Henry Rollins's Real Name: Henry Garfield

Quick answer: The musician and writer is known professionally as Henry Rollins. Encyclopedia.com and AllMusic independently give the earlier name Henry Garfield and list a February 13, 1961, birth in Washington, D.C.

Real name and early life

Independent publishers support the documented name Henry Garfield. Encyclopedia.com says he was born Henry Garfield on February 13, 1961, in Washington, D.C., the son of Iris Garfield, and that after his parents divorced he lived with his mother and later attended American University around 1979. AllMusic independently lists Henry Garfield under "Also Known As," says he was born Henry Garfield in Washington, D.C., on February 13, 1961, and records that he performed in local hardcore bands as a teenager.

Career highlights

Encyclopedia.com says he was lead singer with State of Alert until 1981, then with Black Flag around 1981 to 1986, and later with the Rollins Band from about 1987, and that he founded the publishing company 2.13.61 in 1984. The same account lists later film work including The Chase (1994), Johnny Mnemonic (1995), and Lost Highway (1996), and says he received a Grammy Award for best spoken word album in 1995 for Get in the Van, along with a 1995 Grammy nomination for best metal performance, for "Liar." AllMusic independently says that after he sang onstage with Black Flag, the band invited him to audition when Dez Cadena decided to switch to guitar, and that he became the group's new lead singer until the band broke up in 1986. AllMusic later records a 1987 solo debut, Hot Animal Machine, a spoken-word album, Big Ugly Mouth, the formation of the Rollins Band with guitarist Chris Haskett and a rhythm section drawn from Greg Ginn's project Gone, and later albums including Life Time (1988), Do It, and Hard Volume (1989), as well as an Imago deal and a Lollapalooza appearance in 1991. The same account says he began releasing spoken-word albums through 2.13.61, the publishing imprint he had founded in 1984. Encyclopedia.com independently lists Black Flag recordings including My War (1983), Slip It In (1984), and In My Head (1985), and Rollins Band titles including The End of Silence (1992) and The Weight (1994).

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Henry Rollins or Henry Garfield are looking for the same musician and writer, including the Black Flag and Rollins Band work most often associated with his name. Encyclopedia.com and AllMusic support the name used in the title.