Get ready for a musical reunion that’s bound to shake the foundations of hardcore history! Two titans of the genre, Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye, have reunited for a brand-new project, marking a moment that feels both nostalgic and thrillingly unexpected. But here’s where it gets controversial: after nearly two decades of Rollins stepping away from music, what could possibly bring him back to the studio? And this is the part most people miss—this collaboration isn’t just about the music; it’s a return to the roots, recorded in the very studio where their legendary careers began.
Rollins, the powerhouse behind Black Flag in the ’80s and later the Rollins Band, recently revealed on his website (https://www.henryrollins.com/on-the-radio-all/2025/10/31/radio-broadcast-865-103125) that he and MacKaye, known for his pivotal roles in Minor Threat and Fugazi, teamed up at Inner Ear Studios in Washington, D.C. This isn’t just any studio—it’s the same hallowed ground where bands like the Teen Idles, Bad Brains, and countless others laid down tracks that shaped punk and hardcore. Rollins shared, ‘Weeks ago, I journeyed to D.C. to work on a great project. Ian and I mixed a four-song session with Don Zientara, the same engineer who’s been there since the beginning. It was surreal to be back with Ian and Don, and halfway through, Eddie Janney (of Rights of Spring, One Last Wish, and more) joined us. His presence elevated everything.’
The project’s specifics remain shrouded in mystery, but one thing’s clear: this isn’t just another album. Rollins, who famously declared his departure from music in a 2021 interview with Rick Rubin, stated, ‘I woke up one day and realized I had no more lyrics. The toothpaste was gone from the tube.’ He shifted focus to acting, writing, and speaking, avoiding the trap of becoming a nostalgia act. ‘I didn’t want to be that guy,’ he explained, ‘the one yelling for his dinner.’ Meanwhile, MacKaye has stayed relatively active, releasing music with The Evens and Coriky since Fugazi’s indefinite hiatus in 2003, though his output has slowed in recent years.
But why now? And why together? Is this a one-off passion project, or the start of something bigger? Could this collaboration reignite Rollins’ musical spark, or is it a final tribute to their shared legacy? One thing’s for sure: when two icons like Rollins and MacKaye join forces, the result is bound to be explosive. As Rollins teased, ‘We are extremely excited by this one.’ When the record drops, it’ll be more than just music—it’ll be a statement. What do you think? Is this the reunion hardcore needed, or is it a risky return to the past? Let us know in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss!
