Black Flag and Rollins Band's Henry Rollins On His Stand-Up Australian Tour From April 18 to May 2012

The one-time frontman of Black Flag and Rollins Band instead travels the world's lesser-trodden paths risking life and limb in search of a good yarn.

Rollin's third-world experiences make up his spoken word stand-up tours, the latest of which, The Long March, arrives in Australia later this month.

Ranting Rollins tell you how it is

Tales from a Rollins stone

The 20-date trek will see the American author, musician and actor recounting tales from places few dare to venture, from earthquake-ravaged Haiti to war-torn Sudan and the secretive North Korea.
Rollins has a track record for sniffing out an alternative travel story and nothing is ever fabricated from the safety of a hotel room.

"I've walked alone through slums and along rail road tracks and down rivers and into villages and souks all around the world,'' Rollins says.

"I'll often get in a taxi and tell the driver to take me five dollars one way and then walk the streets finding my way back.

``Whatever happens will happen and I just try and keep hold of all 10 digits and my camera and by sundown I'm all good.''

Rollins was almost killed twice, in a stabbing and a shooting, but both incidents happened in the US and were linked to gangs ("the rest of the world's been really friendly to me'').

His approach overseas balances his genuine interest in people with a polite demeanour and somehow, considering an imposing presence, blending into the background.

"I'm not a dare devil or a tough guy,'' Rollins says.

"I don't walk into these places and tell everyone what's going to happen.

"In Haiti you see a lot of desperate scenes but I took over a lot of soap and soccer balls and played with a lot of orphans.
"If you show genuine curiosity you find that people invite you into their homes and are incredibly generous.''

Rollins has spent periods in war zones, including Afghanistan and Iraq, and seen his fair share of dead bodies and gory remains.

While the experiences have desensitised him - even anti-westernised him - Rollins sees more similarities in people around the world than differences.

"We're all driven by the same things like food and water and lust and greed and survival,'' he says.
"But the men are always checking out the women and wanting something on the side and parents are always loving their children and preferring peace over war.

"Quite often the people with the least are the most generous and those with most are the most stingy.''

Henry Rollins tours nationally from April 18 to May 12 - Newcastle Panthers, April 24, $50.45, moshtix.com.au;

Seymour Centre, Sydney, April 25-27, $50.20, Ticketek; IPAC, Wollongong, May 8, $48.50
Black Flag and Rollins Band's Henry Rollins On His Stand-Up Australian Tour From April 18 to May 2012