious staff, comprehensive selection, the whole deal.

Great stores, especially The Alley, but I saw something there that nearly incited a gag reflex. It was this guy.

He actually looks like a woman I work with, but that’s not the problem. It’s those pants. Look at him! Why? Why would anybody make their pant legs look like that and the go out in public? Here, look again.

I mean, shit, I’m the last person to talk, I’m as misshapen as they come, but damn dude.

Kerry scored some bomb shit for the house at this antique store going out of business.

Down the street, she pointed out a bar, the L & L Tavern, a gin mill of dive proportions. It turned out to the best stop of the weekend. Empty at 2 p.m., we met the bartender Scott. We sat for our first round, where he crafted a hand-mixed Bloody Mary.
(complete with horseradish made and bottled by a regular), and in a few minutes in walks to the bar quite a sight. This older gent creeps in, bent far down over walker, but he swings the door over, stops the door on the back-swing with his apparatus, and then takes about 10 minutes to get in through the door, looking up and smiling every now and then. He sits down at the end of the bar, looking about 87,000 years old and taking nearly that long to make it through the door and to his seat.

In the next hour and a half, we make small talk, but not because he’s some pushy old drunk, but because we’re floored by how cool-looking this old man is — full head of silver hair, about 5 feet tall, fresh and clean slacks, big suspenders and a tucked-in flannel shirt. He looked charming and smart, and we shot this shit with this guy for a while. He moved to Chicago in 1953, from Madison, Wisconsin.

He earned his degree in English from Wisconsin and then off to Montana to get his master’s. “It was the biggest mistake of my life,” he said of going to that school. “I came back to Lacrosse, and vowed I’d never cross the Mississippi again,” he said. “I even got on my knees and kissed the ground.” He moved to Chicago for one reason, he told us, and that was because the city had the only music series devoted entirely to piano music. So he moved here in ’53 and hasn’t lived anywhere else. He lives in an apartment on LaSalle downtown, where the tenants are mainly Ukrainian. He’s a total theater head and made his living as, of all things, an editor. With that line of work, it’s not at all shocking that he’s ended up an old man at the end of the bar! Anyway, he was a very nice man. His name was Earl.

We got something quick to eat after visiting one of Kerry’s old addresses.

We went back to the room, napped for a second, had something quick to eat and then met a bunch of her friends for drinks and dinner. Her friends are a great bunch of people, and they’ve kind of adopted me in a surrogate form. The root of my respect for them is that they’ve all been very nice to me, a benchmark I pretty much apply to everyone. We met at this place called the Blue Line, before heading to Chicago’s Little Italy for dinner at Mia’s.

We got a little loopy and decided to visit the Bucktown Pub for more drinks (I swear, we did a LOT of drinking this weekend).

There was this amazing-looking church down the street, Resurrection Something Or Other.

Later in the night, around 12:30-ish, this guy walks in with a cooler and is selling fresh tamales. Jeff bought a big bag of them, which he proceeded to rub on the back of his wife’s neck. I thought it was hilarious, actually.

We headed back home where I slept hard in a soft bed. We woke up, lunched at the Mity Nice Grill, before I dropped Kerry off at Jason and Laura’s, where she would stay the night before work-related activity Monday and Tuesday. I drove home in four hours flat.

My apologies to the Crew-Nards and the Horowitz Boys, Tetris Lox, the 138s ...

From today’s mlive.com

Detroit drug gang founder spared death sentence The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — The co-founder of the notorious drug gang Young Boys Inc. is expected to avoid the possibility of a federal death sentence under a plea deal, the U.S. Justice Department says.

Milton Jones, 50, known as "Butch," entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge John Corbett O'Meara, U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy said in a news release Thursday.

In 2003, the U.S. attorney's office requested the death penalty for Jones and two others should they be convicted of murder.

Jones was among 14 people indicted in Detroit in 2001 on charges of selling heroin, cocaine and marijuana during the 1990s. Authorities say the Detroit gang engaged in robberies, kidnappings and murders of rival drug traffickers.

Jones was accused of ordering the killings of rivals Mark Grice and Antoine Carruthers.

As part of the deal with prosecutors, Jones pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in the case, Murphy said.

"Under the terms of the plea agreement, Jones has agreed to cooperate fully with federal authorities," and prosecutors will recommend he get a 30-year sentence, Murphy's office said. It said sentencing guidelines would have called for life imprisonment.

O'Meara is scheduled to sentence Jones on April 6. If the guilty plea is accepted then, Murphy said the death penalty request will be withdrawn.

Jones wrote an autobiography, titled "Y.B.I.," about his life of crime.

In 2001, Jones wrote to federal prosecutors that Youssef Hmimssa, a key witness in a Detroit terrorism conspiracy prosecution, lied to the FBI. Jones was with Hmimssa in the Wayne County Jail and the federal prison at Milan.

The terror case later was dismissed.

I’ve long had an interest in all gang-related matters and I could never really understand why. I mean, this stuff dates back to ninth-grade, when I got my hands on my first Hunter Thompson book, “Hell’s Angels.” We also became kind of obsessed with the Blood-Crips situation in L.A. in the late ‘80s, thanks to CNN blasting stories every nine minutes about the shit.

Motorcycle gangs, skinheads, homeboys, those fucking crazy, super violent dudes of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), I don’t know, I don’t condone it by any means, but it’s always held some weird, unexplained interest in the corridors of my brain. Detroit gangs, especially, because you don’t really hear so much about them. Locally, they were legend and serious as shit, and there were some who really terrorized the the city, with names like the Coney Oneys and the Errol Flynns, who would just start knifing packs of people at concerts or randomly fucking up and slicing neighborhoods at will. The violence element I don’t understand, nor do I find all that fascinating. But what does captivate for a moment is the weird camaraderie. That a bunch of somewhat like-minded guys, mainly in the same age group and from similar backgrounds, all of them believing that society has cast them away, come together as a group and establish a bond that many of them equate to a family. Which is interesting, because a lot of those cats have shredded and faded versions of what you and I would consider a family. So, they make their own. Except in this family, they do a lot of damage and commit some serious crimes. I think I’m going to put “Colors” at the top of the Netflix queue today.