Post by GotToRollMe on Dec 27th, 2009 at 12:21am
When Rolling Stone’s Andy Greene jumped on the phone with Iggy Pop to chat about the Stooges’ induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, the singer opened up about the current Stooges lineup — with James Williamson back on guitar — and the status of new Stooges tunes. Read Pop’s thoughts on the RRHOF here.
How are things going with James Williamson back on guitar?
When Ron [Asheton] passed away, we had six shows committed for the summer following. And I had built up such a sort of a mission muscle you could call it, around this group, that I just couldn’t think about quitting or not showing up. It was a “nothing will stop us” mentality that I’d adopted that served us well. So I called James, who had accidentally coincidentally called me that year anyway, and asked if he’d do the fill-in. He turned me down for that but we started talking and he said, “Look I’m about to retire next year… rather than buy a Winnebago, I thought I might go out and do some rock & roll.” So it started like that.
It’s been real interesting. He still working for Sony electronics and he belongs to an honorific society, the I.I.E.E, Institute of International Electronic Engineers, who published a very unintentionally funny front-page story in their most recent newsletter saying, “I.I.E.E. member joins Iggy and the Stooges.” Every couple of days, I get calls from him, “I’m in Tel Aviv, I’m in Berlin, I’m in Tokyo…” I sometimes think he’s actually working for the CIA.
For many years I played Stooges songs with every sort of backup musician and they all had to try to pee on [Ron]. Everybody had to put their mark on the thing. James is just trying to play them like Ron would; he does them his own way.
Are you talking about recording new songs with James?
Well, we already wrote one called “Pain in the Ass,” so we got that and were thinking about writing a B side and sticking out a street single. We had a beautiful piece, an acoustic piece that we wrote and didn’t play for anyone, about Ron’s passing. I don’t know if I wanna make that one public or not. We’re doing a little writing while trying to avoid the burden of the major sexagenarian statement. Here it is, what everybody’s just been waiting for: A bunch of guys who are 60 years old, one of whom has 20 studio albums, 69 albums on eBay, makes a new statement and that will cost you plenty of loot.
Are you talking about doing Raw Power straight through? All the songs?
Only for certain shows. Only the ones where that is the condition of our employment. When we were in Brazil, it was “Raw Power,” “Kill City” we played next. Then we did “Search and Destroy,” then “Gimme Danger,” then we threw in one of those older ones called “Cock In My Pocket.” We switched over and did some stuff from Fun House to switch it up a little. They sound bitching. Except “Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell,” that’s the biggest one to chew off. It’s just this diatribe and it’s pretty complicated, so they’re starting work on that in January and then I’m gonna work with them in March and take a deep breath. Try to get that one going
Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31347779/iggy_pop_on_his_emotional_reaction_to_the_stooges_hall_of_fame_induction
What was your first reaction to the news that the Stooges will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010?
Well, very surprised. I didn't think I'd ever see the inside of that neighborhood actually. Probably because the group had a very long outsider history, going back way back before there was ever a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It took us a lot longer to get some sort of general acceptance than probably most people.
You've been eligible for about 15 years or so.
We've been rejected seven times and we would have set a record I think if it happened again. We would have been the record holders I think. The first few times I'd always hear we got nominated about a month after it happened. Then the lag time started decreasing until it'd be the day after, all these people calling me to say "congratulations." It sort of became one of those things like Charlie Brown and the football. And it's always Lucy's idea. I'd run for the damn thing. But somebody every year was nominating us and then it was like, "OK, Stooges, come on, just run and kick the ball." Whoops.
After I got over my sort of "Really? — Yeah really!" I had about two hours of a strong emotional reaction. The same sort I started getting when our group reformed and we started going out and starting playing positive gigs for five, eight, ten thousand people. I don't know what sort of thoughts go into that — I don't know if it's vindication or what. But I went through a couple hours of that and then I kind of scratched my head and thought, "Am I still cool? Or is that over now?" And I'm only successful. But there is the whole angle. There are all these great, great musicians. Everyone I've looked up to was included in that. It's a game and then when all these greats are included and you're not, it sort of says "You're not ...whatever." And then when you are included it's like, "Hey! You're all right. You made something good. You made some good stuff." So I think all that is just very human.
How do you think Ron Asheton, who we lost earlier this year, would feel about it?
It would have meant a lot of him, the Hall of Fame. He waited longer for his success than I did. More than anyone in the group, he was a very stalwart Michigan boy. He was a regular guy and he enjoyed the extent to which some regular folks were getting to know him and his music. And I know his brother too, Scott. I think the last time we got ix-nayed they were telling me, "Oh, we don't give a shit. We don't care." But they do. And I do.
What was it like performing for Madonna two years ago at the induction ceremony?
That was a tough sell with the brothers. More Ron. Ron was like, "What?" I was like, "Listen man, look, if nothing else, 15 percent of the people who see that performance are going to think we got inducted." 'Cause they don't really follow music. Sure enough, on the plane on the way home, one of the stewardesses congratulated me. But mainly I thought it was a chance to play in case we didn't get in ourselves. It also occurred to me that it was a chance to show some of the people that do that thing that we don't have horns. We're not going to bite you.
It's strange to visualize you guys wearing tuxedos and being applauded by the entire industry.
Do they wear tuxedos?
Some people do.
I don't think that's going to happen. I've got one. I can probably drag it out. I've got these things. I'm at the time of life where people sort of pick me up by the collar and exhibit me on various occasions. And when they do they have to give me clothes and then I keep the clothes. So I have a very nice Dior tux.
Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/12/15/iggy-pop-speaks-out-about-raw-power-gigs-new-stooges-music/
White Christmas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_lSknrGqDA
http://www.iggypop.org/iggynews.html
How are things going with James Williamson back on guitar?
When Ron [Asheton] passed away, we had six shows committed for the summer following. And I had built up such a sort of a mission muscle you could call it, around this group, that I just couldn’t think about quitting or not showing up. It was a “nothing will stop us” mentality that I’d adopted that served us well. So I called James, who had accidentally coincidentally called me that year anyway, and asked if he’d do the fill-in. He turned me down for that but we started talking and he said, “Look I’m about to retire next year… rather than buy a Winnebago, I thought I might go out and do some rock & roll.” So it started like that.
It’s been real interesting. He still working for Sony electronics and he belongs to an honorific society, the I.I.E.E, Institute of International Electronic Engineers, who published a very unintentionally funny front-page story in their most recent newsletter saying, “I.I.E.E. member joins Iggy and the Stooges.” Every couple of days, I get calls from him, “I’m in Tel Aviv, I’m in Berlin, I’m in Tokyo…” I sometimes think he’s actually working for the CIA.
For many years I played Stooges songs with every sort of backup musician and they all had to try to pee on [Ron]. Everybody had to put their mark on the thing. James is just trying to play them like Ron would; he does them his own way.
Are you talking about recording new songs with James?
Well, we already wrote one called “Pain in the Ass,” so we got that and were thinking about writing a B side and sticking out a street single. We had a beautiful piece, an acoustic piece that we wrote and didn’t play for anyone, about Ron’s passing. I don’t know if I wanna make that one public or not. We’re doing a little writing while trying to avoid the burden of the major sexagenarian statement. Here it is, what everybody’s just been waiting for: A bunch of guys who are 60 years old, one of whom has 20 studio albums, 69 albums on eBay, makes a new statement and that will cost you plenty of loot.
Are you talking about doing Raw Power straight through? All the songs?
Only for certain shows. Only the ones where that is the condition of our employment. When we were in Brazil, it was “Raw Power,” “Kill City” we played next. Then we did “Search and Destroy,” then “Gimme Danger,” then we threw in one of those older ones called “Cock In My Pocket.” We switched over and did some stuff from Fun House to switch it up a little. They sound bitching. Except “Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell,” that’s the biggest one to chew off. It’s just this diatribe and it’s pretty complicated, so they’re starting work on that in January and then I’m gonna work with them in March and take a deep breath. Try to get that one going
Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31347779/iggy_pop_on_his_emotional_reaction_to_the_stooges_hall_of_fame_induction
What was your first reaction to the news that the Stooges will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010?
Well, very surprised. I didn't think I'd ever see the inside of that neighborhood actually. Probably because the group had a very long outsider history, going back way back before there was ever a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It took us a lot longer to get some sort of general acceptance than probably most people.
You've been eligible for about 15 years or so.
We've been rejected seven times and we would have set a record I think if it happened again. We would have been the record holders I think. The first few times I'd always hear we got nominated about a month after it happened. Then the lag time started decreasing until it'd be the day after, all these people calling me to say "congratulations." It sort of became one of those things like Charlie Brown and the football. And it's always Lucy's idea. I'd run for the damn thing. But somebody every year was nominating us and then it was like, "OK, Stooges, come on, just run and kick the ball." Whoops.
After I got over my sort of "Really? — Yeah really!" I had about two hours of a strong emotional reaction. The same sort I started getting when our group reformed and we started going out and starting playing positive gigs for five, eight, ten thousand people. I don't know what sort of thoughts go into that — I don't know if it's vindication or what. But I went through a couple hours of that and then I kind of scratched my head and thought, "Am I still cool? Or is that over now?" And I'm only successful. But there is the whole angle. There are all these great, great musicians. Everyone I've looked up to was included in that. It's a game and then when all these greats are included and you're not, it sort of says "You're not ...whatever." And then when you are included it's like, "Hey! You're all right. You made something good. You made some good stuff." So I think all that is just very human.
How do you think Ron Asheton, who we lost earlier this year, would feel about it?
It would have meant a lot of him, the Hall of Fame. He waited longer for his success than I did. More than anyone in the group, he was a very stalwart Michigan boy. He was a regular guy and he enjoyed the extent to which some regular folks were getting to know him and his music. And I know his brother too, Scott. I think the last time we got ix-nayed they were telling me, "Oh, we don't give a shit. We don't care." But they do. And I do.
What was it like performing for Madonna two years ago at the induction ceremony?
That was a tough sell with the brothers. More Ron. Ron was like, "What?" I was like, "Listen man, look, if nothing else, 15 percent of the people who see that performance are going to think we got inducted." 'Cause they don't really follow music. Sure enough, on the plane on the way home, one of the stewardesses congratulated me. But mainly I thought it was a chance to play in case we didn't get in ourselves. It also occurred to me that it was a chance to show some of the people that do that thing that we don't have horns. We're not going to bite you.
It's strange to visualize you guys wearing tuxedos and being applauded by the entire industry.
Do they wear tuxedos?
Some people do.
I don't think that's going to happen. I've got one. I can probably drag it out. I've got these things. I'm at the time of life where people sort of pick me up by the collar and exhibit me on various occasions. And when they do they have to give me clothes and then I keep the clothes. So I have a very nice Dior tux.
Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/12/15/iggy-pop-speaks-out-about-raw-power-gigs-new-stooges-music/
White Christmas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_lSknrGqDA
http://www.iggypop.org/iggynews.html