Rollins Band Lifetime

The year was probably 88 though maybe 87. Rollins Band opening for Agent Orange at the Living Room. (Neutral Nation was probably opening, but I don't remember). Lifetime had just come out and it was clear Rollins was at the peak of his game-all the Black Flag angst and ego, but no Ginn baggage or sad last line up metal wanna be stuff (sorry Cel). He had a lot to prove. Livingroom was not that packed. Rollins Band hits the stage. Agent Orange are pulling typical headliner shit and have a Vision Street Wear Banner and all their gear set up leaving little room for RB to set it off. Bang, they start it it is just fist in the face power. This is back when the Rollins shirt had the quote on the back about "will to power". It took a few years before Nietchze gave way to "Get Some". Totally tight,tense rock. "What am I doing Here?" Destroyed it. Pretty much played Lifetime front to back with a few songs from Hot Animal Machine.
Agent Orange are up next. Talk about bringing a knife to a gun fight,and I was stoked to see them. I loved Living in Darkness, loved Skate Visions, my first board was a Vision Agent Orange, but they got blown off the stage. They looked like some pre-alterna rock dog and pony show jumping around in Vision Street Wear gear and acting like rock stars. Totally lame by comparision,in fact they looked more like stumbling hippies in the reflection of my minds eye.
This record kills it front to back and I can't believe I didn't have it on repeat for winter trainer sessions cause it would be a perfect soundtrack to interval sessions. It is amazing the Rollins has stayed on message for 20+ years since this came out, but when the message is "Do It", I guess it is easy.
Take you pick you've got it all here from "Wreck-age" to the harmonized guitar solos on "If your alive" that totally hint at the Thin Lizzy worship that would emerge a few decades later(ahhh hindsight)
That is my favorite memory of Lifetime which just got reissued today. If you don't got it -get it. It stands the test of time and has 4 live tracks. There was a BMG re-release that had 3 bonus tracks from the DO IT LP if you are a completist. If you missed the other times it has been reissued get stoked. I can't believe this record has gone out of print 3 times, but thankfully it is available again cause 20 years later it is harder than half the shit that followed it.


Another walk down memory lane....
I remember in 91 or so going to see Rollins Band in a outdoor park in NJ opening for Ween(don't know why, but everyone seeemed to love that band). Best memory are Rollins and the drummer doing curls by their van after they played. Full on dumbells coming out of the van. Classic and almost something you would expect from Sick of it All, not Rollins Band. Why isn't their video footage of that on youtube?