Flying the flag for punk – so to speak

A few days later the band asked him to join and since that fateful day, he has toured the world with Black Flag and his own Rollins Band. He has also acted alongside Al Pacino and Robert de Niro, published numerous books and presented his own radio and television shows.

Currently he is touring his renowned spoken word act, and is in Leeds tonight. The gig will be something of a homecoming for Rollins who lived in Leeds when writing his debut solo album, Hot Animal Machine. "I guess of all the Leeds bands, Gang of Four is the one I am the most familiar with. It's a nice place but I don't remember it having any influence on anything I wrote."

Rollins is very much a spoken word performer these days. "I have no band or music plans at present," he said. "I don't think I could ring that bell any harder or better than I already have."

"I would like to keep touring, but I don't know how long any of this will last."

Henry Rollins plays the O2 Leeds Academy tonight.