Every Loser Needs To See Iggy Pop At Least Once
Iggy Pop in the UK by ©dickslaughter.com
Iggy For Dummies
Whether you’re young, old, or maybe somewhere in between and give even half a shit about rock & roll, you either already are or should be familiar with Iggy Pop, the seemingly indestructible and unstoppable punk icon from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Iggy transcends genre and, perhaps, even time. He has been ripped off, imitated, feared, revered, honored, ignored, and reinvented himself countless times since he first hit the scene in 1965. His influence can be felt in almost every form of popular music. He is credited for laying the blueprints for what would become punk, grunge, and speed metal, and had a profound effect on new wave/synth rock/post-punk or whatever we’re calling it these days. For more than half a century, Iggy has been a constant force in rock & roll and somehow still delivers the goods.
It’s not always easy to review a new Iggy Pop album. You have to be careful and reserve judgment at first because Iggy is more often than not ahead of his time. Look at The Stooges’ “Raw Power”: arguably one of the best and most influential rock and roll albums ever (and all-time favorite album of Kurt Cobain). When released in 1973, it was not received as the monumentally world-changing milestone in rock & roll history that it is. In fact, it peaked at #52 on the charts. That’s not to say Iggy hasn’t had his share of hits; there have been many—"Candy" from the "Brick by Brick" album in 1990 was huge, and more recently, his 2016 album "Post Pop Depression" debuted at #17 on the US Album chart and eventually hit #1 in the Billboard Rock and Alternative Albums tallies – no small feat for a rocker in his 70s!
But here’s the good news: “Every Loser” is actually easy to review, functioning as yet another triumphant return to form for the punk pioneer. After a decade of successfully experimenting with different genres, Pop has released a bombshell album true to his rock and blues roots. It’s an album that’s sure to please fans of Pop's earlier work, loaded with guest appearances by certified legends such as (but not limited to) Duff McKagan, Dave Navarro, Chad Smith, and the late Taylor Hawkins.
Iggy Pop in Joshua Tree by ©dickslaughter.com
All New Iggy = Same Old Iggy
“Every Loser” is a solid addition to Pop's catalog. The album is a wild ride from start to finish, a tour de force careening through Iggy’s many different personalities and writing styles with instant earworms like “Strung Out Johnny,” “The Regency” and “Neo Punk.” A worthy addition to any respectable record collection — I picked up a “Cocaine Blue” vinyl disc for myself. And here’s the kicker: Iggy is set to perform at the Mammoth NO VALUES Festival on June 8th in Pomona CA. alongside a list of punk Icons, that included the original MISFITS, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, the Steve Ignorant band, and many many more.
Is this Iggy Pop’s LAST SHOW?
Iggy Pop in Amsterdam by ©dickslaughter.com
Perhaps the real question is: Does it matter?! This is your chance to see a living legend. Just go. It doesn't matter if it’s far, expensive, crowded, hot, or even if you don’t have anyone to go with. GO! Go somewhere new by yourself. Spend your money, meet new people, smoosh together, and get real sweaty with them. YOLO, BITCH. Even if the whole trip is shit otherwise, I can assure you one thing will be great: Iggy.
I’ve been chasing Iggy around for a long time, first as a fan and then as a photographer (and an even BIGGER fan!). I have traveled near and far at great expense and clocked in a whopping 39 Iggy shows as of today. I can truly say that I’ve never been disappointed once and that, sadly, I am not even in the running for the biggest Stooges Stalker out there.
I’ll never forget the words of a security guard I met at an Iggy show in Iceland:
“Iggy is the most confident of showman. He commands you to put your eyes only on him. I have never seen another on his superior level other than that of James Brown. I will always remember this night until my death.”
Note to Editor: There are no typos in that qoute. I was in Iceland.
For some of us, Iggy possesses a magic that few other performers do. He lets the Rock and Roll spirit/demon run through and out of him and in to you. The closer you are, the more powerful the feeling is. He has the ability to whip a crowd into an almost hypnotic state. For brief moments you forget where you are or that there is anyone else at the show. If you’ve seen Iggy perform, then you know what I am talking about, and if you haven't, this is your chance! Every loser needs to see Iggy Pop at least once!
Iggy Pop in San Francisco - by ©dickslaughter.com
Get your copy of EVERY LOSER and don’t miss your chance to see Iggy Pop live at NO VALUES on June 8th in Pomona Ca.
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