Sic

by Henry Rollins

Sic, (a word which is defined by Merriam-Webster as “intentionally so written”) is the product of hostility, grief, the past and the present, written from 2019 through 2021. During this time, I concluded if my mobility was going to be so catastrophically limited at almost every possible turn by millions of people all over the world, who seemingly didn’t want to put a global pandemic behind them, I’d create a space where I could work without restraint or compromise. The title speaks for the writing. Consider me a hostile witness, gratefully and perpetually at your service. — Henry Rollins 09-19-22 Wilmington DE

Genres: Nonfiction

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2022

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

[Kevin Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerhouse. It's not an easy read in the sense that it's a look inside the raw and open psyche of a person. There's nothing polished and pretty here.

[Tarkalson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Henry. I’ve read so many of his books; he’s incredibly eccentric and just so fascinating. Age doesn’t seem to have an affect on his grumpy outlook on life, but maybe it’s heightened his vulnerability. This was an exploration of never ending grief and survivors guilt over something he experienced 30 years ago. Very raw, very human.

[Richard Ladew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really brave and raw writing. I had no idea the amount of grief and PTSD that is still with Henry.

[Christof Damian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have given up on this somewhere in the middle.
It's well written and I love some of the stories, but the main topic is way too dark and repetitive for me.
Some of the side chapters, like the internet scams are not even well written or interesting.

[Kevin Krein · Rating 2 out of 5]

it has been a long, long time since i read a book by henry rollins. i had first gotten into him as a writer/poet/etc when i was in high school, picking up some of his earliest stuff like the black coffee blues series and eye scream. he's a polarizing figure in pop culture, sure, but he's even more of a polarizing writer—some of his books are literally just his travel diaries or journals, and it has been well over 15 years since he's done any prose.

rollins himself has been pretty influential throughout my teenage years and into my early 20s, but i will admit that i began to lose interest in his writing when he was only releasing journal after journal, documenting his life on the road doing his storytelling/borderline stand up comedy dates. at some point he started writing pieces for LA Weekly and the unedited versions of those pieces were be published in book form. and what i was hoping for with those (more personal or observational essays) was not what i got (more journal-y kind of stuff, also a lot of things about his radio show, fanatic.)

when robin williams died, rollins, with his LA Weekly column, wrote a piece called "fuck suicide," and was more than insensitive and out of pocket in the disdain he had for people who suffer from mental illness and choose to end their own life. he later apologized, but it left a bad taste in my mouth—rollins, himself, has been very vocal about his own mental health, but more or less has a "buck up" mentality about getting through day to day.

rollins has not published a new book in a long time and in reading the blurb about SIC, that it was similar to his older books like black coffee blues or the equally as bleak/angsty solipsist, i was interested enough to wait out a second printing and order a copy.

this book is bleak as shit. that's putting it mildly. three of the six portions of the book are rollins' journal entries from the month of december in 2019, 2020, and 2020—december being the hardest month for him, as his friend joe cole was murdered in december of 1991, and more than anything else, these journal entries are rollins trying to deal with the grief that he's never really found the way to process in a healthy way.

i had forgotten what an intense guy rollins can be and a lot of this book is unsettling and makes for an unflinching read. it can be genuinely interesting but i still have my misgivings about him and how he views mental health, and i guess i was hoping for less of what this ended up being and more prose focused.

[Tom Brazelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading Henry Rollins' books since I was 15 years old. Generally, I've enjoyed them either as poetry, essays, or journal entries that offered a peek into the life of a touring musician.

"Sic" is different. It's basically journal entries from December 2019, 2020, and 2021. In between is a series of email exchanges sent to online scammers, a bruising battery of cynical essays, and a story about a home invasion Rollins experienced at the start of 2021 by a mentally unwell fan.

The story of the home invasion is the most interesting of all - a story I heard him tell during his 2022 spoken word tour. The stage version of the story is a little more entertaining. The story as told in the book is very matter-of-fact sprinked with musings about the divide created by capitalism.

The journal entries from 2019, 2020, and 2021 are the toughest to digest. All taking place in December around the anniversary of his friend Joe Cole's murder, Rollins turns painfully introspective and vengeful. He constantly speculates about what he would to to the people who previously victimized him. It's difficult to read. And by difficult, I mean unenjoyable. Rollins really drags the reader into his mental state, for better or worse.

I guess what these three years of journal entires has done is distill the experience of the pandemic into it's most potent form. While I would have found it interesting to read more of Rollins' thoughts as he navigated "the new normal" like the rest of us, maybe there wasn't that much there to explore? I can't fault the book for not being what *I* thought it should have been about.

Ultimately, I think I'm at a point where I approach Rollins as an author differently than I did over 30 years ago.

At 60, Rollins writes frequently about how he doesn't have much time left. It's an unflinching take. But I look forward to seeing where his writing goes in the remaining years. In that way, "Sic" feels like a sea change of sorts. It will be interesting to see where he goes as he feels less and less encumbered by the trappings of the life he has created for himself.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Rollins’ Sic reads like a caffeinated dispatch from a man who has wrestled with his own brain—and pinned it, twice, just to make sure it stayed down. This collection of essays and rants captures Rollins in full intellectual snarl: furious, self-aware, and occasionally disarmingly tender. He writes as though every sentence is trying to outrun entropy, and frankly, it’s thrilling to watch.

What makes Sic so compelling isn’t simply the trademark Rollins intensity—though that’s here in abundance—it’s the unexpectedly precise way he dissects the absurdities of modern life. He moves from global politics to personal insecurity with the agility of a philosopher who accidentally became a punk singer. And somehow, in the middle of his apocalyptic musings, he’ll drop a line so self-deprecating you can’t help but laugh.

