Got this from from the library today: "Iggy Pop -- Open Up and Bleed", by Paul Trynka. This guy, a former editor of Mojo magazine, interviewed hundreds of people over the last ten years. The list includes Mr. Osterberg himself, the Asheton brothers, James Williamson, and many friends & acquaintences.

The book's prologue starts with the infamous "last ever Stooges show" on Feb 9, 1974. The performance is documented on the Metallic KO LP, which I'm privileged to have a copy of.

It promises to be an interesting read, but separating myth & legend from truth is difficult. In the extraordinary life of Mr. Iggy Pop, it's especially difficult, as some episodes were lived in a drugged-out haze.

The first revelations come out as James Newell Osterberg Jr's formative days are recounted -- rather than being self-described "trailer trash", with alienation defining his childhood, Jim was personable, well-liked and popular in school.

Some more info:

[www.randomhouse.com]

This site includes a blog devoted to 'Open up...' [www.trynka.net]

Used to know Jim. Sweet personality Great stage presence. Never to be couned out.

Would be interested in any posts from those who read this book.

I finished this book recently. Very excellent. Far, far better than that hack job done a couple of years ago called Gimmie Danger. I believe that this book is as close as we are going to get to the definitive story of Jim Osterberg/Iggy Pop. I just finished reading Everett True's Ramones bio, which would have been equally as highly recommended, except that Mr. True spreads liberal doses of his own preferences as far albums, producers, etc throughout. Thankfully Mr. Trynka keeps it throughly objective. A great rock and roll bio, the final pages dealing with the Coachella reunion literally gave me chills. Well worth the money (I even bought the hardcover - and paid full price)!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-09-08 02:17 by spikey.

Thanks for the review, spikey

Thanks very much. I look forward to reading it.

stonesrule Wrote:
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> Used to know Jim. Sweet personality Great stage
> presence. Never to be couned out.
>
> Would be interested in any posts from those who
> read this book.


I read this last year. A cracking read. Can't say Iggy comes out of it particularly well - especially vis-a-vis the treatment of women in the first half of his career - but it is nonetheless a fascinating book. Well-written too.

Nikolai Wrote:
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> stonesrule Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------

>
> I read this last year. A cracking read. Can't
> say Iggy comes out of it particularly well -
> especially vis-a-vis the treatment of women in the
> first half of his career - but it is nonetheless a
> fascinating book. Well-written too.


I didn't think that he came off poorly. True, there are a number of "relationships" where Iggy did not seem to be the most well intentioned of partners, and there are a good number of pages devoted to the obvious chemical issues, but I took the book to be an even handed portrayal of a pretty complex individual.

thanks, I'd like to hear more opinions/reviews of this new biography. for those who don't know about it, Iggy's own memoir from the early 80s, I Need More, is fantastic and was republished a few years ago on Henry Rollins's label.

The realtionship between the Asheton brothers and Iggy is literally like blood brothers, so the 2003 reunion seemed to be almost preordained.

The role of James Williamson is really odd, though. This guy was like an interloper into the Stooges' world, and it is clear why the reunited Stooges don't play any songs from "Raw Power".

I was initially offended by Ron Asheton's perceived "demotion" to bass for the "Raw Power" sessions, but since he was THE guitarist in the original band, I now understand it.

I suppose the guys were too shortsighted and chemically unbalanced to realize that a newly-hired bassist on top of the potentially incendiary combo of Ron and James on guitars could've been extraordinary. However, the overweening egos would not permit this.

At the same time, these two guys playing together would probably have descended into sonic anarchy, with Iggy vainly trying to make himself heard above the mayhem.

bassplayer617 Wrote:
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> The role of James Williamson is really odd,
> though. This guy was like an interloper into the
> Stooges' world, and it is clear why the reunited
> Stooges don't play any songs from "Raw Power".
>

It's true. To me what is even odder is that though he was an interloper, and in some ways was perceived as a force destructive to the Stooges, Raw Power is an absolute masterpiece. Williamson was just a devastating guitarist who brought out even more of the animal in Iggy.

spikey Wrote:
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> It's true. To me what is even odder is that
> though he was an interloper, and in some ways was
> perceived as a force destructive to the Stooges,
> Raw Power is an absolute masterpiece. Williamson
> was just a devastating guitarist who brought out
> even more of the animal in Iggy.

yeah, not to mention writing several of his best songs. the spirit of the reunion gigs have been great, but it hurts the set list not to include the Raw Power material iggy would certainly be doing otherwise.