Born Henry Lawrence Garfield, he is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, motivational speaker and radio DJ. First famous as frontman of the Californian hardcore punk band Black Flag from 1981 to 1986, he then started his solo career and released many albums with his Rollins Band, becoming a well known artist also thanks to his social activism expressed through his spoken word and acting performances and his radio shows.