Editing Henry Rollins (section)

===Black Flag===
{{Main|Black Flag (band)}}
[[File:Henry rollins (45143022).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Rollins in 1981]]
In 1980, a friend gave Rollins and MacKaye a copy of Black Flag's ''[[Nervous Breakdown (EP)|Nervous Breakdown]]'' EP. Rollins soon became a fan of the band, exchanging letters with bassist [[Chuck Dukowski]] and later inviting the band to stay in his parents' home when Black Flag toured the East Coast in December 1980.<ref>Azzerad, 2001. p. 27–28</ref> When Black Flag returned to the East Coast in 1981, Rollins attended as many of their concerts as he could. At an impromptu show in a New York bar, Black Flag's vocalist [[Dez Cadena]] allowed Rollins to sing "Clocked In", a song Rollins had asked the band to play in light of the fact that he had to drive back to Washington, D.C., to begin work.<ref name="a28"/>

Unbeknownst to Rollins, Cadena wanted to switch to guitar, and the band was looking for a new vocalist.<ref name="a28" /> The band was impressed with Rollins's singing and stage demeanor, and the next day, after a semi-formal audition at Tu Casa Studio in New York City, they asked him to become their permanent vocalist. Despite some doubts, he accepted, in part because of MacKaye's encouragement. His high level of energy and intense personality suited the band's style, but Rollins's diverse tastes in music were a key factor in his being selected as singer; Black Flag's founder [[Greg Ginn]] was growing restless creatively and wanted a singer who was willing to move beyond simple, three-chord punk.<ref name="a29">Azerrad, 2001. p. 29</ref>

After joining Black Flag in 1981, Rollins quit his job at Häagen-Dazs, sold his car, and moved to Los Angeles. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Rollins got the Black Flag logo [[tattoo]]ed on his left biceps<ref name="popenter" /> and on the back of his neck, and chose the stage name of Rollins, a surname he and MacKaye had used as teenagers.<ref name="a29" /> Rollins played his first show with Black Flag on July 25, 1981, at [[Cuckoo's Nest (nightclub)|Cuckoo's Nest]] in Costa Mesa, California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mdc-punk.com/M.D.C._1979-2002.html|title=M.D.C. 1979–2002|website=www.mdc-punk.com|access-date=August 21, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223044438/http://www.mdc-punk.com/M.D.C._1979-2002.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rollins was in a different environment in Los Angeles; the police soon realized he was a member of Black Flag, and he was hassled as a result. Rollins later said: "That really scared me. It freaked me out that an adult would do that. ... My little eyes were opened big time."<ref>Azerrad, 2001. p. 31</ref>

Before concerts, as the others of the band tuned up, Rollins would stride about the stage dressed only in a pair of black shorts, grinding his teeth; to focus before the show, he would squeeze a pool ball.<ref>Azerrad, 2001. p. 34</ref> His stage persona impressed several critics; after a 1982 show in [[Anacortes, Washington]], ''Sub Pop'' critic [[Calvin Johnson (musician)|Calvin Johnson]] wrote: "Henry was incredible. Pacing back and forth, lunging, lurching, growling; it was all real, the most intense emotional experiences I have ever seen."<ref>Azerrad, 2001. p. 38</ref>

By 1983, Rollins's stage persona was increasingly alienating him from the rest of Black Flag. During a show in England, Rollins assaulted a member of the audience who attacked Ginn; Ginn later scolded Rollins, calling him a "macho asshole".<ref>Azerrad, 2001. p. 39</ref> A legal dispute with [[Unicorn Records]] held up further Black Flag releases until 1984, and Ginn was slowing the band's tempo down so that they would remain innovative. In August 1983, guitarist [[Dez Cadena]] had left the band; a stalemate lingered between Dukowski and Ginn, who wanted Dukowski to leave, before Ginn fired Dukowski outright.<ref>Azerrad, 2001. p. 41</ref> 1984's [[heavy metal music]]-influenced ''[[My War]]'' featured Rollins screaming and wailing throughout many of the songs; the band's members also grew their hair to confuse the band's hardcore punk audience.<ref name="a47">Azerrad, 2001. p. 47</ref>

Black Flag's change in musical style and appearance alienated many of their original fans, who focused their displeasure on Rollins by punching him in the mouth, stabbing him with pens, or scratching him with their nails, among other things. He often fought back, frequently dragging audience members on stage and assaulting them. During a Black Flag concert, Rollins repeatedly punched a fan in the face who had continuously reached for his microphone.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Reilly|first1=Dan|title=10 Concert Fights Caught on Tape|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/10-concert-fights-caught-on-tape-20130625|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=23 January 2015|archive-date=August 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831185511/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/10-concert-fights-caught-on-tape-20130625|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rollins became increasingly alienated from the audience; in his tour diary, Rollins wrote "When they spit at me, when they grab at me, they aren't hurting me. When I push out and mangle the flesh of another, it's falling so short of what I really want to do to them."<ref>Azerrad, 2001. p. 46</ref> During the Unicorn legal dispute, Rollins had started a weight-lifting program, and by their 1984 tours, he had become visibly well-built; journalist [[Michael Azerrad]] later commented that "his powerful physique was a metaphor for the impregnable emotional shield he was developing around himself."<ref name="a47" /> <!-- Get in the Van book release? --> Rollins has since replied that "no, the training was just basically a way to push myself."<ref name="smhinterview">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/henry-rollins/2008/04/03/1206851089537.html |title=Henry Rollins interview |access-date=2008-04-04 |author=Jensen, Erik|work=Sydney Morning Herald | date=2008-04-03}}</ref>