Venia

ARTIST OF THE MONTH: SEPTEMBER 2008

IGGY & THE STOOGES

The Stooges are formed in 1967 in town Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. First they were called Psychedelic Stooges. The band was gathered by James Osterberg known as Iggy Pop after he was kicked-off the University of Michigan. The Stooges were rock band but many people call them protopunk and protometal because their influence on punk rock and heavy metal is more then recognazible. Iggy get his name after his previous band The Iguanas. They started to work under The Doors influence of a bit more "aggressive" band MC 5. The Stooges play as a support with MC 5 who consider them as a little brotherhood band, so only 6 months after they gathered, on MC 5' recommendation The Stooges signed for "Electra". Their first album "The Stooges" was produced by John Cale, Velvet Underground member. To record the album they lied o a record company and said they have a bunch of songs but the other songs (Real Cool Time, Little Doll, Not Right) they made during the one night. The most popular song from that album is "Now I Wanna Be Your Dog". The next album "Funhouse" was released in 1970. Album is a bit more aggressive then the first one, more rocking with elements of free jazz and funk. On the album is also the song "LA Blues", one of the loudest and the most constant songs in the history or rock music. But the album was a stop before its time so "Electra" broke the contract with the band. The new guitarist James Williamson joined the band and old guitarist is now a bass player. Their sound is now closer to classic rock but Iggy Pop went to rehab (cocaine addiction) and that is the end of the Stooges. They are back together in 1972 after David Bowie convince them to gather again. They change the name into Iggy and the Stooges and under that name they release the album "Raw Power" in 1973 under CBS. On the album is the song "Search and Destroy" that became some kind of rock hymn. But because of the drug problems the band is falling apart again and Iggy starts his solo career. Their last show is saved on bootleg CD "Metallic K.O." Before that show Iggy Pop in a radio show insulted members of local motorcycle gang and asked hem to come to the show and quits with him. They did it and the result is seeing in the name "Metallic K.O." After brothers Asheton played some songs on the last Iggy Pop' solo album "Skull Ring" in 2003. The Stooges are gathered again but without Dave Alexander who died and who is replaced by Mike Watt from the band Minutemen. The band started o play under the name The Stooges and in March 2007 they released their fourth studio album after 34 years name "The Weirdness. On the album is included also saxophone player Steve Mackay who played on the album "Funhouse".

www.iggypop.com
www.myspace.com/iggyandthestooges