CULTURE DIET

Henry Rollins, Now a Calvin Klein Model, Is In on Crime TV, Out on “Social Networking”

The former Black Flag frontman took a break from touring the world – and modeling – to share his culture diet.


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Photo by Tyrone Lebon.

These days, Henry Rollins, who was known for busting heads as the frontman of Black Flag in the ’80s, is keeping things it a bit more civilized – touring the world doing spoken word, making daily stops at the gym, and, to the internet’s surprise, starring in the new Calvin Klein campaign. “I had a very good time,” Rollins said of the shoot. “A woman polished my nails. I got free briefs.” Find out more about what he’s been up to with his culture diet, here.

First thing you read in the morning: News articles on the internet.

Books on your bedside table right now: The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East by Robert Fisk; Exile on Front Street: My Life as a Hells Angel and Beyond by George Christie; and The Complete David Bowie by Nicholas Pegg.

The TV show keeping you up at night: I sometimes watch crime shows on YouTube. I find them hard to stop watching, even when I have to be up early.

Last movie you saw in theaters: To be precise, it was a film I was in called He Never Died. I saw it at SXSW last year. Beyond that, I honestly do not remember. I find it difficult to sit in a theater for the length of a film; I just can’t justify the time expenditure. I end up getting depressed.

Last thing you saw at the theater: I think it was a play. It was at a small theater in San Diego in 1985. It was about prison; I forget the name. I remember it was really good. There has to be something else but I can’t remember.

Last piece of art you bought, or ogled: I purchased a painting that was used as the cover artwork for an album called “The Crack,” by The Ruts.

Last museum exhibition that you loved: I was recently in some history museums in a few Central Asian countries, which were interesting but a bit propaganda-skewed. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo was probably the best museum experience I ever had. I am going to the Broad Museum in Los Angeles soon; I am looking forward to that.

Release you’re most eagerly anticipating: The new Dinosaur Jr. album “Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not” comes out in September. It’s really great. I don’t check book release schedules. I don’t think I have ever done that. I seem to find out about books months or years after they come out. I don’t anticipate any film ever.

Summer travel destination: This summer so far has been Germany, Belgium, France, Croatia, Spain and England. I still have Holland, Scotland, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia to go before September. I have not gone on a summer trip as it were, since I went to Rehoboth Beach as a kid. I travel fairly frequently, but usually it’s work or research related.

Last song you had on repeat: “I Walk for Miles” by Dinosaur Jr.

Last concert you saw live: Iggy Pop at the Isle of Wight Festival 2016. He is the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of Rock. No one comes close.

Favorite Twitter accounts to follow: I don’t do it, really. I find all social networking stuff to be an empty experience, so I only do the minimum. Tour announcements, etc.

Favorite podcast: The World of Phil Hendrie.

Last thing you do before you go to bed: Check to see if wake-up alarm is set.

Watch all the episodes of “The Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice,” a four-part film series by Gia Coppola, here. Produced for Gucci by W magazine.