Comedy Miscellaneous

Amazing Screams…Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins
Rollins Band
Lollapalooza ’91
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre : Irvine, Ca
July 21, 1991

This is the first of a five part series I am doing this week that captures Amazing Screams. Each day I will add a new photo of a featured artist and their classic scream.

The thing about Henry Rollins is that he has never been a screamer. He has always been a power singer – that applies to his solo career and the Black Flag years. Rollins’ screams were more like a volcano – the pressure builds and builds and then it ferociously explodes – not into the mic – but right at the fans. This was the first ever Lollapalooza Tour and the Rollins Band was the low man on the totem pole. They were the opening act every day, usually performing in front of small crowds – the venues always filled up later as the acts got bigger and bigger. I remember capturing this shot when the Rollins’ volcano erupted. It didn’t matter that the amphitheatre was scarcely populated, Rollins was not about to let the small number of fans sit in their seats and bob their heads – he wanted them on their feet and he wanted them to rush the stage. This is Rollins in complete command of his audience. You had to respect him for this. I don’t know what Perry Farrell was thinking having the Rollins Band play at 11am – maybe it was Farrell’s way of saying, “Wake up, it’s time to rock.”

Photographed on my old Canon F1 and a cheap, no name 70mm-210mm f5.6 lens. Shot on Kodak Ektachrome film.
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