DIE IDIOTEN: An Iggy Covers Album

 

It's Bandcamp Friday!  One new item that caught my eye is a single from The Art Gray Noizz Quintet with Lydia Lunch.  Together, they cover "Permafrost" by Magazine and "Mass Production" by Iggy Pop.  Here was one of the final missing pieces to complete a cover album project!

The Idiot was released in March 1977 and was followed six months later by Lust For Life.  Both albums were created during Iggy and Bowie's stay in East Berlin.  From their black and white covers to the musicians who play on both records, the two LP's are close siblings. Thus the title of this covers album, Die Idioten (The Idiots). 

I couldn't find this album online (or any other covers of "Turn Blue"), so there is a live version from Iggy's US tour with Bowie on keyboards and backing vocals.  Otherwise it's all covers, in a surprising range of interpretations in various genres, including reggae (Trippynova), mento (The Jolly Boys), rockabilly (J.D. McPherson), country (Kelly Willis, having fun with Chuck Prophet and The Gourds), plus a track from Angkor Pop, the Cambodian tribute to Iggy.  The biggest surprise to me was David Hasselhoff's version of "The Passenger".  It's modern European dance music, but the Hoff doesn't go over the top.  His vocal is faithful to the original.  Best thing he's done since his Lords Of The New Church cover!

The lyrics to these songs are among the best that Iggy has written, although some of them are problematic.  Iggy's attraction to underage girls is evident on "Sixteen" and "Tiny Girls".  Check out Eugene Robinson's article Punk Rock Pedophilia for a thoughtful examination of this issue.  

Another problematic lyric is "Visions of swastikas in my head, plans for everyone/It's in the whites of my eyes." Of course, the China Girl tells the song's narrator to shut his mouth.  It was Ron Asheton (not Iggy) who collected Nazi memorabilia, and it was Bowie who foolishly flirted with fascism.  

There's a fascinating new book called This Ain’t Rock ‘n’ Roll: Pop Music, the Swastika, and the Third Reich which explores this obsession among rock musicians.  Bowie, Lennon, Brian Jones, Keith Moon, Vivian Stanshall, Eric Burdon, Lemmy, Throbbing Gristle, Sid Vicious, Siouxsie, Mark E. Smith, Bernard Sumner, Richard Jobson, Spandau Ballet, Nico, Slayer, Kanye and many others are examined in music, word and deed.  

The author, Daniel Rachel, also wrote a book about 2-Tone and the Rock Against Racism movement; and in This Ain't Rock 'n' Roll he calls out RAR for being less focused on antisemitism than other forms of racism.  I would like to have read a chapter on the white supremacist and neo-Nazi connections to noise, neo-folk, and metal, but those troubling topics are explored here, here, here and here. 

Sorry for such a long and digressive post today.  If I may suggest one item to consider for purchase on this Bandcamp Friday, it's the new release from Atlanta singer-songwriter K. Michelle Dubois.  She was a founding member of Ultrababyfat, and on her excellent solo albums she collaborates with Dan Dixon and other members of Atlanta band Dropsonic.  

Dubois' new full-length, Served On The Half Shell, is a collection of originals and covers: All Tomorrow's Parties, Truth Hits Everybody, and The Culture Bunker by Teardrop Explodes!  Michelle has a compelling voice. I frequently return to her solo albums, and always try to catch her live shows (which are too rare). 

Her new record is a great introduction to her music, as it features both new originals and remixes of older ones like All Night Glamour (which really needs to be featured on the soundtrack of the next teen vampire movie.) I previously featured K. Michelle Dubois' music here on the compilation Georgia Women of Alternative Rock (GWAR).

Buy This Ain't Rock'n'Roll from Akashic Books

Buy other Daniel Rachel books from Bookshop.org 

Buy music from K. Michelle Dubois at Bandcamp

Boogie Iggy Iggy

Iggy Pop's birthday is just two weeks away -- and I haven't received my party invitation yet.  He will perform at Coachella just a couple days before he turns 79. There are several Iggy compilations here on the blog, mostly from tribute albums, soundtracks, and guest appearances with other artists. 

Iggy may have slowed down a bit.  His most recent album under his own name was 2023's Every Loser.  I only found a few guest appearances from 2024 and 2025.  But another dig through his recording credits yielded a few things that I hadn't heard before, as well as some interesting live performances.  

Iggy joined NRBQ onstage for Wooly Bully, and he sang Rebel Rebel with Lenny Kravitz.  In Mexico, he did TV Eye with Metallica; and Michael Rother was Iggy's guest for a performance of Neu's Hero.   

