Iggy And The Stooges: Every Album, Every Song (On Track)

The On Track series examines an artist’s entire output, track by track – or that within a specified date range – the series brings together expert analysis with both fact and opinion.

Exploding onto the late 1960s scene, The Stooges were a band unlike any other before. A bunch of misfit Mid-Western delinquents, their charismatic frontman, Iggy Pop, was a performer extraordinaire. Confrontational and theatrical, this maniacal entertainer was originally joined by the Asheton brothers, Ron and Scott, and their pal, Dave Alexander. This original lineup delivered two albums of primal, brutal-sounding rock noise before the band fractured.

A fortuitous crossing of paths with a certain David Bowie in 1971, however, led to a creative rebirth for Iggy and the band. With a new guitarist in place, James Williamson, and the Asheton brothers making up the rhythm section, the reconstituted group ended up delivering a third album of nihilistic ferocity. Once again though, the album bombed, leaving the band to limp on until 1974 before calling it a day – at least for nearly three decades.

During their absence, the band’s influential legacy blossomed, and in 2003, the original trio of Iggy, Ron and Scott reunited, once again performing under The Stooges banner. The band toured extensively, finally achieving the respect and adulation that had been lacking the first time around. A new album appeared in 2007 before Ron’s passing in 2009. James Williamson subsequently returned to the fold, enabling the band to continue touring and recording before more sad news ensued in 2014 when Scott Asheton passed away, thus leading to the cessation of the band.

The Stooges’ music has influenced countless other bands, artists and genres, and this book examines the band’s enduring musical legacy by taking a fully comprehensive look at all the group’s officially recorded output in detail.