Iggy Pop: Behind the Music

Iggy Pop is one of the most influential musicians of our time. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at his life and work, and explore what makes him so special.

Iggy Pop’s Early Life

Iggy Pop was born in Muskegon, Michigan, on April 21, 1947. His parents, James Osterberg Sr. and Louella Christensen, were both of Dutch ancestry. Iggy’s father was a lawyer, and his mother was a teacher. Iggy Pop’s music career began when he was a teenager.

His birth and childhood

Iggy Pop was born in Muskegon, Michigan, on April 21, 1947. His parents were both former musicians who had given up their careers to settle down and raise a family. Iggy’s father, James Newell Osterberg Sr., was a jazz drummer who had also worked as a carpenter and salesman; his mother, Louella Gladys (Davis) Ostertag, was a stay-at-home mom. Iggy has two younger brothers: Ron, who later became a record producer, and Jim.

Iggy’s childhood was far from ideal. His parents’ marriage was tumultuous and often violent; his father was an alcoholic who would sometimes disappear for days or weeks at a time. When Iggy was seven, his parents divorced; his mother subsequently married a man who wasn’t much better than his father. Iggy later recalled that he felt like “a piece of meat” being passed back and forth between his parents and stepfather. As a result of all the turmoil at home, Iggy became something of a troublemaker in school; he was constantly getting into fights and getting into trouble with the law.

His early musical influences

Iggy Pop was born in Muskegon, Michigan, on April 21, 1947. Though he would later gain notoriety as the “Godfather of Punk,” his early musical influences were far from punk rock. He listened to doo-wop and R&B groups like the Miracles, the Contours, and the Crystals, as well as early rockers like Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. He was also a fan of jazz greats like Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Iggy Pop’s Career

Iggy Pop is one of the most influential musicians of all time. His career has spanned over 50 years and he has released 27 studio albums. Iggy Pop was a member of the Stooges, one of the first punk rock bands. He is also known for his solo work, including the album The Idiot and the album Lust for Life.

His first band, The Stooges

In 1964, pop was a student at Ann Arbor High School and knew Ron and Scott Asheton, who later became famous as the guitar-playing and drumming brothers in the pioneering punk band, The Stooges. Iggy was the frontman and lead singer of the proto-punk band The Stooges (1965-1974), which was influential in originating punk rock. With The Stooges, Pop developed a stage act that would come to be known as “The Wild Man”: he would strip down to his waist, smear his bare chest with peanut butter or jelly, roll around on the floor, throw himself into the audience (sometimes injuring himself in the process), and ultimately collapse in exhaustion. This outrageous behavior—coupled with equally extreme music—made them one of the most notorious bands of their era.

His work with David Bowie

Iggy Pop’s work with David Bowie had a major impact on his career. The two met in the late 1960s when Bowie was looking for musicians to work with on his first solo album. Pop agreed to work with Bowie and the two became fast friends. They would go on to release two albums together, The Idiot and Lust for Life. These albums would help to define Pop’s sound and taste and would be some of his most influential work.

His solo career

Though the Stooges had disbanded by 1974, Iggy Pop embarked on a solo career with the help of James Williamson, an old friend and frequent collaborator. Williamson had produced Raw Power, and Pop decided to work with him again on his first album, The Idiot (1977). The influence of David Bowie, who co-wrote and co-produced much of the album with Pop and Williamson, is evident throughout the record. The Idiot was well received by critics, and its tour brought Iggy Pop to punk rock audiences in the UK for the first time.

Iggy Pop’s second album, Lust for Life (1977), was again co-produced by Bowie and Williamson. It is considered one of Iggy Pop’s best albums, and it contains his best-known song, “Lust for Life”. The album’s success helped resurrect Iggy Pop’s career, and he subsequently embarked on another world tour.

In 1979, Iggy Pop released New Values, his most commercially successful album to date. It featured the hit single “I’m Bored”, which helped introduce Iggy Pop to a new generation of fans. New Values also marked a shift in Iggy Pop’s sound, as he began moving away from punk rock towards a more pop-oriented sound.

Iggy Pop would continue to experiment with different styles of music throughout his career. His later albums include Soldier (1980), Party (1981), Zombie Birdhouse (1982), Blah-Blah-Blah (1986), Instinct (1988), Brick by Brick (1990), American Caesar (1993), Naughty Little Doggie (1996), Avenue B (1999), Skull Ring (2003), Préliminaires (2009), Après (2012), Post Pop Depression: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2017)
and Free (2019).

Iggy Pop’s Legacy

As one of the pioneers of punk rock, Iggy Pop’s musical career has spanned several decades. He is best known for his work with The Stooges, but he has also released several solo albums. Iggy Pop’s music is often characterized by its raw, primal energy, and his stage performances are legendary. Let’s take a closer look at the life and work of Iggy Pop.

His influence on punk rock

Iggy Pop’s influence on punk rock is undeniable. He was one of the first to popularize the genre with his band The Stooges, and his raw, primal approach to music has been imitated by countless punk bands over the years. Punk would not be what it is today without Iggy Pop.

His influence on fashion

Iggy Pop was one of the first people to bring punk rock fashion to the mainstream. His unique style – a mix of braces, ripped jeans and T-shirts – soon became iconic, and was copied by fans all over the world.

Iggy’s fashion sense was also incredibly influential on the way we dress today. He popularized the “skinny jean” look which is now ubiquitous, and he also helped to make tattoos and body piercings more acceptable. In short, Iggy Pop changed the way we think about fashion, and his influence is still felt today.

Iggy Pop Today

It’s hard to believe that Iggy Pop is now in his seventies. The punk rocker with a reputation for wild and crazy antics on stage is now a grandfather. But even though he’s slowed down a bit, he’s still making music and touring. Iggy Pop’s story is an interesting one. Let’s take a look at his life and career.

His current work

Iggy Pop has been keeping busy in recent years. In addition to touring with the Stooges, he has also been working on a new solo album. The album, entitled Après, is due for release in early 2020.

In the meantime, fans can check out Iggy Pop’s latest single, “Loves Missing.” The song is a duet with Emily Haines of Metric, and it’s a melancholy ballad about the difficulty of love and relationships.

His thoughts on his legacy

Iggy Pop is one of the most iconic and influential figures in rock music. He was a pioneer of the punk rock movement and his raw, powerful performances defined the genre. Today, Iggy is still making music and touring, and he shows no signs of slowing down. In a recent interview, Iggy was asked about his legacy and what he would like to be remembered for. Here are his thoughts:

“I would like to be remembered as somebody who gave 100% every time he stepped on stage. Somebody who was communicative with his audience and always tried to give them a good time. Somebody who tried hard to make rock ‘n’ roll an art form, not just entertainment.”

Iggy Pop is one of the most important figures in rock music history. He defined the punk rock genre with his raw, powerful performances and has continued to make great music throughout his career. If there is one thing Iggy wants to be remembered for, it is his dedication to making rock ‘n’ roll an art form.