While modern punk chases TikTok fame, two D.C. hardcore legends just proved authenticity still trumps algorithms. Henry Rollins returns to music after 20 years, collaborating with Ian MacKaye on four tracks recorded at the legendary Inner Ear Studios. Black Flag’s former frontman hasn’t released a full-length since 2004’s “Weighting,” making this unexpected partnership with the Minor Threat and Fugazi founder his most significant musical project in decades. Both artists have expressed genuine excitement about the collaboration, with Rollins stating they are “extremely excited by this” one.
D.C. Scene Veterans Circle Back to Their Roots
The duo’s friendship spans back to the late 1970s Washington punk explosion that shaped American hardcore.
Rollins and MacKaye have known each other since their teenage years in the late 1970s, when Rollins fronted State of Alert while MacKaye played in The Teen Idles. Creative paths diverged afterward—Rollins joining Black Flag and later forming Rollins Band, MacKaye co-founding Dischord Records and leading Fugazi—but their mutual respect never wavered. This collaboration represents a full-circle moment for two artists who helped define American hardcore punk’s aesthetic and ethics during its formative years.
Inner Ear Studios Provides Authentic Foundation
Don Zientara engineered the sessions at the same studio where both artists cut their punk teeth decades ago.
Recording sessions took place at Inner Ear Studios with Don Zientara handling engineering and mixing duties—the same setup that captured era-defining D.C. punk albums from Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and Fugazi. Eddie Janney from Rites of Spring contributed guitar work, adding another layer of D.C. scene credibility to the project. Though Inner Ear’s original Arlington location closed in 2021, Zientara continues operating from his home studio, maintaining the sonic DNA that shaped the capital’s hardcore sound for generations of bands.
Release Details Remain Under Wraps
Four tracks have been mastered with artwork in progress, but no official release date has been announced.
The project’s four tracks have been mastered and artwork is underway, but both Rollins and MacKaye remain tight-lipped about release specifics. This measured approach aligns with their careers-long commitment to artistic integrity over commercial pressure. Rollins spent two decades focusing on spoken word, writing, and broadcasting, making this collaboration particularly meaningful for longtime followers who never expected another musical chapter from the hardcore icon.
