Stooges : All posts

Age no obstacle for vintage Iggy & the Stooges

Iggy Pop, posing for a portrait to promote his new studio album, "Ready To Die," in New York. Born in relative obscurity at their start 40 years ago, Iggy and the Stooges continues to get more and more popular with age. (Photo by Dan Hallman/Invision/AP)

Photo by Dan Hallman/Invision/AP

with video: Iggy Pop appears on 'Colbert Report': going shirtless and running into Christmas trees

• Related story: Martin Bandyke's review of "Ready to Die"

The new Iggy & the Stooges album, "Ready to Die," is released today. And as a prelude, the pioneering punk band from Ann Arbor appeared on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" on Monday.

During an entertaining interview segment, there are a couple of references that seem to be to long-ago local occurrences. And Colbert finally poses the question: Why doesn't Iggy ever wear a shirt on stage? (And the answer may be the best part of the interview.)

The full band also performed two songs, "Burn" and "Job."

Check out the clips:

column

martin bandyke: Iggy & the Stooges back in fine form on new album 'Ready to Die'

The Stooges 2013: From left, James Williamson, Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton.

photo by David Raccuglia | courtesy of Fat Possum Records

There’s a lot of rage against the dying of the light on Iggy Pop and company’s fifth studio effort, the first since the passing of founding Stooge guitarist Ron Asheton in 2009. James Williamson, who gave up music for decades after playing on the band’s sensational 1973 album “Raw Power,” returned to the Stooges after Asheton’s death and has a major role on "RTD." He produced the album, co-wrote all its songs with Iggy and is the sole guitarist throughout the too-short, 10-song effort. Other main contributors include founding member Scott Asheton, Ron’s brother, rock-solid as always on the drum kit; saxophonist Steve Mackay, whose history with the group dates back to their 1970 sophomore release “Fun House”; and Mike Watt, who admirably fills the shoes of founding Stooge bassist Dave Alexander, who died in 1975.

Hear Iggy Pop and the Stooges' new single, 'Burn'

Later release date announced for Iggy and the Stooges' Michigan Theater concert DVD

A new press release from production company MVD Entertainment Group says the DVD will be available June 4. Last week's initial announcement had the release as April 9.

with video: Iggy Pop and the Stooges planning new album

Called "Ready to Die," the new album is set for release April 30 on Fat Possum records. It will be credited to "Iggy and the Stooges," and it's available for pre-order on the Fat Possum website.

with video: DVD release set for Iggy and the Stooges' Michigan Theater tribute concert for Ron Asheton

MVD Entertainment Group plans to release the DVD on April 9. It is also expected to be available digitally from iTunes and elsewhere the same date.

An announcement Tuesday afternoon reads, "Recorded live at the Michigan Theater, this heartfelt tribute/celebration of Stooge guitarist Ron Asheton's life and music featured Iggy and the Stooges, Henry Rollins, and guest guitarist Deniz Tek (Radio Birdman). Includes a string section on a few Stooges classics! All profits from the sale of the DVD go to the Ron Asheton Foundation which supports animal welfare and music."

Iggy Pop, punk icon and now bobblehead

A website called Aggronautix has begun pre-orders for a limited-edition (1,000) release of the bobblehead doll, to begin shipping in early October. The description of the item reads, "Since his raucous proto-punk, peanut butter smearing days with The Stooges, few "street walking cheetahs" have mastered the maniacal with as much grit, gusto and flair as Iggy Pop."

Iggy Pop talks to Rolling Stone about Scott Asheton's illness; new book traces Stooges' history

Iggy Pop performs with the Stooges at the band's Michigan Theater tribute to Ron Asheton earlier this year.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

In the interview, Pop says that recent medical issues of Stooges drummer (and Ann Arbor native) Scott Asheton were quite serious, but he is recovering well now.

The interview covers a number of other topics, including Pop's plans for future projects—he doesn't intend to slow down any time soon—and working with guitarist James Williamson.

The Stooges' Scott Asheton falls ill, won't play next set of concerts

Scott Asheton reads a tribute to his brother in Ann Arbor earlier this year.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com file photo

The announcement, which does not specify the illness, reads in full: "Scott Asheton has been taken ill earlier this week and regrettably will not be able to play on the upcoming leg of the tour. The shows will go ahead as scheduled with a replacement drummer. We will keep you informed but first and foremost we wish Scott a speedy recovery!"

Iggy and the Stooges concert at Michigan Theater draws national media attention

Iggy Pop performs at the Michigan Theater.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

It wasn't only Ann Arbor that was fascinated by the Iggy Pop and the Stooges homecoming concert at the Michigan Theater on Tuesday.

The sold-out show brought the surviving members of the pioneering punk-rock band to their hometown to pay tribute to Ron Asheton, the band's original guitarist, who died in 2009.

The event drew some significant attention online, including from some national media. Some links worth checking out:

• Rolling Stone published a review of the show online, using a photo shot by AnnArbor.com's Melanie Maxwell. (The shot used by Rolling Stone is shown at right, but there's a full slideshow in our news story about the concert.)

notebook: Some memorable moments from Iggy & the Stooges concert at the Michigan Theater

With the ears still ringing from Tuesday night's Iggy and the Stooges concert at the Michigan Theater—a tribute to the band's original guitarist, the late Ron Asheton—here are some stray memorable moments on the morning after:

• Steve Mackay’s tender saxophone solo as security tried to clear the stage after dancers took it over the first time was a the musical highlight. Mackay, who continues to play in his own free-jazz collective, hit just the right whiskery tone to bring some calm to a frenzied scene.

detroit free press: Jason Segel, starring in 'Five Year Engagement,' stops at Stooges homecoming concert

Jason Segel

The Detroit Free Press noticed at least one celebrity in the crowd at Tuesday's Iggy and the Stooges homecoming tribute concert to Ron Asheton at the Michigan Theater: Jason Segel, the movie ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") and TV ("How I Met Your Mother) star in Ann Arbor to shoot the movie "The Five Year Engagement."

