Henry Lawrence Garfield, professionally known as Henry Rollins, was born on February 13, 1961, in Washington, D.C. He is an American singer, writer, actor, speaker, activist, and spoken word artist whose multifaceted career spans alternative music, literature, broadcasting, and social advocacy.
He began in the hardcore punk band State of Alert in 1980, before gaining prominence as the frontman of Black Flag from 1981 to 1986—one of the most influential acts in the Los Angeles punk scene. After Black Flag disbanded, Rollins founded his own publishing company 2.13.61 to release spoken word albums and books, and formed Rollins Band, continuing to tour extensively through the 1990s and early 2000s.
Rollins is widely recognized for his relentless work ethic and intellectual curiosity. His memoir Get in the Van, chronicling life on the road with Black Flag, earned him a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album. As a spoken-word performer, he has appeared around the globe—including Nepal, Iran, and South Sudan—turning personal stories into engaging live shows.
As an actor, he has appeared in TV series such as Sons of Anarchy and voiced the character Zaheer in The Legend of Korra, in addition to film roles in Heat, Lost Highway, and even the video game Mace Griffin. His media presence includes hosting The Henry Rollins Show, 120 Minutes, and the radio program Harmony in My Head on stations like KCRW and Indie 103.
A committed activist, Rollins campaigns for LGBTQ rights, world hunger relief, the West Memphis Three, and anti-war causes. Revered as "punk's poet laureate" and a “prophet of rage,” he continues to inspire through creative intensity paired with moral conviction.
