Fanatic!: Songs Lists and Notes from the Harmony In My Head Radio Show

by Henry Rollins

In 2004, when legendary Los Angeles radio station Indie 103.1 asked Henry Rollins to host a show, he jumped at the chance. He chose the name “Harmony in My Head,” based on his favorite Buzzcocks tune. As lead man for Black Flag, Rollins was present at the raw beginnings of punk and knew many of its stars. But Rollins’ taste encompassed more than punk, and the show became a cult favorite featuring artists as disparate as the Stooges, Miriam Makeba, the Simpletones, Slim Galliard, and the Weirdos. An inspired Rollins began compiling extensive annotations for each song he played, a mix of history, anecdote, and Rollins’s trademark trenchant opinions. His show can still be heard online in streaming audio, and his notes live on in this irresistible collection.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2006

About the author

Henry Rollins (born Henry Lawrence Garfield; often referred to simply as Rollins) is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, author, actor and publisher.

After joining the short-lived Washington, D.C. band State of Alert in 1980, Rollins fronted the Californian hardcore punk band Black Flag from 1981 until 1986. Following the band's breakup, Rollins soon established the record label and publishing company 2.13.61 to release his spoken word albums, as well as forming the Rollins Band, which toured with a number of lineups until 2003 and during 2006.

Since Black Flag, Rollins has embarked on projects covering a variety of media. He has hosted numerous radio shows, such as The Henry Rollins Show and Harmony In My Head, and television shows, such as MTV's 120 Minutes and Jackass, along with roles in several films. Rollins has also campaigned for human rights in the United States, promoting gay rights in particular, and tours overseas with the United Service Organizations to entertain American troops.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, Henry in full-on fanboy mode about his record collection inflicted on the masses. Like a better version of anything I've ever said about my radio show in college.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a music fanatic myself, this was a really fun read! I'm making Spotify playlists of each episode that he lists out. HR lists tons of great bands that I've never heard and I bet you haven't either! I wish he would've gone into even more detail on some of the stories he tells, but you can bolster this with some of his spoken word material and other writings from around this time (2004). It's crazy to think that this was all written 20 years ago. He has 7 more books, three in more in the "Fanatic!" series and 4 more in the "Stay Fanatic!" series. Also a warning: these don't read like many of his other books. There's no dark prose here. This is a joyous celebration of music from a dude to whom music has meant a great deal.

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of Rollins books. He's the man - what a writer! Ian hipped me to this guy, so when I found this book in an old store in Iran I knew I had to have it. If I see any book with Henry's name - I buy it. I asked the shopkeeper if he had any more Rollins and he said no but he had one on Venom. I don't need that weak ass lame metal. I loved this book so much I bought extra copies for my friends Nick Cave and Diamanda Galas. What a man! Jihad!

[Zoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is liner notes and information for each song from the first season of the radio show by the man himself, Mr. Rollins, Hank. A great mixture of all different kinds of music put together to highly interesting shows week after week. True, with every other song it's a story of how Rollins' has had this or that record for almost 30 years that's nowhere to be found anymore, or how he's seen this or that band in, like, 1982, and how everyone who hadn't seen them back in the day missed out on something that can't be made up for. But his stories still are both very entertaining and informative. And well, the man's been around for quite some time now and has been in more than one band that's long gained cult status. I think he deserves to tell us younger people what we've missed due to the fact that we're born later than he was... I definitely have to read Vols. 2 and 3 of his Fanatic! installments at some point.

[Chriss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just what the title says it is - song lists and notes from Harmony In My Head, Rollins' radio show. If you're not into punk rock, the good stuff, you won't like the show nor the book. I enjoy it because I can easily flip to any page and learn little anecdotes about the songs, albums, bands, etc. that I've been listening to for many years.

[Katherine]

A great collection of Henry's personal liner notes to his radio show. Some of the notes are more about Henry than the artists but are entertaining nonetheless. I'm not a huge fan of his prose though.

[Jeffrey Bumiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly enjoyable book for any music fanatic! These are Henry Rollins' notes from his radio show, "Harmony in My Head" While he does go overboard on a few bands (The Fall, UK Subs, Generation X, The Ramones) who can really complain? The man has great taste.

[Chance]

Don't think this book is fore straight reading, though it could be... I have it as a reference book... For music ideas.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaaaah! I can't put this down, and I know that the second I do I'm going to want to go record hunting! A great book/shopping list if you're at all interested in the subject matter.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually read all three volumes and found the series to be enlightening.

[Sonya s. · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is based on his radio show titled "harmony in my head". he lists all the songs he used on each show and why he chose them.

[Joe Natoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was awesome to see proof that Henry is as fanatical OCD about music as I am -- thoroughly enjoyable if you're a music geek :-)

[Chrisx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to explore new and intense music.