Former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins has apologised for writing a controversial column entitled "Fuck Suicide" in the wake of Robin Williams' death. Published last week by LA Weekly, the article describes Rollins' "disdain" for those who kill themselves and was widely criticised by readers.

In his latest column, called "More Thoughts On Suicide", Rollins apologises for his comments and says that he has a renewed desire to better understand suicide after responding and reading the "angry or instructive" letters sent after his first column.

"After reading carefully and responding as best I could, it was obvious that I had some work to do in order to educate myself further on this very complex and painful issue," he writes. "I cannot defend the views I expressed. I think that would be taking an easy out."

He then goes on to describe his own battles with mental health. "Like a lot of people, I have battled depression all my life. It’s nothing special, in that it’s too common to be considered unique... There have been some truly awful stretches, as I am sure there have been for anyone who deals with depression, that have at times rendered me almost paralytic." 

But, he writes, he has never really understood the "power of severe depression", the kind that might drive a successful and talented actor like Williams to suicide. "I understand it is my task to learn about this," Rollins says. "It might take a while, but I will get on it... To those I offended, I believe you and I apologise."

Williams passed away at the age of 63 on 11 August after battling depression.