Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag by Henry Rollins
Sunday, January 18th, 2009
I haven’t met too many people who are as ambivalent to Henry Rollins as I am. It seems like most people either relate to and understand the guy’s point of view or despise him as a hypocritical, macho thick neck. While I find most of his current musical output boring and his spoken word full of pompous, self absorbed rambling, “Get in the Van” is a perfect example of why I can’t write Henry Rollins off so easily.
Though he has been criticized by fellow Black Flagers over the years for over-exaggerating the negative aspects of their life on the road, I can’t help myself from relating to the sheer honesty of Rollins’ journal work. He called it like he saw it, and just because he has the tendency to fixate on the negative, chaotic portions of his stint as the vocalist for Black Flag, I don’t think you can dismiss his observations as fiction.
“Get in the Van” is one of the few documents of an era long since abandoned. It records the thoughts and experiences of an aggressive, intelligent, alienated man on various punk rock tours when the underground music community wasn’t nearly as strong and widespread as it is today. The network of support for independent bands was virtually nonexistent, and this book serves as an excellent reminder of the progress we’ve made in the years since.
One of the first things that strikes you while flipping through the book are all the amazing photographs that line the pages, many of which were snapped by the talented Glen E. Friedman. The visuals serves as a perfect compliment to the text. Some are goofing off snapshots- Henry hamming it up with Ian Mackaye or the rest of Black Flag. Others are stunning live shots or band portraits. There are also flyers from shows and various fanzine covers sprinkled throughout the book. The pictures are just part of the story.
“9.28.84 Wyoming- Pretty nice being back at the Rainbow. I wonder how it will go. I’m looking forward to playing. There is some tension in the ranks. No tension with me, I’m okay. It’s snowing here in Denver. I don’t like snow much. I always figure we’ll crash the truck or something. It sure was cold in the truck today. Being in the back is like being in a tomb or something. Lying prone, wrapped up and waiting for release.”
And so the book moves on through 250 pages. At times, Rollins’ observations are very basic- the weather, his health, his mindset. But, at others, he delves deeper, trying to figure out exactly what is motivating him, yet, in particular moments, he’s like a demon unleashed, spouting his anger and alienation out on to the page. His outward rage at society, at everything human, at the cops.
Covering roughly six years of his life on the road with Black Flag, “Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag” will remain as a testament to the hard work and dedication that launched punk and hardcore to new levels. There are moments in the book where you will sympathize with Henry Rollins and others where you will just downright loathe him. When it comes down to it, this book is just about a man- a man and his mission.
Buy Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag (2nd Edition)