Music
5 reasons to love Iggy Pop
All hail, Iggy Pop! We’re getting ready for the godfather of punk’s appearance at RBMA Montreal.
Iggy working his body and mind
© Pedro Gomes/Getty Images
Rock 'n' roll's shirtless wonder Iggy Pop – he of the burnt-leather skin, flowing locks and eternal energy – is the subject of a brand-new documentary by Jim Jarmusch. Gimme Danger explores Iggy and the Stooges' history, from their formation in 1967 to their 2003 reunion. That Jarmusch's only other music documentary is about Neil Young (Year Of The Horse) underlines Iggy’s status as a genuine rock 'n' roll legend.
After the deaths of David Bowie and Lemmy recently, Queen Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme said of Iggy that "he’s the last of the one-and-onlys". And boy does he have the stories to prove it – some of which he'll be telling at a special talk at Red Bull Music Academy Montreal (September 24-October 28). Until then, here are five reasons to love the man. All hail, Iggy Pop!
He’s the original out-there brother
If '70s punk was a reaction to the overblown pomposity of prog rock then Iggy and his proto-punk band the Stooges were a reaction to those static ’60s garage-rock bands in suits. In Iggy’s own words, he "wanted to transcend" and not just copy The Rolling Stones. On record, this meant hypnotising listeners with a fierce, soulful brand of cyclical, scorched-earth rock. But onstage, Iggy dolled himself up in wigs and dresses, bashed away on self-constructed instruments, smeared himself in peanut butter, exposed himself, threw up, rolled around in broken glass and dived headfirst into the crowd. Beat that, Mick Jagger.
He’s one of rock ‘n’ roll's most generous performers
Count the reasons why. Iggy doesn’t retaliate when former collaborators tear into him, as former Stooges guitarist and Kill City co-creator James Williamson did a few years ago. He taught Stooges drummer Scott Asheton how to play – but didn’t bother to mention the fact until relatively recently; he’s a long-time supporter of South Florida's Sweat Records, performing fundraisers and helping out in the store; and Iggy loves his fans, starting stage invasions and replying to fan letters. Bless him.
He inspired David Bowie’s most famous character
Gracious to the last, Iggy says he owes everything about his stage presence to David Bowie. But Bowie's guitarist Mick Ronson thinks he’s got it all wrong. The story goes that Bowie came up with Ziggy Stardust after meeting Iggy and scribbling a "z" next to his name the following day. They were also partners on songs such as China Girl and Nightclubbing. Other frontmen who owe a debt to Iggy are Nick Cave and Kurt Cobain. Even Madonna asked the Stooges to open for her in 2004.
He’s the great survivor
Iggy Pop has fought addiction, spent time on a psychiatric ward, lived on the streets, and been shunned by record labels and radio stations. And yet he's still here. In fact, as time goes by Iggy's stock rises. The Stooges are now one of the most influential bands of all time; his solo albums The Idiot and Lust For Life are masterpieces in self-loathing; and he's still turning out brilliant albums today. In the past 10 years he's released two albums inspired by French jazz (2009's Préliminaries and 2012's Après), two exhilarating Stooges albums (2007's The Weirdness and 2013's Ready To Die), an album made with Josh Homme (2016's Post-Pop Depression) and a vinyl-only EP with Alva Noto and Tarwater inspired by US poet Walt Whitman. Phew.
He’s the coolest radio DJ… ever
If you tuned into a show helmed by a 69-year-old rock dinosaur you’d probably expect a rather conservative selection of songs, right? But not on Iggy Pop's watch. His BBC 6 Music shows over the past few years have featured music from Sleaford Mods, Factory Floor, Goat and a plethora of new, experimental bands, alongside world music, pioneering electronica and lesser-heard soul and rock 'n' roll cuts. Iggy's enthusiasm for music puts even the most rabid fans to shame.
For more information about Red Bull Music Academy Montreal (September 24-October 28), visit mtl.redbullmusicacademy.com.
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