'We Are Extremely Excited': Henry Rollins And Ian MacKaye Team Up For New Project

Hardcore music heroes Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye (of Fugazi and Minor Threat fame) have teamed up for a new project, the former Black Flag frontman has revealed.

Taking to his website, Rollins shared a Halloween update, announcing that he and MacKaye had joined forces at Inner Ear Studios in Washington, DC, last month and recorded some songs.

Rollins also wrote that he had the songs with MacKaye mastered “several days ago” and has been working on the design and layout of the record. “When it’s ready, I’ll let you know,” he concluded. “We are extremely excited by this one.”

The update on Rollins’ website reads:

Weeks ago, I journeyed it to DC in order to work on a great project. Ian MacKaye and I went to Inner Ear Studios, where we made our first records decades ago and mixed a four song session with the great Don Zientara at the board. This is the same studio, where the Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and many others recorded. It was amazing to be back there with Ian and Don.

Part way through the mix, none other than Eddie Janney, he of the Untouchables, Rights Of Spring, One Last Wish, Happy Go Licky, Skewbald and other great bands joined us. The session benefited greatly by his presence. As to the tracks, I had them mastered several days ago, and I’m now working on the layout and design for the record. When it’s ready, I’ll let you know. We are extremely excited by this one.

At the time of publication, more information about the project is scarce. Rollins hasn’t made music in approximately two decades, but he’s remained busy by writing over thirty books, appearing in Sons Of Anarchy season two and the final seasons of The Legend Of Korra, writing columns, presenting a weekly radio show on KCRW, and spending time as an activist.

In 2023, he returned to Australia for the first time in seven years on his Good To See You spoken-word tour.

“[Australian audiences] are more energised and enthusiastic [than others],” Rollins told The Music ahead of the Good To See You dates.

He continued, “They’ve always treated me very well, and they are great to be in front of. If you can remember a great night on a long tour, shows in Australia are like that one night over and over.

“I don’t know if the audiences there are completely different from other places, but they sure are consistent and, again, very into it. If you’re a performer type, you’re happy for a show anywhere, but some places are perhaps more on the same page as you are, and Australia has always struck me as being that way. I always regret it when Australian tours come to an end. I think besides the USA, it’s my other favourite country.”

Since Fugazi went on hiatus in 2003, Ian MacKaye has continued his music career, having released albums with The Evens and Coriky in Fugazi’s absence.