A sell-out crowd filled the grand main hall to see the ex-Black Flag frontman take the stage and neither venue nor act disappointed; Rollins himself even commented on the wonderful interior and urged patrons to look after the place.

The midway point between a lecture and a stand-up comedy routine, the Rollins spoken-word show is equal parts political diatribe, twisted travelogue and the rantings of an angry middle-aged man.

Whether discussing the upcoming US presidential election ("John McCain has the voice of a pervert"), the problem of global hunger (the fault of Van Halen fans, apparently) or the potential embarrassment of buying 'uncool' records (Henry is a closet Stevie Nicks lover), Rollins is never anything short of engaging.

He barely pauses for breath during an anecdote-packed two hours and were it not for the fact that I had a numb posterior from too long spent sitting down, I could have easily stayed for a further two.

Despite claiming to have never heard of Leamington Spa before, I sincerely hope that he makes a return visit to the town in the near future.

Gareth Jones
Verdict: Great act, great venue