Broken Summers [Paperback]

Henry Rollins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2003

In 1993, three young boys were murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. In what was widely considered a witch hunt, three older boys were convicted of the killings. Ten years later, Henry Rollins used his considerable cultural chops to raise money for their defense fund and for DNA testing, which could help clear them. His vehicle? The acclaimed CD “Rise Above” and a world tour. Broken Summers details the rehearsing of Black Flag songs he hadn’t played in years, dealing with an arrogant manager or two, a diverse group of musicians, recording the CD, and the arduous trek from Tucson to Tokyo that included grilling by heartland shock jocks unsympathetic to his cause. The book covers 14 months of desperate lows and dramatic highs, all rendered in Rollins’s trademark combative style. Included are black-and-white photos of the rehearsals, recording sessions, and tour.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: 2.13.61 (November 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880985756
• ISBN-13: 978-1880985755
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #519,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Henry's Best Book, March 11, 2004

By 

"rutavg" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broken Summers (Paperback)

I just finished reading Broken Summers and this is by far, Henry's best writing. I have read just about all his other books and this one stands out as being the best written. His writing has improved 100 percent. Henry gets very retrospective in his journal entries which I really liked. You get to see a more mature yet still trying to grow up Henry in this book. He is so honest and revealing from his early days in Black Flag, hanging out in DC, all the people around him who have died, surviving in today's music industry, to still trying how to deal with a relationship. If it's been a while since you read a book by Henry or if you never read anything by him, this is the one to get. No, you won't always agree with him and there will be times when he will annoy the hell out of you but that's what Hank is all about. He even admits to disagreeing with himself!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The grit dirt and feel of the road, May 9, 2005

By 

therosen "therosen" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Broken Summers (Paperback)

Henry Rollins is not your drugged out space case of a musician. Join him as he writes in breathtaking painful clarity about his neurosis, his thoughts and life on the road. Amped only by an abundance of caffiene, it's an intense ride of focused agression, anger and anguish.

If you're a fan if it's a must read. If not - it might open your eyes to someone old school that manages to be brave and new.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Henry's better books, January 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Broken Summers (Paperback)

By now, Henry knows the drill...and if any of you have been reading his journals (going back to the days of Black Flag in the book "Get in the Van"), you get a sense of what the guy is like. At least certain facets of him...in any case, this book is a must-read. Henry hasn't grown softer with time, but he has definitely grown up. That's not a bad thing...but what we see here is a man who has figured out the secret to making himself happy. He revisits a bit of his past, but doesn't do it in a nostalgic kind of way...instead, he gets some closure with his days in Black Flag by helping out the West Memphis 3 guys through a record and tour, and to see Rollins put both together makes for a fascinating read. As usual, he makes us laugh, he pisses us off, and he shows us the more human side of someone who obviously does his best to lunge at life like a trained attack dog. But it's also inspiring and proves that we could all use a bit of an edge in our day to day lives. Henry, thanks again for doing what you do. This is one book that I will be reading again in the very near future.