HENRY ROLLINS

singer with rock bands Black Flag and the Rollins Band

“I think that the first record album that I bought with my own money was probably a cassette. I bought it with my paper route money, and I think it was `Grand Funk Live Album,’ a double-cassette I bought at People’s Drug Store on O St. in Washington in 1970-something. I was in fourth grade, probably 10 or 11 years old.

“I had a lot of records that my mom had given me … the Beatles and stuff like that … but that was the first one that I went out and bought on my own. And I kind of knew what I was doing. For some reason, I really liked that song, ‘Mean Mistreater.’ I guess I heard it from my step-brother.

“I just saw the words ‘Grand Funk’ behind the glass counter at People’s, pointed at it, and the lady sold it to me. I don’t remember much more of the experience. I’ve heard the record since, and I can remember the between-song raps. But I don’t even remember whether they’re really a good band or not. I can’t say I know a whole lot about Grand Funk.”