There's a little more snow on his 47-year-old roof, but the fire in Henry Rollins' belly still burns hot. It's a passionate anger that he embraces, focuses, and lets fly. His tenure with hardcore punk godfathers Black Flag has given him street cred as a de facto spokesman for an underrepresented, disenfranchised generation.

Black Flag's music was reactionary and violent; a volatile mixture of aggression, anger, and speed. The band toured incessantly, spawning multiple bands in its wake before disbanding in 1986. Since then Rollins has gone to front Rollins Band, publish numerous books of his writings, and perform as a spoken-word artist, which he'll do when he visits Rochester this week. These performances are powerful, compelling, humorous, and brutally honest. Rollins is relentless. Rollins is no bullshit.

On his "Henry Rollins Show" on the Independent Film Channel (with re-runs on FUSE), Rollins hosts uniquely prolific musicians and interviews those who, like himself, make dents their own way.

Rollins rolls like a lone wolf, moving autonomously, unfazed and un-swayed, by the politicians, musicians, and celebrities in his midst.

I last spoke with Rollins in January 2003, just prior to the start of the Iraq war. He lamented its inevitability, suggesting we bomb the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame instead, if they didn't induct The Ramones.

It's 2008 and Rollins is just as loud as ever. He's candid, funny, and still quite intense. We talked about the election, the cult of celebrity, his show, music, and the dawning of yet another war.

CITY: The last time we talked, the United States was preparing to invade Iraq. Now there's the threat of an impending war in Iran. It's déjà vu all over again.

Henry Rollins: I hope that's off the table as a real topic. I haven't seen anything in the news about it for awhile. Maybe the Bush administration realizes they're not going to get to do everything they want to do in their eight years. I think they probably really want that but I certainly hope they don't get it.

What's your take on the election?

Well in a situation like this, I just wait to see the rubber really meet the road until we're down to McCain and whoever it's going to be. As it is now, they're a bunch of politicians, so they're like 90 percent bastard anyway. The primaries, they're interesting to watch, to hear Hillary Clinton's camp trying to bash Barack Obama. It's just really lame to me when these people go after each other.

Who do you believe the most?

They're politicians. I'm always wary. I've never been a fan of Hillary Clinton, not when she was first lady and not now. I never believe anything that comes out of her mouth insofar as the emotion she puts behind it, like this smile. It's like "Lady, can you cut and paste something else on your mouth?"

That being said, and she becomes the Democratic candidate, I'll vote for her - cringing - but I'm going to vote Democrat. I'm not going to not vote and I'm certainly not going to vote Republican. Of all the people on the left, the ones I like left.

Who was that?

Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards.

Why didn't they make it?

I don't know. Maybe it's because this time around we have two rock stars running - a woman and a black guy. And that's sexy for cameras. And people love to go after Hillary Clinton, they love to bash her. I really liked what Dennis Kucinich would say when he was being interviewed and when he'd speak. He seemed like a really good, forthright man and he has an answer for everything. He doesn't equivocate. He doesn't politicize things. That's all Hillary Clinton seems to do.

I thought John Edwards was a very positive guy. I think either one would have done great things for America. That being said, I think both Hillary and Barack Obama would both do great things for America. With John McCain - who I think will at least be the Republican candidate, if not the next president of the United States - you'll get a very level headed, steady, eventless four years.

But is a black man and woman as controversial as it's being trumped up to be?

Absolutely not. I think people in America don't care that much. They probably have more of a problem with a woman than a black guy. I think Americans are far more evolved and emancipated than what the people on the news say. I bet there's a whole lot of guys and gals who really just want the person with good ideas. And if it's an African-American or a woman they're like, "Fine, let's go already."

What issues are being ignored?

I think these people dance around stuff like health care and the Iraq war, that' s why I like guys like Kucinich. He said, "Look, here's what needs to be: healthcare for all and we've got to get out of Iraq. Let's go." And you can agree or disagree, but at least there's something tangible to wrap your fist around. These other guys seem to be more ambient and misty. They leave wiggle room so they can double back later.

How has your experience been with the United Service Organizations (USO)?

Amazing. This war, I don't like, but the troops I like very much. You know, I can't blame the infantry for the Iraq war. They didn't start it. And so I've met hundreds of men and women from the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, and Special Forces. And they're all exceptional, amazing people one way or the other. It's been a real honor to go out and meet these people in their environment and get taken on a tour so you get an interesting view into their lives. The parts that are the hardest are the American visits at Walter Reed [Army Medical Center]. Those are very hard visits to make. These are young people with their bodies blown apart, their parents are there...it's a long day. I've done many of those visits in the last few years and it's always rough.