Segel happened upon the concert by accident and told the Free Press he's a big Stooges fan, and it was one of the best shows he's seen.

opinion

The music presents a fitting tribute to the late Ron Asheton

Iggy Pop performs with bassist Mike Watt in the background.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Main story: Iggy Pop and the Stooges offer a punk rock celebration for a fallen bandmate

In the end, after the kind words and slide shows and remembrances, the real tribute was heard in the music.

Raucous and ragged, the Stooges’ homecoming on Tuesday, a memorial to founding guitarist Ron Asheton, was a fitting homage to their fallen bandmate.

A symphonic orchestra performed a medley his signature riffs over a slide show of pictures from family albums. His brother, Stooges drummer Scott Asheton, always a man of few words, spoke some kindnesses.

And Henry Rollins added a pseudo-intellectual eulogy that somehow seemed to be more about how cool Henry Rollins is than about how cool Ron Asheton was.

But as it should be, rock ‘n’ roll spoke the loudest. The Space Age Toasters, consisting of students from Ann Arbor Neutral Zone teen center, kicked off the evening with a four-song Stooges homage that did the band proud.

After Rollins led the current Stooges, minus Pop, through “I Got a Right,” Pop arrived on stage in his trademark attire of jeans and no shirt and launched immediately into a string of tunes associated with the band’s later period, in which Ron Asheton moved to bass and James Williamson took over on guitar.

“Nice to see you,” Pop said. “We’re still The Stooges.”

with slideshow, poll and video

Iggy Pop and the Stooges offer a punk rock celebration for a fallen bandmate

Iggy and the Stooges perform at the Michigan Theater on Tuesday.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

From the looks of things, Ann Arbor and the Michigan Theater survived the punk rock bombast of genre pioneers Iggy and The Stooges Tuesday night in fine shape.

The group, fronted by former local Iggy Pop (known here during his high school days by his given name, James Osterberg Jr.) was in town to play a tribute concert for their former bandmate/Ann Arborite guitarist Ron Asheton, who died in 2009.

Around 1,700 were on hand — a full house, according the Michigan Theater's Executive Director Russ Collins, who said three times that many tickets could have been sold, demand was so high. "There's definitely been a feeling of celebration for doing something good for a buddy that has passed on," Collins added. The show was a benefit for local music and animal charities, including the Humane Society of Huron Valley.

associated press: Iggy Pop speaks about Tuesday's Stooges tribute to the late Ron Asheton

Iggy Pop

The Associated Press has interviewed Iggy Pop, the punk-rock pioneer who grew up in Pittsfield Township, about Tuesday's Ann Arbor homecoming show by The Stooges at the Michigan Theater.

Pop reflects on the show — a tribute to the late Ron Asheton, the Stooges' original guitarist — as well as his recent appearance on "American Idol."

detroit free press: Henry Rollins discusses impact of The Stooges

When Tuesday's sold-out Iggy & The Stooges homecoming tribute to Ron Asheton finally hits the stage of the Michigan Theater, Henry Rollins will act as master of ceremonies.

poll: What's The Stooges' best album?

The big day is almost at hand: Tuesday brings Iggy Pop and The Stooges to the Michigan Theater for a sold-out homecoming tribute show to the late Ron Asheton, The Stooges' original guitarist.

Seems like a good time to ask which album shows the band at its best. While the 2007 reunion album "The Weirdness" isn't likely to get too many votes, of the original three albums, each has its passionate partisans. (Sorry, "Metallic K.O." fans, we're sticking to studio albums here to keep things simple.)

A tour of historic Stooges sites as Ron Asheton memorial concert nears

When the Stooges arrive in Ann Arbor for their sold-out homecoming show at the Michigan Theater on Tuesday, they’ll return to a city that bears little resemblance to the sleepy college town in which both Iggy Pop (nee James Osterberg) and drummer Scott Asheton (and his late brother, guitarist Ron Asheton) were raised.

It can be hard to remember Ann Arbor without chain coffee and sandwich shops, or with an influential music scene that would spawn breakout groups like the MC5, SRC, Bob Seger … and an unlikely band of misfits, who, despite an abject lack of record sales, would endure as the primary architects of punk rock and eventual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: The Stooges.

Still, if you squint just right and set your imagination free, you may be able to conjure a vision of the Ann Arbor where Osterberg transformed himself from an athletic, bookish honor student at Ann Arbor High School into a “street-walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm.”

Join us now for a tour of some of the landmarks — some standing, some long gone — that defined the Stooges’ time in their hometown. We’ll run them down in generally chronological order:

Iggy & the Stooges tribute concert for Ron Asheton will be uplifting, Scott Asheton promises

From left, Ron Asheton, Iggy Pop and Scott Asheton in 2007

Although the 2009 death in Ann Arbor of guitarist Ron Asheton, from the pioneering punk band The Stooges, has been keenly felt throughout the music community, few have experienced the loss as personally as his brother and bandmate Scott Asheton.

“There are certain things you share close with your brother, and now and then I’ll think of something and I’ll think ‘I’ve got to tell Ronnie this,’ then I go ‘Oh s---,’” Scott Asheton said in a recent phone interview from his Florida home. “You get really close and you can talk about things you can’t talk about with other people. I miss that very much, besides the music.”

Asheton will return to his hometown for a sold-out benefit concert and tribute to his brother at the Michigan Theater Tuesday night, organized by his sister Kathy Asheton. The Stooges will headline, and funds raised will go to the Ron Asheton Foundation to benefit local music and animal charities, including the Humane Society of Huron Valley.