There are some excellent studio collaborations in today's share, and a couple of odd cover songs that previously escaped my notice.  Iggy contributed a punk version of the Rat Pack classic "I Gotta Be Me" to the soundtrack to Freddy Got Fingered, and he sang the pioneer ballad "Sweet Betsy From Pike" for The Lone Ranger (the 2013 film with Johnny Depp as Tonto).

If you enjoy listening to spoken word performances, the last eight tracks feature Iggy's rich baritone.  I audaciously used Audacity to extract Iggy's recitations of William S. Burroughs from Bill Laswell's Acid Lands.  

PS - when I saw Iggy in concert (on the 1988 tour promoting his Instinct album), at one point he looked to his left, then to the right, and then he flipped off the audience with both hands.  It was just like the photo above! 

Iggy Pop Guest Spots: Art & Commerce

 

Iggy Pop will celebrate his 78th birthday on Monday.  What's he been up to? The last time we checked in on the Ig was when he turned 73.  We also shared a three volume series of Guest Spots, where Iggy collaborated with a range of other artists. 

Iggy released the ambitious album Free in 2019, and the rockin' Every Loser in 2023.  He has continued to work with many different performers, some of them well-known and others on the cutting edge. He has contributed to recent tributes to Leonard Cohen, Marianne Faithfull and The Velvet Underground. 

Iggy's career reminds me of Nicolas Cage, who seems to alternate mainstream blockbuster movies with passion projects that allow him to express greater range.  I guess the big films help to fund or compensate for the little ones.

I've divided Iggy's recent collaborations into two sets, subtitled Art and Commerce.  The "Art" set features Iggy's deep baritone and French language fluency on collaborations with Catherine Graindorge, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Elvis Costello and others.  "Commerce" has Iggy with Slash, Trevor Horn, The Lambrini Girls, The Crystal Method and more.  Not to say that there aren't artistic ambitions on the "Commerce" set (or commercial appeal on the "Art" side).  There are also a few older tracks that weren't part of previous Iggy blog comps.  Happy 78th birthday to the streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm.

The Best Of Steve Jones (Post-Pi$ToLs)

 

Many guitarists will cop to stealing licks from famous musicians, but Steve Jones actually stole their guitars (and amps) as he learned to play.

After the Pistols petered out, Steve Jones and Paul Cook formed The Professionals. They split after one LP (but Cook and singer-guitarist Ray McVeigh made a new Professionals album without Jones in 2017 called What In The World).

Cook and Jones also played on Johnny Thunders' album So Alone and singles by The Lightning Raiders and The Greedies (the latter with members of Thin Lizzy). They partnered with Jimmy Pursey and Dave Tregunna as the Sham Pistols. Cook and Jones co-produced and played on Joan Jett's first single.

Steve Jones did some session work for Gen X, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the NYHC band Kraut. Jonesy and Paul Simenon even played on a Bob Dylan record! Jones, Cook and Simenon also appeared as members of The Looters in the movie Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.

Jones' next band was Chequered Past (a group that included former members of Blondie), which ended when frontman Michael des Barres left to replace Robert Palmer in the Power Station.

Steve Jones made two solo albums in the late 80's, while writing and playing on Iggy Pop's albums Blah-Blah-Blah and Instinct, as well as Iggy's classic theme for the movie Repo Man. Jones contributed to solo albums by des Barres, Andy Taylor (Duran Duran, Power Station), and the actor Don Johnson. Steve has also done production work (beginning with 1979's self-titled Avengers EP and The Wall's second single). He also hosted a longstanding radio show called Jonesy's Jukebox.

In the 90's, Jones jammed at the Viper Room with P (Gibby Haynes, Flea, and Johnny Depp) and The Neurotic Outsiders (GnR's Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, Duran Duran's John Taylor). Cook and Jones reunited in 1996 with John Lydon and Glen Matlock for the "Filthy Lucre" tour. 

After the Professionals' reunion in 2017, Steve Jones wrote an autobiography (Lonely Boy, 2019). His book is the basis of an upcoming TV miniseries about the Sex Pistols (who are suing each other again).

Stinky has compiled a superlative set of songs from The Professionals, Steve's solo work, Chequered Past, and The Neurotic Outsiders; plus his collaborations with fellow punk and pre-punk luminaries Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, Johnny Thunders, Chrissie Hynde, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Sham 69, and Thin Lizzy. Ladies and gentlemen, Stinky LePew presents the fabulous Steve Jones!