Rollins’ worldview isn’t for the faint of heart: everything is examined under a floodlight, no comfort spared. But that’s the appeal. Sic reminds us that honesty can be both abrasive and clarifying, that anger can be oddly motivating, and that sincerity—delivered at 200 beats per minute—is its own form of art.

In short: a ferocious, funny, and surprisingly human book. Rollins growls; you think. And, unexpectedly, you grin.

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read so far in Henry's breadth of work. I can honestly say I've never felt more inspired by a piece of writing before. I write in my own time, and felt so moved by his ability to pin point specific ideas and emotions. Specifically in grief and victimhood. The book is formatted through his annual December Grief/Mourning journal entries, and we're able to see someone develop new ideas or lament on the same ones surrounding the main source of their grief. I imagine where I was during the pandemic, I was finishing high school, going through my own bullshit. I'm able to see what we were both doing at the same time. I think most Americans that went through the pandemic can sympathize with each other’s loneliness during 2020. But 2021 became this absolute hellfire political nightmare that spiraled into 2026 and likely on and on. It became a talking point to say that 2021 was just 2020 but worse. All of this to say, I think his ability to blend his own trauma/grief/loneliness into themes surrounding USA, as he says, helped me feel seen. I agreed and disagreed and sort of had to laugh at his assertions that "no, I do not have survivors guilt". I don't believe him, but that's not the point I suppose. I believe he believes that.

[Jiří Janík · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry je hudebník a spisovatel na prahu šedesátky, který žije solitérní, spartánský život v Los Angeles. Jeho dobrovolná skoroizolace je jak produktem sociální neobratnosti a sebemrskačské záliby ve vzteku a depresi, tak externích faktorů jako neutěšeného dětství a především traumatu z minulosti, kdy mu maskovaní lupiči zastřelili před očima nejlepšího kamaráda. Jo a abych nezapomněl, není to beletrie, ale deníkové záznamy a experimentální próza skutečné osoby.
Od Rollinse jsem již přečetl několik svazků a v jistém slova smyslu mě dodnes inspiruje a vážím si ho skrz jeho hudební, stand-upovou i spisovatelskou kariéru. Jeho knihy umí být násilné, depresivní a "edgy", ale také mají neodmyslitelnou katarzivní funkci - každej někdy potřebuje ventil pro svůj emocionální balast, vztek a patos a Henry vám ukáže, jak se otevírá kohoutek, kudy odtéká hnusnej černej mazut a jak jej využít jako palivo pro svůj život. Není to tak dobré jako Blues černýho kafe nebo Solipsista ani tak zajímavé jako jeho cestovní deníky, ale syrovost a autenticita tomu neschází.

[Amanda Bosch · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long time reader of Henry’s books, I’ve adjusted to his hard striking delivery of certain truths. Yet, this one got me. It ripped my heart open. He dragged me into his grief and made me sit there at his side. This book is a full throttle and harrowing reflection of the day that changed him forever. Over and over. As expected there was some levity and sheer “what the fuck?” moments. Overall a powerful read that made me run the gambit of human emotions. I feel bad loving this book because the pain in it is so very real. The human experience on paper.

[Jason Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I’ve read all of Henry’s books, and I read this one in one day! A lot of Joe Cole mentioned in this book, so it really hit home as I had a really good friend pass away also in December, so I can relate to how Henry feels in the month of December.

The stalker story was wild!

Thanks Henry for another awesome book!

[Laura Hamlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I’ve long appreciated about Rollins is that his work is honest, gritty, and oddly hopeful if you’re an optimist. This book is dark. It’s a probing look at mental health in “USA.” It could be a comforting or terrifying read for anyone, especially those with a history of abuse. I felt less alone while reading it.

[Tamara Lush · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some hard truths about the USA in this book, and it's worth reading for those alone. I saw Henry Rollins live in 2022 and this is a great companion to that show, a deeper explanation of his life. I highly recommend this book.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grim and disturbing journal entries from a man racked with survivor’s guilt, and crippled by PTSD and hyper vigilance. Great commentary about the American political landscape and the pandemic, but get ready for plenty of vengeance and murder fantasies sprinkled throughout.

[Eatenby Sharks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a dark ride. I love Henry's honesty through these journal entry's and while it may not be for everyone, I appreciated learning more about him, the impact Joe Cole's death still has on him, and how he deals with the grief, depression, and loneliness during the COVID pandemic.

[Christopher Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.thepensivequill.com/2023/...

[Jonah · Rating 3 out of 5]

At turns candidly proactive, cynically funny, and dismally immature.

[Brandon Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This shit is dark

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry is not an easy read. But, “Sic” challenged me, made me, not just think, but consider. I’ve become a huge fan of Henry Rollins. Thanks, Carol.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive in its honesty.
I went from the most suggested Get in the Van to Black Coffee Blues to interviews, performances of all kinds on YouTube, written articles and his radio show.

This is my favorite of Henry’s works.


I relate to so much of it and appreciate the wisdom he offers.
“You’ll never be able to make “it” better. You’ll only be able to make yourself better. On that level, you can get alot done. It’s an endless series of choices you make. It’s self- governance. As a tolerant, compassionate, breathing, autonomous being, you go forth into the stream of Homo sapiens. Thinking anyone will see your way is a waste of time. The best you can do is look after yourself and learn to read the room.”

[Reine Larsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pandemic years were hard on most of us, but nothing short of brutal on those who had made international travel and live shows their main source of income. With too much time and isolation, Henry Rollins writes another book which is frighteningly honest and personal, delving deep into a curious mind. A careful balance of cynical humor and sharp wit. Not for the faint of heart.

[Darren-lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.7

[Sean Gerace · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is nothing but one long, overwrought cry for help. I admire Rollins, and much of his writing, but this one is just depressing. Get some help, Henry. Seriously.