Customer Reviews

Talking From the Box/Henry Rollins Goes to London

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

To my knowledge, this video is the only piece of audio or video media that contains Rollins talking about his best friend Joe Cole and what it was like to have him murdered in front of him. Rollins has kept this subject pretty closely guarded, and if you know his history, you understand why.

"Talking.." contains some funny stuff (Tales of his pet store days about "Bun-Bun the Rabbit", Henry's observations on and experiences in the LA Riots in 1992), as well as some more intense stuff; descriptions of his father's abuse, and the story about himself and Joe Cole.

It's an intense tape, and a good one. I highly recommend it for all fans, and even some of the non-fans may find it compelling and excellent, as I do.

Contrary to a certain previous review, Henry Rollins' spoken word is not about Henry whining about his past....his point isn't to prove his punk cred at all. Instead, Henry's stories are often filled with empathy towards those with a kind of strength not recognized by an anti-intellectual society that is raised on beer and football, and sees life on a one-dimensional level. His more personal moments occasionally bear the purpose of poking fun at himself, something that gives him more credibility as a thinking and searching human being than as a punk icon. As a musician, he can move a handfull of us, and exorcise his rawest angst. As a person, as a human, he can move mountains.

This two-fer for Rollins fans is an easter egg. Half the stories he tells on both discs are tales told already on his spoken albums, but now have a nice visual touch added in for an even more intense view of Rollins' wonderfully twisted psyche. From travel stories, to personal enlightenment, to the death of friends..., Rollins has a superb gift for making the most mundane experiences we all share, to tight and personal stories you were miles away from, into events the audience can take away as a present, feel they were walking with him, laugh and hate, and feel good overall. Very good, very funny, very touching. A must for anyone who likes to hear a good story.

This two-fer for Rollins fans is an easter egg. Half the stories he tells on both discs are tales told already on his spoken albums, but now have a nice visual touch added in for an even more intense view of Rollins' wonderfully twisted psyche. From travel stories, to personal enlightenment, to the death of friends to masturbation technique, Rollins has a superb gift for making the most mundane experiences we all share, to tight and personal stories you were miles away from, into events the audience can take away as a present, feel they were walking with him, laugh and hate, and feel good overall. Very good, very funny, very touching. A must for anyone who likes to hear a good story.

Thanks for the DVD set. It was for a gift & the person really liked it. Fast Shipping too!

This spoken word video shows ol' hank at his very best. Funny, real, and sometimes poignant in his diatribes on life. He bashes the nail on the head yet again!

This is a spoken word performance - very close to stand up comedy, with personal stories from Henry Rollins, lead singer of the Rollins band. Talks about the riots in LA, growing up in DC, being in a rock band, and the death of his best friend. It's really quite an experience.

I picked this up on a recent trip to LA and then subsequently saw Hank in a spoken word show in London. The contrast couldn't be more stark. This DVD shows how sharp and relevant he used to be. As a long time Rollins fan I'm totally dismayed at the way he's getting mellow in his middle age. Now he talks about auditioning for crap Hollywood movies, has digs at sooo obvious targets like Britney Spears and says current music is crap (funny when most US nu-metal bands sound like Rollins Band or Rage Against the Machine who he loved). To add the final insult his recent show featured an extended rant against the KKK where he said he could undermine them by getting camp, 'unfashionable', gays to infiltrate them. Ha Ha Ha ? I walked out of his show in disgust. In this DVD he talks about the LA riots, the death of Joe Cole, and early punk days - classic stuff. Remember him this way.

Henry Rollins is at his best as he stars in this psychosexual thriller that will drain your mind and your balls!

This DVD has the typical Rollins in an untypical way. He reveals his most inner heart troubles, while surrounding these moments where no one takes a breath with his easy going obvious humor. Not the lame obvious humor of Jerry Seinfeld, but the good... stuff.