But this must brighten their day a little, especially for a fan.

Yeah, that's what we bring in. They send this sign-up sheet down the hall. It's not like we cold call rooms - walk in, "Hi, you don't know me..." I get the ones who want to meet me.

What's up with FUSE editing re-runs of your show?

It's kind of a drag because I get a lot of...not hate mail, but kind of like what-the-fuck mail. People writing, "Henry, they edit your show. They cut out every cuss word and your show's all about freedom of speech. Isn't that a little bit of hypocrisy?" And they're absolutely right. All I can say is that it's IFC's thing and on that level I have no real say, I just kind of have to take that shot.

The editing takes the knuckles out of your punch

You bet it does. And it kind of goes against the ethic of the show. And why IFC would do that - they're very cool people - I honestly do not understand it. But then some people will write me, "Hey man, I just caught your show on FUSE.'"

What is it about guests on your show that makes you invite them in the first place?

They're unique. They're doing something their own way. Like Larry Flynt; they broke the mold on that guy. He's an interesting combination of guys. When I asked him, "What do you call yourself?" He said, "I'm a pornographer and a businessman." He was eloquent, polite, and dead serious. I was like, "Wow, he makes no bones about it." Hustler is what it is; it's not National Geographic. He does his own thing and is quite the American story. And so is Iggy [Pop] and all these people who have made their own paths. And that makes for interesting music and an interesting sit-down.

It seems like you're moving away from music.

I went out on a long music tour in '06 and it was fun, but it was only fun. It wasn't really all that meaningful to me. And when you undertake the making of a record - writing songs, making the record and touring - that's easily 12 to 15 months of your life. I have done that many, many times. And if you were to say to a 47-year-old man - me - "How about the next 16 months of your life to do that thing that you've done so many times? Or something else?" Something else is more appealing. And until I have the overwhelming urge to go back and do music, where it's consuming, then I'm going to do that thing that makes me feel like I want to be obsessed and super busy.

Isn't the urge inevitable?

Well, I hope. But I have to be honest with it. I don't want to force it. I don't like it when I see bands going through the motions. You can't fool an audience. Whenever I've been on stage, I've never wanted to be anywhere but on that stage. I'm just basically trying to keep it real and keep myself interested. So it's not like the music has lost its potency, it's just that I don't want to be up there feeling like a hack throwing out hash on plates for people at the cafeteria.

And undo what you've done?

Yeah. I don't want to crap on what I've done before, and I don't want to be imprisoned in something I don't believe 110 percent in.

I've heard you rail against celebrities.

It's not that I don't like them. I just don't think you should listen to their opinion more than you listen to your own.

A lot of people listen to you. I listen to you.

Well, thank you. I think celebrity types, they're not bad people, they're just people with a microphone shoved in their face, and like anyone else, they have opinions. It's just that their opinions make it onto the internet and onto TV, whereas the plumber's don't necessarily. And all of a sudden you get saddled with, "Oh, you're Hollywood. You think you're all this." Well, actually, I don't think I'm anything. What should I do? Not talk? Not have an opinion? I've never considered myself a celebrity - other people do. I drive a Subaru and when I'm hungry I go to the grocery store. I mean that's all I can tell you.

Do you think you're misunderstood ?

No, I don't think so. I'm blunt and I speak right to the point on things. If you're going to be listened to, as I am, you have to be very careful with what you say. I try and look before I leap. Not so they can't get the goods on me and find out about my secret cocaine habit. But if you're going to be asked to weigh in on something, at least make your assertion or your opinion or your argument informed out of respect for the topic.

You know, sometimes I'll talk to an interviewer who thinks I'm going to be an idiot, which is always fun. I mean, I'm not a rocket scientist, but I'm not the dullest possible knife in the drawer.

They try to trip you up?

They wind up tripping themselves up when they try and patronize, and it's kind of fun. "Oh, OK. You thought it was going be that? Well, enter the dragon! Let's have some fun." And it's fun to bat them around and watch them have to backpedal.

Henry Rollins: Provoked

Harro East Ballroom, 155 N Chestnut St.

Tuesday, March 3

8 p.m. | $22 | 232-1900