I was never a fan of cassette singles. They were like two bucks, and you could get the whole album for, like, eight, so I'd almost always get the whole album. I bought Weight on cassette because I had a tape player in my car. I really liked all of the songs, and I still enjoy cranking the Rollins Band on my iPod at the gym (by the way, I am writing this right now to avoid going to the gym).
I got the album that came out before Weight on CD at Cheapo: The End of Silence. It took me a while to warm up to it, but I still love every metal tune on it. I noticed that the production company for each was 2.13.61. This was before the internet, and I gradually found out that it was Henry Rollins's production company which is his birthday.
As I looked for more stuff by him, I started to see his spoken work CD's in the Cheapo bins. I got one once, and loved it. It was like stand up comedy, but not. It was just Rollins telling stories about touring with Black Flag and Rollins Band, growing up a reject, and other funny/interesting stories. I identified with a lot of the spoken word, and got as many of the albums that I could find.
He tells one story about living with his friend Joe Cole, and how they came home from the store one night and there were intruders in their house. They murdered Cole in front of Rollins, and he thought he was next for sure and escaped. It's a heavy story, but he starts by talking about their relationship, and how they were best friends. They called themselves (together) "The Chosen One." I played the bit for my best friend at the time, and we started calling ourselves The Chosen One.
Rollins mentioned in one of his stories that he'd answer every piece of fan mail that he received. I sent him one of the only pieces of fan mail I've ever sent (I had only sent one other one to Jason Bateman when I was 10, and he was on The Hogan Family. He didn't reply). I told him about how I loved his spoken word, and how I had just started performing improv myself, and I'd love to try spoken word. I asked him how I could do it.
He answered. He sent me a postcard.
How cool is that? It's postmarked 1.23.97. He gave me the best advice that there is for my question. There isn't a formula, or "way to do spoken word." You just start doing it. I didn't understand it at the time, but I absolutely do now. If I wanted to do a spoken word show, I would just have to do it. Like most things in life. Want something? Do it. There really isn't a right way, or path to things. You just have to do it.
Taking Rollins's advice out of context of only doing spoken shows, and applying it to life, he gave me the best piece of advice I think I've ever gotten. I wanted to major in screenwriting, and I just did it. I wanted to marry the girl of my dreams, and I finally asked. I never thought of his advice for the nine months that I was so anxious to have a kid, but once Ozzie was born, I "just started being a dad," and it's the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Happy Birthday, Henry Rollins. Thanks for the advice.
2.13.14
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