Henry Rollins to Share 'Cool Evidence' Next Month in Nashville

Henry Rollins lives in Nashville — and he wants to share his archives with his fellow Nashvillians.

As it turns out, the famed punk frontman, author, actor, historian, archivist and storyteller has lived in Davidson County for about five years. And on Nov. 6 and 7, he plans to take over local art gallery and event space RADAR615 with Cool Evidence: Captured Moments From the Last Century, an exhibit of punk artifacts he’s spent decades assembling. 

On Monday, the Scene was fortunate enough to visit Rollins’ home, on a quiet street in an undisclosed Nashville neighborhood, to preview several of the pieces the onetime Black Flag frontman intends to share in Cool Evidence. The painstakingly preserved rock ’n’ roll relics range from flyers to photographs and beyond, and feature legendary American rock acts including Iggy Pop and the Stooges, The Damned and Rollins’ own Black Flag, as well as psychobilly luminaries The Cramps — the latter of whom recently rescued and released the 1977-recorded Gravest Gravy thanks in no small part to Rollins and his lifelong best friend Ian MacKaye. 

“It's going to be Friday and Saturday for the people, and the objective is, I just want people to have a good time,” Rollins tells the Scene. “This is my love letter to rock and roll.”

Rollins elaborates in a release about Cool Evidence.

“You could also just say that Cool Evidence is a collection of really interesting items that has taken me decades to assemble, and hopefully those who come to check it out will have a great experience,” reads Rollins’ release, in which he thanks RADAR615's Lain York for his "unwavering enthusiasm" in supporting the project. “On display will be things from the ’70s-’80s Washington D.C. music scene, tour posters and photos of Black Flag, the Damned, the Cramps, from Lux and Ivy’s personal collection, Iggy Pop, the Stooges and more.”

Read the rest of the release, and many more of Rollins’ musings, at his website. The Scene will have more words and photos to share related to Cool Evidence in the coming weeks. In the meantime, enjoy photographer Hamilton Matthew Masters' sneak-peek photo above.

RADAR615 is located at 516 Hagan St. in Wedgewood-Houston.