Iggy Had A Birthday

Iggy Pop turned 73 this week, and Funhouse turns 50 this summer! What has Iggy been up to since his Guest Spots featured on this blog last year? Ever the busy man, he has been popping up on a diverse range of recent releases. 

In today's set, Iggy lends his voice to tracks by Argentine trio Fémina; Lebanese vocalist Yara Lapidus; contemporary jazz singers ALA.Ni, Thomas Dutronc and Diana Krall; young rockers Warmduscher and Cage The Elephant; and rapper Pan Amsterdam (an alias for Leron Thomas, who produced and played trumpet on Iggy's 2019 album Free).

Sean Lennon, Iggy Pop, and Yoko Ono waiting on a downbound train (2010)

Iggy and Leron Thomas perform the title tune for the recent Mose Allison tribute, If You're Going To The City. I also added a soundtrack appearance from the 2017 film Cornélius, le meunier hurlant (with Anaïs Demoustier), and my favorite song from Free. 

Iggy's duets with Chrissie Hynde and Vanessa Paradis were officially released in 2019, but were recorded years earlier, much like the Sly Stone cover that Iggy shared with the world this week. 

Speaking of duets, this is a fun video of a performance from a decade ago: Iggy joins the Plastic Ono Band (Yoko, Sean, Mike Watt, Nels Cline, and drummer Yuko Araki) to perform "Waiting On The D Train".

I'm Excited (Again): Autumn's New Releases and Concerts

I've bought several new releases recently. The Figgs' triple album Shady Grove is an outstanding achievement for a band that has been together over 30 years. They are one of the tightest bands I've ever had the pleasure to see.

Tropical Fuck Storm are barnstorming the US in support of their second album, Braindrops. You can buy it from Joyful Noise or at Bandcamp. The new songs are amazing, and the live show literally left me slackjawed. So fucking great.

I will be seeing Redd Kross again soon (touring in support of their excellent new album Beyond The Door) as they open for the Melvins. Melvins' drummer Dale Crover plays with Redd Kross on the new album and on tour, and Redd Kross bassist Jeff McDonald does the same for the Melvins. Is there a better rock rhythm section performing these days?

Hollie Cook has a lovely new single, "Dance In The Sunshine". Iggy Pop has a new album called Free.  Both singers have been featured in this blog's Guest Spots series. Jazz and blues chanteuse Cassandra Wilson has announced a new album, Jupiter Rising, and you can hear two tracks from it on her website. Ms. Wilson will be the subject of a forthcoming Guest Spots set. (I got no kick against modern jazz.)

The Pernice Brothers unexpectedly released a new album called Spread The Feeling, which will be followed by a few live shows in October. In other news for fans of witty and meticulously crafted power pop, The New Pornographers have a new album with the unwieldy title In the Morse Code of Brake Lights out later this month, with East Coast tour dates to follow.

The accomplished Atlanta trio Omni has signed to Sub Pop and will release their third album, Networker, in November. I saw Omni open for Tav Falco a couple years ago, and as they stepped off stage, Mike Watt shook hands enthusiastically with Omni bassist Philip Frobos. Speaking of Watt, he has a new group with Wire bassist Graham Lewis called Fitted, and their album comes out in November.

Atlanta's beloved Magnapop will release their new album The Circle Is Round this month. They just completed a Benelux tour, and I can't wait for their hometown show with Five Eight this month. (Magnapop remains very popular in The Netherlands and Belgium, an example of the "big in Japan" phenomenon).

While we're on the subject of The Netherlands, one of my favorite recent discoveries was the 2018 self-titled album by Rotterdam quartet Lone Wolf. They have completed their second album, Together Alone, to be released in October. Peerless punk pop!

I'm Excited: Upcoming Releases and Recent Favorites

The Figgs' triple album Shady Grove comes out soon on their own Stomper Records label (watch the "Grab Your Pack" video here)... 

Redd Kross' Beyond The Door opens August 23 on Merge Records (stream the title track here).  A two month US tour with Melvins starts on September 3rd...  

Braindrops by Tropical Fuck Storm also out August 23 on Joyful Noise (with US tour dates August 28 through September 14!) ...

On September 6, Iggy Pop will release a new album called Free ...

Magnapop's "The Circle Is Round" will be released September 27 on HHBTM (preview the song "Need To Change" here) ... 

The Mark Lanegan Band will release Somebody's Knocking October 18 on Heavenly Recordings.  The "Stitch It Up" video features Donal Logue reprising his character “Jimmy The Cab Driver” ...

