with video, poll: Iggy on 'Idol'? Strange but true
The godfather of punk rock and the most mainstream music outlet in the country might not seem to be a very likely pairing. But last night, TV viewers saw it: Iggy Pop making a guest appearance on "American Idol."
Most of the media attention this morning is focused on the "shocking" elimination of a favorite from the competition, but for some, the real surprise was seeing Iggy Pop sing on the show. He performed his song "Real Wild Child," and the studio audience seemed more or less OK with it.
Watch the performance here:
Pop grew up in Pittsfield Township, and first came to fame in the late 1960s leading the Stooges, an Ann Arbor band often credited as being the first punk rockers. He eventually became a solo star, known for amazingly high-energy performances as well as on-stage antics.
Over the years, Iggy and the mainstream have gotten closer to each other — to the point that last year, the Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and National Public Radio included Pop on its list of "50 Great Voices." With the "American Idol" appearance, that journey has arguably been completed.
Iggy Pop will return to Ann Arbor later this month for a special Stooges reunion concert at the Michigan Theater in honor of the late Ron Asheton, the Stooges' original guitarist.
Bob Needham is director of entertainment content for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at bobneedham@annarbor.com or 734-623-2541, and follow him on Twitter @bobneedham.
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