Iggy Pop Read online

  Recording dates or details with * are estimated. Recording dates come from Popped newsletter (The Stooges), Elektra Records (Fun House), MainMan itinerary (Raw Power), Ben Edmonds (Kill City), Laurent Thibault and Edu Meyer (The Idiot), Edu Meyer (Lust For Life), Julie Hooker (Soldier), Kris Needs/Creem (Blah Blah Blah), JO to PT (Brick By Brick), Larry Mullins (American Caesar, Naughty Little Doggie, Avenue B), Virgin Records (Beat ’Em Up) and Creem (Skull Ring).

  FURTHER READING

  All written sources used in the book are cited within the notes. The following books made for invaluable background reading and reference.

  Alias David Bowie, Peter and Leni Gilman (NEL 1986)

  An Unquiet Mind, Kay Redfield Jamison (Free Press 1993)

  Backstage Passes, Angie Bowie with David Carr (Orion 1993)

  The Brücke Museem, Magdalena Moeller (Prestel 2001)

  The Dark Stuff, Nick Kent (Penguin 1994)

  David Bowie: A Chronology, Kevin Cann (Vermilion 1983)

  Grit, Noise and Revolution, David A. Carson (UofM 2005)

  Guitar Army, John Sinclair (Douglas 1972)

  In Broken Wigwag, Suchi Asano (United 1997)

  I Need More, Iggy Pop and Anne Wehrer (Karz-Cohl 1982)

  Johnny Thunders In Cold Blood, Nina Antonia (Jungle 1997)

  The Life and Death of Andy Warhol, Victor Bockris (Bantam 1989)

  Low, Hugo Wilcken (Continuum 2005)

  Midnight At The Palace, Pam Tent (Alyson 2005)

  Moonage Daydream, David Thompson (Plexus 1994)

  Neighbourhood Threat, Alvin Gibbs (Britannia 1995)

  The New York Dolls: Too Much Too Soon, Nina Antonia (Omnibus 1998)

  New York Rocker, Gary Valentine (Sidgwick & Jackson 2002)

  Please Kill Me, Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain (Abacus 1997)

  Q Encyclopedia of Rock Stars (DK 1996)

  Rebel Heart, Bebe Buell (St Martins 2001)

  Strange Fascination, David Buckley (Virgin 1999)

  Trash, Kris Needs (Plexus 2006)

  Wheels of the World, Douglas Brinkley (Penguin 2003)

  The Wild One, Per Nilsen (Music Sales 1990)

  Wonderland Avenue, Danny Sugerman (Plume 1989)

  The principal magazines used for background reading were Back Door Man, Billboard, Circus, Coast FM & Fine Art, Creem, Denim Delinquent, East Village Other, End Times, Entertainment World, Evo, 5th Estate, Fusion, Gay Power, Goldmine, GQ, The Guitar Magazine, International Musician, Jazz & Pop, Long Island Free Press, Melody Maker, MOJO, Motorbooty, Motor City Rock and Roll News, NME, Pavilion, Phonograph Record Magazine, Q, Record World, Rock Scene, Rolling Stone, Sounds, Stereo Review, Strange Things, Trouser Press, Uncut, Variety, Village Voice, Vintage Guitar Magazine, Wire and Zig Zag.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  It seems to be a writers’ convention to open acknowledgements with fulsome praise of agent and editor, and this is a convention I’m happy to adhere to. I had embarked on an Iggy biography more than ten years ago, before joining the staff of MOJO, and it was Julian Alexander, subsequently my agent, who singlehandedly re-fired my enthusiasm, and then, along with Celia Hayley, helped hone my ideas into a book that was far more intriguing than the project I’d abandoned a decade before. Antonia Hodgson, of Little, Brown/Sphere, and Gerry Howard, at Random House in New York, both grasped what this book was about, seemingly instantaneously; I count myself privileged to have worked with both of them. Barbara Henry, the wife of Ann Arbor High student George, unlocked a huge resource, presiding over an effort that tracked down around five hundred of Jim Osterberg’s high-school contemporaries. Attending their reunion, and speaking to dozens of people who knew Jim as a boy, gave me an invaluable insight into his upbringing and also enabled me to track down other crucial contacts, notably Jim’s first girlfriends. Dale Withers Peck provided great company at the reunion. Don Swickerath, one-time bassist of the Iguanas, is a delightful gentleman with whom I spent many happy evenings; he also gave me the use of a house in Ann Arbor on one of my first trips, and I will be forever in his debt. Scott Morgan was a great source, and I spent a terrific day with him touring the city’s rock ’n’ roll haunts, including the ten-foot bridge where Scotty trashed the Stooges’ van, and the armoury where an entire generation of Ann Arbor musicians fagged out of the draft. Robert Matheu was a mine of information and great company; he took me on a rock ’n’ roll tour of LA (in a convertible, natch); Tony and Gretchen Horkins were also invaluable friends to me on my stay in LA. Thanks to Carl Glover and Christine Bone for the albums and the tolerance; Keith Cameron and Andrew Perry for their thoughts on grunge; all the staff of MOJO magazine, especially Jenny Bulley, Danny Eccleston, Andrew Male and Phill Kalli for their constant assistance and patience; Barry Andrews and Marilyn Fitzgerald for a pleasant summer barbecue. Clare Hulton first suggested writing an Iggy book many years ago; Cliff Jones was my collaborator on that first venture and on my first MOJO feature on Iggy; we spent many long hours discussing Iggy and his work, all of which has helped inform this book. Nick Kent and Ben Edmonds are the two writers who’ve consistently shown the most insight into Iggy and the Stooges; they were unfailingly generous with their help. Historical research on James Osterberg Sr’s background was carried out by Al Hahn.

