A few years ago, music legend Henry Rollins moved from Los Angeles to Nashville. He said that it was to work on some kind of visual display of his collection of punk and hardcore posters, albums and other ephemera. On stage at VersoFest last year, he said that it’s “the biggest project I’d ever try to pull off the hook.”
Now it’s here.
“Cool Evidence” will be a free exhibit. It’s a collection of items from Rollin’s life in music. On display will be things from the ’70s and ’80s Washington, D.C., music scene, tour posters and photos of Black Flag, the Damned, the Cramps, Iggy Pop, the Stooges, and more.
The exhibit will be Nov. 6 and 7 from 2 to 9 p.m. at 516 Hagan Street in Wedgewood-Houston. Rollins told WPLN that the event is “free and open to anyone who can get themselves in the building.”
The day after the event, everything will be taken down. Rollins hopes that part of it will go on tour in 2028.
Below are photos that Rollins provided to WPLN of items that will be in the show, along with the full press release.
Courtesy Henry Rollins Black Flag poster that will be on display at Henry Rollin’s “Cool Evidence” exhibit in Nasvhille Nov. 6 and 7.
Courtesy Henry Rollins The Damned poster.
Courtesy Henry Rollins UK Subs and Crass show poster.
Courtesy Henry Rollins The Cramps poster that will be on display at Henry Rollins’ “Cool Evidence” art exhibit in Nashville.
The full press release
Henry Rollins: Cool Evidence
Captured Moments From The Last Century
Radar615 Gallery / MZA Architecture and Interiors
November 6 & 7
Hello, Henry Rollins here. I wrote the following in an effort to somehow entice you to come to this event. An incredible amount of time, effort and expenditure has gone into this. I’ve either gotten it extremely right, or catastrophically wrong!
For many years, I’ve been fascinated with historical markers. Physical objects that still remain years after they were created, become irrefutable evidence of time and place. Memories fade and retelling of facts often leads to distortion. However, the genuine article remains unperturbed.
Something I’ve done, which is probably ridiculous, but is quite demonstrative of what’s behind the Cool Evidence exhibit—I’ve anthropomorphized Time. I think Time seeks to obliterate the past and make the future all but completely speculative in an effort to keep us in the present, where it can be the center of attention. This is why carbon-based artifacts turn to dust, and that which came before can completely disappear, unless there are those who choose to be careful and patient guardians of the past. They seek to slow down decay and keep the facts intact. While I don’t consider Time to be my enemy, I’d like to think it considers me a constant and persistent annoyance.
Humans are capable of the worst things the planet has ever endured. I try to focus on the truly great, epically inspired aspects of humanity. Everything in the Cool Evidence exhibit denotes a time and place, be it an event, or just the fraction of a second it takes for a camera to extract an image—forcing a testimony from Time that humans can be exceptional. There’s always an alternative to misery. The Cool Evidence exhibit is the proof.
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.
On display will be things from the 70s-80s Washington DC 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.
I’d like to thank Lain York of Radar615 for his unwavering enthusiasm in allowing this project to materialize. When I pitched him on the idea months ago, he didn’t hesitate.
Thanks for reading this,
Henry
The Cool Evidence exhibit is free.
November 6 Friday: 2 – 9 PM
November 7 Saturday: 2 – 9 PM
radar615.com
516 Hagan Street
Nashville, TN 37203
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