Henry Rollins is a self-proclaimed “Hollywood whore,” or so he told the crowd of 2,500 gathered Wednesday night at Stephens Auditorium to see his presentation, “An Evening of Spoken Word.”

Rollins, the influential lead singer of the Rollins Band and former lead vocalist of hardcore punk outfit Black Flag, ranted and often had the crowd rolling with laughter when he spoke of topics ranging from the stalkers he’s experienced in his career to the fun of driving while listening to the thrash-metal band Slayer on the Los Angeles freeway.

Rollins currently lives in Los Angeles and many of the situations he described were reactions to living in a city he says he hates. Describing L.A. as a “polluted errant strip full of whores,” Rollins still seemed to hold some affection for the way he can operate in the culture he so despises.

Known for his politics, Rollins kept coming back to his more serious views on America, ethnocentricism, racism and the events of Sept. 11.

He also advocated a more proactive America, one in which its citizens “will come out of their McDonald’s-induced stupor.”

Rollins spoke of how Americans are viewed in other countries, and gave the advice of “being polite” and “claiming to be a Canadian” when traveling.

Still a touring musician, Rollins approached the current musical culture with skepticism.

“Some people say that music sucks these days. I say it depends on where you go hunting for it,” he said.

Yet Rollins realizes the commercialization of music remains.

“I know and have talked with some of the guitar techs out there,” he said. “And some of them don’t even have to tune a guitar the entire tour because no one is actually playing live.”

“So don’t tell 3rd Eye Blind I told you so,” he added.

Rollins speech lasted just under three hours and received a standing ovation. Shar Macatangay, senior in industrial engineering, had seen Rollins before and was energized by him to experience the possibilities of life.

“This is the third time I’ve seen him,” she said. “The first time I was all motivated to go out and do stuff afterwards, but then I realized I wasn’t a rock star and didn’t have the money to do it. But, he was still good and I’d go to see him a fourth time.”