Washington, DC, circa 1981. As the rest of the world was getting its first glimpse of MTV, a young Henry Rollins (neé Garfield) was moving to Los Angeles to join forces with his favorite hardcore band, the now-legendary Black Flag. Five years of balls-to-the-wall recording and touring followed, in which the former geek from DC evolved into Henry Rollins, punk icon. And while Black Flag may have ended in 1986, Rollins has remained resolutely in motion. Since 1987, the world's most famous workaholic has created his own publishing company (2.13.61 -- named for his birthday), mastered the art of spoken word performance, acted in films, and of course -- recorded and toured at a brutal pace with the band that bears his name. The latest lineup of the Rollins Band -- guitarist Jim Wilson, bassist Marcus Blake and drummer Jason Mackenroth (a.k.a. Mother Superior) -- are currently tearing up the road with their latest release, Get Some Go Again.

Rollins greets me at the door of his sparsely furnished Hollywood office, gesturing to a seat before whizzing back to his computer and some unfinished song lyrics. I notice that his Marine-style haircut is gone, and that the famous Black Flag bars tattooed on his neck are half-covered by overgrown salt-and-pepper-colored hairs -- they look soft, like rabbit fur. In his signature bare feet, the muscular figure clad in a gray t-shirt and matching shorts turns to me, takes a swig of Arizona Green Tea, and says, "Shoot." I roll my stool over the polished hardwood floors and do just that …

What made you choose that picture for the cover of the new album?
Because it has a cool duality going to it. You know, the guys are lined up doing the wolf-whistles, being dogs. And she's walking by and obviously digging it, and so to me, it goes with the album title Get Some, Go Again. Are they picking her or is she choosing the next guy she wants to be with? To me, all of that stuff is a two-way street. I've been getting some really intense mail from girls since the album came out. It really pisses 'em off. [They say] 'You objectify women, and you've never had to run a gauntlet like that.' To which I said, 'You know, why don't you go outside and get some fresh air and get a life and get real?' Stop boring me with your self-serving bullshit.

Coming from the east coast, was it weird living in LA at first?
Yeah. I'd been out here before moving here, but that didn't really help. [In DC], I had a normal job, a normal life in a lot of ways. I worked in an ice cream store, had a one-bedroom apartment where I lived in the living room, my buddy John lived in the bedroom. Had enough food, all the Top-Ramen I wanted. Then I moved out here, and suddenly I'm shoplifting lunch. I'm going to Oki-Dog, scamming french fries off people who recognize me. 'Hey you're the guy in Black Flag,' and I'm like, 'Uh-huh, feed me.' So all of sudden it's like 'Ahh. This is different.' It was weird, hanging out with boy hookers and girl hookers and drug addicts and runaways. Then I could see how totally "straight" I was. It was September and I was like, 'Hey, how come you're not in school?' and they're all laughing at me and going 'I haven't been to school since 7th grade,' and I'm like [in dorky voice] 'Well, you should get back! Learn to read.'

What keeps you here?
The work. I have no love of California, no love of LA. [Gesturing around room] None of this makes me sentimental. If the whole place burned down the only thing I'd be interested in are some of my rare tapes, my manuscripts, and my letters from my friends. The rest of this I can replace.

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