Heartbreaking: Sorrowful Moment hit U2 as one of the Star has passed away at 52 years after suffering…

Punks have always been outspoken against inauthenticity and deceit. This fearless approach began with pioneers such as John Lydon and Siouxsie Sioux, and with the emergence of the first wave of punk, the genre’s critical voice was firmly established. Holding the world to account has been a core aspect of the punk ethos across various subgenres. One prominent figure who has long been associated with these rebellious trailblazers is hardcore icon Henry Rollins.

Rollins isn’t for everyone. Many hardcore enthusiasts criticise him for being a hypocrite and a commercial sell-out, and his infamous bullying of a young interviewer while fronting Black Flag in the 1980s adds to the controversy. However, despite these criticisms, very few can deny his authenticity. Sell-out or not, Rollins remains a passionate aficionado of great music, including jazz, much to the chagrin of punk purists.

Although he has ventured into realms far removed from punk and retired from music, Rollins remains a fervent defender of what he considers culturally significant sound. Fearless in condemning artists he deems fake or irrelevant, his outspoken nature has caused some in the punk community to turn away from him. They wish he would focus on effecting real change rather than criticising artists he feels aren’t worth his time.

Ironically, one man he has made his disdain for clear is John Lydon, who opened the gates for him and other punk disciples. The former Sex Pistols frontman was once a hero to Rollins and many others of his generation, but years after his peak, when he met him on a press junket, Rollins realised that the ‘God Save the Queen’ vocalist was not the champion he thought.

Rollins’s harsh criticism of those he once admired underscores his intense intolerance for those he believes clash with his worldview. A prime example of this is his animosity toward U2 frontman Bono. Rollins has expressed his disdain by saying, “I would like to see his life shortened.”

Appearing on The Howard Stern Show in 2001, responding to rumours that Bono irritated him, Rollins told the host: “Irritated? I would like to see his life shortened.”

After decrying the much-loated Irish band’s rhythm section and guitarist The Edge’s distinctive style, Rollins added: “The singer is this utter buffoon who should be in a bar just crooning, and the new album That Which You Leave Behind, is the most tired, adult-oriented crap I’ve ever heard since the last Sting record. It’s utterly pap. When you have to write a song like ‘When I Look at the World’, it says ‘Hello, I have nothing left to say.’”

Believe it or not, Rollins had no problems with pop stars of the day, such as Britney Spears, NSYNC, or The Spice Girls, as they weren’t trying to be anything other than silly pop music. Yet, Bono’s flawed perception that he thinks he’s changing the world with his music is what really gets to him.