I'm also excited that early recordings of The Embarrassment have surfaced online, including a rehearsal tape and demos from 1979, studio tapes (1981-83), and much more audio and video of the legendary blister pop pioneers from Lawrence, KS!

I can't stop listening to the 2018 self-titled debut by Rotterdam punk-pop band Lone Wolf.  You may think "the band name is generic", or "the genre has been done to death", but rarely is it done this well.  The songs stick in my brain like bubblegum, and they are performed with passion: anthemic vocals and guitar by Ms. Merel Schaap (ex-Bat Bites), and an airtight rhythm section that kicks like an MMA champ.

Another newish band I'm stuck on is Upper Wilds, a power trio led by the enormously talented Dan Friel from the late great Parts & Labor.  You can stream or buy their 2018 album Mars on Thrill Jockey's website or on Bandcamp. 

This Ain't No Funhouse

The Stooges' classic second album, Funhouse, is almost half a century old? Hard to believe. And who would have guessed that Iggy would outlive all of his original bandmates? Not with that lifestyle. And yet, here we are: it's 2019, and Iggy is 72.

Funhouse was released on 7/07/1970. All of its songs (with the exception of the freeform "LA Blues") have been covered by numerous artists. A few years ago on another blog I compiled two sets of Funhouse covers. Here's an update -- with a third volume -- to mark the album's 49th anniversary.

But how to address the lack of "LA Blues" cover versions?  John Zorn and Yamatsuka Eye's "TV Eye" sounds as unhinged as "LA Blues", as does the music of Billy Bao (whose album Buildings From Bilbao isn't truly a Nigerian emigrant's song by song cover of Funhouse, as it was purported to be.) 

I included an unrelated "LA Blues" from Iggy's solo Acoustics KO, and one of the Stooges' freeform jams from the Complete Funhouse Sessions box set.  In addition to Iggy and the Stooges themselves, Ron Asheton appears (with Scott Morgan's Powertrane, New Race and Dark Carnival), as do Scott Asheton (Dark Carnival) and Steve Mackay. And there are a couple of Funhouse inspired tunes by Sour Jazz and the Spacemen 3.

If you're an Iggy fan, don't miss my "Guest Spots" collection of his many collaborations with other artists. Iggy most recently appeared on hip hop singles by Pan Amsterdam and Fémina, and he played a zombie in the film The Dead Don't Die.  Hopefully he will stick around for next summer's 50th anniversary of Funhouse.

Guest Spots: Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop has a recording career that spans half a century. In addition to his albums with The Stooges and as a solo artist, he has made numerous appearances on tribute albums, soundtracks, and other artists' records.

Iggy has collaborated with Fatboy Slim, Bill Laswell, Ministry, Slash, Buckethead, Was Not Was, Medeski Martin & Wood, Peaches, NRBQ's Terry Adams, Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, among others. Iggy has covered songs by Black Flag, Betty Davis, Nick Cave, Yoko Ono, the Who, the Monochrome Set, Eddie Cochran and Duke Ellington. 

He has participated on tributes to Cole Porter, Junior Kimbrough, Don Covay, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, and the Black Keys; and benefits for The West Memphis Three and The David Lynch Foundation. Iggy has also appeared on Christmas records by William Shatner, Kylie Minogue, and Michel Legrand (not to mention the holiday chestnut, "Jesus Loves The Stooges").

He has contributed original songs to numerous movies (everything from a Bond film to Robert Altman's Short Cuts, Johnny Depp's disastrous The Brave, Arizona Dream, and the theme to last year's Gold) as well as TV shows (including Peaky Blinders, True Blood, and Vinyl). Iggy has lent his distinctive baritone to animation (Persepolis and Lil' Bush), video games, and spoken word (from Poe and Walt Whitman to William S. Burroughs). 

In the last two decades, Iggy has become quel francophone, recording classic chansons and composing songs inspired by Michel Houellebecq. He has sung with Anaïs Demoustier, Demi Mondaine, Françoise Hardy, Lulu Gainsbourg, and Emmanuelle Seigner. 

Iggy has also appeared on records with Misia from Portugal, Songhoy Blues from Mali, the late Israeli singer Ofra Haza, Les Rita Mitsouko, Os Mutantes member Sergio Dias, Japanese guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei, Sweden's Teddybears, and German artists Millenia Nova, Tarwater, and WestBam.  

I posted an earlier version of these mixes on another blog in 2016, but Iggy has been a prolific collaborator since then; most recently with Underworld, Josh Homme, and the jazz trio of Jamie Saft, Steve Swallow, and Bobby Previte.