Henry Rollins is one of those intimidatingly bright people whose presence is a stutter inducing, IQ-reducing aura. He has lived many lives over the past three decades as an actor, author, radio host, and famously, the lead singer of Black Flag. But you know all of this already, right? So let’s get into the thick of it.

Most recently, in addition to the million other projects he has going on concurrently, he starred as an eerily calm and friendly serial killer in The Last Heist, which comes out this Friday, June 17. The film is an insane collision of a heist film and a slasher flick, and Rollins will give you major creeps as an insane murderer with a lust for his victims’ eye balls. It is a perfect midnight flick, and it’s interesting to see the former frontman sublimate his incendiary onstage aggression into a subdued, psychotic character.

In addition to discussing The Last Heist with Rollins, we also discussed the legacy of Black Flag—”We were there to destroy you, artistically”—and how his onstage skills apply to his acting career. Rollins also gave us a very funny, touching story about his longtime pal, the late Lemmy Kilmister, and their collaboration on Rollins’ film Gutterdämmerung. And of course, we talked about music (mostly I just stood in awe and listened), and got some killer recommendations for hardcore tracks that will amp you up. It was truly an honor to pick Rollins’ brain, and we hope to have him back in the office soon. In the meantime, go see his film and let us know what you think.

Image: Benattar/Thomas Productions

Matt Grosinger is the music editor of Nerdist.com and isn’t worthy to be talking to Henry Rollins!!!