My heroes are people who shine, act and broadcast clear ideals that have shaped my personality and mission in life. Heroes don’t always save babies in burning buildings. Sometimes they simply show us courageous ways to live in the world. In one way or another, all of my heroes are Not F*ing Around.
Henry Rollins sang in the badass 80s punk band Black Flag. Since those golden days he’s been involved with movies, TV, radio and all kinds of other creative projects. But his spoken word performances and recordings are what charges me up and refuels my fire when I start to slip on the NFA.
Henry tells stories. About his years in the band. His travels. He talks about his ideas on strength, community, connection, music. This guy burns with the heat and heart of NFA. He’s driven to squeeze every f*ing ounce of awesome out of this life. Whether rockin’, hanging out and soaking up the wisdom of Last Exit to Brooklyn author Hubert Selby, scribbling paragraphs on a transcontinental red eye flight, or scouring record stores for an elusive piece of vinyl.
Henry knows, and has broadcast repeatedly, that this life on earth is an exceptional gift with a ticking clock.
Henry knows that every day, every hour, offers enormous possibilities to connect, to create, to experience. And Henry spends his hours and his days connecting, creating and experiencing. He blasts it out in stories, poems, ideas, rants and raves.
But even more than talking about it, Henry lives it. For f*ing real.
Thanks, Henry. For showing me the possibility of kicking it freestyle in the streets. For living a life without apologies. And for bringing the punk rock heart to the spoken word stage. Because we all need reminders to live the NFA every day. The clock is always ticking.
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What does your punk rock heart shout out to the world?
Who inspires you to be NFA?
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