Iggy Pop (b. 1947)

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Biography

James Newell Osterberg Jr., known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor who was the lead vocalist of the proto-punk band the Stooges. Regarded as the "Godfather of Punk", he is noted for his outrageous and unpredictable stage antics, poetic lyrics, and unique voice. He was named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Stooges in 2010, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 for his solo career.

In Their Own Words (5)

This town is diverse as shit. I like it here a lot.

On Miami , 2003

The industrialism in Detroit...what I heard walking around...boom boom bah - 10 cars...boom boom bah - 20 cars...I get a lot of my influence from the electric shaver...

When asked what influenced his music. , 1977

You say I look goofy? OK, great. You say it's comedy? Great. Whatever anyone thought, I didn't care. Could be goony, could be sexy, could be stupid, could be cool. I didn't know, but as long as it was something, you know?

On his performances , 2003

I wore that because it makes me look beautiful. I stare at myself in the mirror and I think, "Wow, I'm really great-looking." ... I think I'm the greatest, anyway.

On wearing leotards and fishnet stockings in his early performances. , 2003

I've never had any sort of macho revulsion of fags, but Bowie and I — never, never, never, never. Everybody would think that, but I never saw him be that way anyway. I'll tell you this. That guy got more p-u-s-s-y. I couldn't believe it. Talk about a bitch magnet. Damn! Actresses, heiresses, waitresses, skateresses. And me? I was just left holding my dick most of the time. I had this short haircut, and I looked like a duck. But I got lucky sometimes. I got a good song out of a girl I was knocking off at the time, and it became "China Girl."

On rumours that he and Bowie were lovers. , 2003

Timeline

The story of Iggy Pop, told in moments.

1947 Birth

Born James Newell Osterberg Jr. in Muskegon, Michigan. Grew up in a trailer park in Ypsilanti. His parents let him convert their master bedroom into a drum practice room. He took the name Iggy from his first band, The Iguanas.

A trailer park in Ypsilanti. Did poverty fuel the rage? Parents giving you the master bedroom for drums. Were they saints?

1969 Event

The Stooges release their self-titled debut. It sells poorly. The sound is loud, primitive, and ten years ahead of punk. Ron Asheton's guitar, Iggy's howling. Rolling Stone gives it a bad review. The album becomes sacred later.

Loud, primitive, ten years ahead of punk. Did you know you were early? Rolling Stone gave it a bad review. Did that sting or not matter?

1973 Event

Raw Power comes out, mixed by David Bowie. The Stooges are falling apart. Iggy is deep into heroin. The band implodes after a legendarily chaotic show in Detroit where bikers throw bottles at the stage. He keeps playing.

The Stooges imploding, heroin, bikers throwing bottles. Was any of that fun? Mixed by David Bowie. Did his touch improve or compromise it?

1977 Event

Releases The Idiot, produced by David Bowie in West Berlin. They're roommates in Schoneberg, drying out together. "China Girl" appears on this album five years before Bowie records his own version. Lust for Life follows seven months later.

Roommates with Bowie in West Berlin, drying out together. Who helped whom? 'China Girl' five years before Bowie's version. Did that bother you?

2010 Event

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Stooges. He's 62 and still performing shirtless. The Stooges had been eligible since 1994 but were passed over repeatedly.

Still performing shirtless at sixty-two. Is vanity involved? The Rock Hall after being passed over since 1994. Was patience tested?