Rollins, dressed in a black shirt and black casual pants, shared the stage with a bottle of water, a microphone stand and two monitors. He used several styles of oration, including comedy, morality preaching and even motivational speaking, to get his views of life in America across.

Rollins seemed more positive than his lyrics and writings make him out to be. His cynicism was blunted by humor, rather than tempered by rage as in his other pursuits, although he came across as intense when he screamed in imitation of a Pennsylvanian encountering a UFO filled with lesbians (It’s the lesbians coming over the hill run, run) or his numerous pokes at arena rock bands such as Dio and Mr. Big.

The state of American society was the underlying theme of much of Rollins’ material. While discussing how the United States Postal Service is trying to revamp its image due to increased competition from e-mail and overnight services, he discussed the characteristics of those who are commemorated on stamps.

Advertisement

Only in America do you have a choice of two Elvis stamps, he said. Elvis on downers, fat and fucked up, or the young, svelte Elvis who was only on Benzedrine and crystal meth.

He pointed out Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Parker and Richard Nixon as other poor choices for stamps.

As with any comedian, Rollins worked the O.J. Simpson trial into his repertoire.

Do you really care that they were murdered in exchange for 16 months of great TV? he asked, referring to Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

Turning to a more serious topic, Rollins expressed dismay over the increasing use of heroin, blaming the United States government for the problem.

Hardcore narcotics are OK with the United States government, as long as they’re getting in the right hands, he said. If we could put a man on the moon, we could stop drugs from coming into the country.

He asked audience members to help save friends who might be having problems with drugs and alcohol, no matter how their intervention may look to their peers.

Advertisement*

In response to those who criticize his appearances on national TV, his major label record deal, movie appearances and Gap advertisements, he said he likes to have a large forum on which he could run his mouth off.

He said he never subscribed to the anti-corporate punk-rock ideal, justifying his selling out by his attempts at getting lesser-known authors and musicians published with the money he makes from the multinational corporations a sort of Robin Hood for underground culture.

As far as signing to a major label, which is a strict no-no in the underground punk community that Rollins once belonged to in Black Flag and State of Alert, he said it’s better to get your ideas out into the public eye in an attempt to take over popular culture from less entertaining forms of music.

If you want to be humble in you’re life…go ahead, because America will open its arms wide to embrace you he said. This country loves mediocrity.

The singer/publisher/actor/writer was 65 minutes late due to a missed flight, but the audience greeted him on its feet. He spoke for almost 2 1/2 hours without a break, leaving the stage to another standing ovation.