2.13.61
The label and publisher founded by Henry Rollins, named after his birthdate.
2.13.61, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based publishing house and record label founded by American musician Henry Rollins. The company takes its name from his birth date: February 13, 1961. It has released all of Rollins’ spoken-word recordings, albums by the Rollins Band, and many books. Rollins explained in his anthology *The Portable Henry Rollins* that he chose the name because, when he first self-published the book *20* in 1984, someone told him it needed a company name. Believing he would only ever release that one book, he simply used his birthdate. The label expanded into music after Black Flag disbanded and Rollins began a solo career, initially issuing only his spoken-word albums. Its first two releases, *Big Ugly Mouth* and *Sweatbox*, were co-released with Texas Hotel Records, the label Rollins was then signed to as a musician. Since then, 2.13.61 has diversified into rock and jazz releases and spawned two reissue sublabels: Infinite Zero Archive, a joint venture with Rick Rubin’s American Recordings, and District Line, which focuses on music from Rollins’ hometown of Washington, D.C. The name also appears as Rollins’ finishing move, “Blazin’,” in the video game *Def Jam: Fight for NY*. Authors published by the literary arm include Henry Rollins, Iggy Pop, Exene Cervenka, Nick Cave, Michael Gira, Joe Cole, Tricia Warden, Don Bajema, Bill Shields, Jeffery Lee Pierce, and Ellyn Maybe.
Quick Facts
- Founder
- Henry Rollins
- Industry
- Music, books
- Hq Location
- United States
- Products
- Record label, publisher
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In his mass-market anthology The Portable Henry Rollins, Rollins stated that he had given 2.13.61 its name because someone had told him that his first self-released book, 20 (1984), had to have a company name on it, and since he felt at the time that he would only ever get to release one book, he simply used his birthdate. 2.13.61 branched out into releasing records not long after Rollins started a solo career following the breakup of Black Flag, initially just releasing Rollins' spoken-word albums. The first two 2.13.61 releases, Big Ugly Mouth and Sweatbox, were first co-released with the label Rollins was signed with at the time as a musician, Texas Hotel Records. Since then, the label has branched out into various rock and jazz releases and even spawned two specialist reissue sublabels, Infinite Zero Archive (a joint venture with Rick Rubin's American Recordings), and District Line, which specializes in reissuing the music of Rollins' hometown of Washington, D.C. It is also used as the name of Rollins' Blazin' (finishing move) in the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY.
Reader's Guide
The literary company's authors include: Henry Rollins (Publisher, Black Flag), Iggy Pop (The Stooges), Exene Cervenka (X, Auntie Christ, The Knitters), Nick Cave (Birthday Party, Bad Seeds, Grinderman), Michael Gira (Swans), Joe Cole, Tricia Warden, Don Bajema, Bill Shields, Jeffery Lee Pierce (The Gun Club), and Ellyn Maybe.
The Birthdate That Became a Brand
The name 2.13.61 carries a story that is almost too simple to be true. In his mass-market anthology The Portable Henry Rollins, the musician and writer explained that the label's identity was born out of a practical necessity. When he was preparing to self-release his very first book, 20, in 1984, someone pointed out that the publication needed a company name printed on it. Rollins, who at the time believed he would likely never get the chance to publish a second volume, made a decision that felt both pragmatic and deeply personal: he simply wrote down his own date of birth, February 13, 1961. That arbitrary-seeming string of numbers stuck. What began as a placeholder for a single spoken-word pamphlet eventually grew into a full-fledged publishing and record company headquartered in Los Angeles, California, releasing albums for the Rollins Band, every spoken-word project Rollins has ever undertaken, and a substantial catalog of books. The origin story underscores a DIY ethos that would define the label's entire trajectory.
From Spoken Word to a Full-Spectrum Label
After Black Flag dissolved, Henry Rollins launched a solo career and, not long after, began using 2.13.61 as a vehicle for releasing records. The earliest entries on the catalog were strictly his own spoken-word albums. The first two, Big Ugly Mouth and Sweatbox, were co-released alongside Texas Hotel Records, the label that had been handling Rollins' work as a musician at the time. Over the years, however, the company's musical scope expanded well beyond a single artist's monologues. 2.13.61 moved into broader rock and jazz releases, positioning itself as a more diverse imprint. The label also spawned two specialist reissue sublabels that carved out distinct niches. Infinite Zero Archive, a joint venture with Rick Rubin's American Recordings, focused on archival reissues, while District Line dedicated itself to reissuing music from Washington, D.C., Rollins' hometown. Together, these offshoots demonstrated that a label born from a single person's birthdate could grow into a multi-faceted operation touching on rock, jazz, spoken word, and regional music history.
A Literary Roster That Reads Like a Punk-Rock Who's Who
The publishing arm of 2.13.61 has assembled an author list that reads like a cross-section of alternative music's most provocative voices. Beyond Rollins himself, the roster includes Iggy Pop, the frontman of The Stooges; Exene Cervenka, known for her work with X, Auntie Christ, and The Knitters; Nick Cave, associated with the Birthday Party, the Bad Seeds, and Grinderman; and Michael Gira of Swans. The list also features writers Joe Cole, Tricia Warden, Don Bajema, Bill Shields, Jeffery Lee Pierce of The Gun Club, and Ellyn Maybe. What unites these names is not a single genre or style but a shared inclination toward raw, unfiltered expression. Rollins, who serves as the publisher, has built a literary house that mirrors the independent, confrontational spirit of the punk and post-punk scenes he emerged from. The fact that a label named after a birthdate in Los Angeles could become a home for such a diverse and artistically ambitious group of writers speaks to the company's refusal to be confined by a single identity.
Beyond the Studio: 2.13.61 in Popular Culture
While 2.13.61 is primarily known as a record and publishing company, its name has crossed into unexpected cultural territory. In the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY, the number sequence serves as the name of Henry Rollins' Blazin', a finishing move in the fighting-game sequence. This crossover is a small but telling example of how Rollins' personal brand and the label he built around it have permeated mainstream entertainment in ways that go far beyond vinyl records and book spines. The connection to Black Flag, the hardcore band Rollins was part of before his solo career, further anchors 2.13.61 in a lineage of independent, artist-driven music. From a placeholder name for a 1984 self-published pamphlet to a Los Angeles-based company releasing rock, jazz, spoken word, and books from a roster that includes Iggy Pop and Nick Cave, the trajectory of 2.13.61 reflects a single individual's determination to control his own creative output. The video game nod is perhaps the most playful footnote in that long story.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 2.13.61?
2.13.61, Inc. is an independent American publishing house and record label based in Los Angeles. It was started by musician and spoken-word artist Henry Rollins to put out his own music, live performances, and literary work.
Why is the label called 2.13.61?
The name is simply Henry Rollins' birth date — February 13, 1961 — rendered in numeric form.
Who is behind 2.13.61?
Henry Rollins founded and operates the company, which serves as the vehicle for his Rollins Band recordings, his spoken-word releases, and a catalog of books from various authors.
What kind of releases does 2.13.61 put out?
The label handles the Rollins Band's studio albums, every one of Rollins' spoken-word performances, and a range of published books. It functions as both a music imprint and a literary publisher.
When was 2.13.61 founded?
The company traces its roots to the mid-1980s, when Rollins began self-publishing his own written work. It later expanded into releasing music and a broader book catalog.
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