By Bryan Sullivan

Henry Rollins and the Spoken Word Tour continued a 50 date tour with a recent stop at the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

Rollins has appeared in 20 movies such as “Heat” and is the lead singer in the “Rollins Band.” He was also lead singer in “Black Flag” until 1986.

The audience laughed and applauded as Rollins discussed such topics as the war with Iraq, President Bush, and the media’s role in society. He also reflected on his past experiences touring with the band.

Rollins described an experience during his time in “Black Flag” when he slept outside in Northern Canada in zero degree temperature.

“It was a powerful experience,” Rollins said. “That was the first time I saw Mother Nature’s ferocity.”

Audience member Jason Mcgilveany is a fan of Rollins’ music. According to Mcgilveany, Rollins’ performance was unlike anything he heard before.

“It was definitely inspiring,” Mcgilveany said. “I still have to contemplate everything I’ve heard.”

Mcgilveany also liked how Rollins “spoke his mind.”

“I like speaking my mind whether I’m right or wrong,” Mcgilveany said. “I just like the way he does it, he’s just saying how he thinks and feels.”

Early in the show Rollins explained his attitude toward politics and war.

“I’m an angry man, but I am not angry at you,” Rollins said. “I’m mad for you, I see an abyss full of things that anger me.”

Rollins later discussed the war with Iraq. He believes 99 percent of Iraqis to be “cool and pose no threat to Americans.”

He added war does not benefit society and represents failure of the leadership.

“War is the ultimate human failure and abandonment of cultural values,” Rollins said. “It is so juvenile.”

Rollins talked about President Bush, calling the “dumb-dumb” of the social club.

“He stumbles over the most compound words,” Rollins said about Bush. “He doesn’t seem to care about what he is talking about.”

Rollins spent time discussing the media and how he feels news coverage is “speculative television.” He also alluded to the media keeping a “hackey sack (stories)” in the air.

Rollins feels stories such as Robert Blake, OJ Simpson, and Clare Harris were focused on too long.

“It’s interesting to me we treat people differently when they get media savvy,” Rollins said.

According to his personal Web site, Rollins will soon release a CD/DVD package titled “I am Spatizcus” featuring the best work of his previous CD’s. Rollins recently finished work on the movie “Bad Boys 2.”