  Kat Johnson transcribed literally hundreds of thousands of words of interviews. Per Nilsen supplied his records of Stooges gigs and other information, which was of great help in establishing the timeline of several crucial events. Per also read through an early manuscript, making useful suggestions and correcting several errors. Loren Dobson provided invaluable suggestions and corrections. Esther Friedmann provided a wealth of information; Florian Feineis kindly let me use his apartment during my stay in Frankfurt. I should also thank my schoolfriend Nick Hunter, who brought home a cut-out copy of The Stooges when we were fifteen.

  Although this is in no respect an official or authorised biography, I must sincerely acknowledge the assistance given by James Osterberg Jr and his manager Henry McGroggan. In several instances, where potential interviewees asked if he approved of their speaking to me, Jim Osterberg not only gave his approval, but actively encouraged them to speak; in particular, he gave me written permission to interview his psychiatrist from NPI, Dr Murray Zucker, an example of openness that is without precedent in my (interminable) experience of working with rock stars and their courtiers. At no point did he or his associates attempt to exert any influence on this book. I have enjoyed my visits to his turbulent, intriguing life and hope I’ve done it justice. Thanks to Iggy Pop, the Stooges and his other musicians for the pretty music. And my enduring gratitude to Curtis and Lucy for their inspirational support, tolerance and lust for life.

  Other crucial sources of help were Robert Altman, Simon Bentley, Rodney Bingenheimer, Johnny Black, Joolz Bosson, Dave Brolan, Duane Brown, David Buckley, Paul Burgess, Garth Cartwright, Sharon Chevin, Rick Conrad, Richard Deakin, Loren Dobson, Clarence ‘Rusty’ Eldridge, David Fricke, Christophe Geudin, Pat Gilbert, Holly Givens, Robert Gordon, Marcus Gray, Julie Hooker, Barney Hoskyns, Jayne Houghton, Mick Houghton, Russell Hunter, Bill Inglot, Mike Kappus, Stuart Kirkham, Bobbie Lam, Patti Maki, Ann McArtor, Margaret Moser, Dennis Muirhead, Kris Needs, Nite Bob, Mark Paytress, Jeremy Pierce, Ira Robbins, Johnny Rogan, Tricia Ronane, Carlton P. Sandercock, Lynn Seager, Joel Selvin, Sylvia Skelton, Dave Thompson, Don Waller, Holly George Warren, Alex Wende, Lois Wilson, Bob Young and Marc Zermati.

  Special thanks go to all my interviewees. Many of them submitted to repeated interviews and email queries, and most submitted to this pseudo-stalking with unfailing patience. In some cases interviewees are not directly quoted in the book, but all of them provided crucial help. They are: John ‘Twink’ Alder, Janie Allen, Carlos Alomar, Barry Andrews, Mike Andrews, Pete Andrews, Kevin Armstrong, Kathy Asheton, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, Robert Ashley, Hugh Attwooll, Evita Ardura, Jim Avery, Jay Babcock, Hiawatha Bailey, John Baird, Bob Baker, Michael Bartus, Roberta Bayley, Seamus Beaghen, Leo Beattie, Johnny B
ee, Rodney Bingenheimer, Al Blixt, Richard Bosworth, Dan Bourgoise, Angie Bowie, Joel Brodsky, Freddie Brooks, Duane Brown, Bebe Buell, Clem Burke, Mary Booth Calder, John Cale, Keith Cameron, Joan Campbell, Ed Caraeff, Dan Carlisle, Bob Carow, Jim Carpenter, Patricia Carson Celusta, Bill Cheatham, Leee ‘Black’ Childers, Bill Coleman, Don Collier, Jayne County, Hal Cragin, Doug Currie, François De Menil, Jannie Densmore, Liz Derringer, Rick Derringer, Michael Des Barres, Pam Des Barres, Wolfgang Diebeling, Dennis Diekman, Richard Dishman, Sigrid Dobat, Richard Dorris, Johnny Drake, Dave Dunlap, Rob Duprey, Ben Edmonds, Robin Eggar, Clarence ‘Rusty’ Eldridge, Luke Engel, Dan Erlewine, Joan Erlewine, Michael Erlewine, Tina Fantusi, Mick Farren, Fayette (the Cockettes), Olivier Ferrand, Danny Fields, Pete Fink, Ted Fosdick, Kim Fowley, Charles ‘Black’ Francis, Dennis Frawley, Esther Friedmann, Rick Frystack, Don Gallucci, Ricky Gardiner, Thom Gardner, Pleasant Gehman, Russ Gibb, Skip Gildersleeve, Dana Gillespie, Brian Glascock, Jeff Gold, Lynn Goldsmith, Tarquin Gotch, Gary Grimshaw, Bob Gruen, Jason Guy, Bob Hallock, Steve Harris, Nigel Harrison, Kathy Heller, Ricky Hodges, Jeep Holland, Jac Holzman, Peter Hook, Julie Hooker, Pat Huetter, Ron Ideson, Frank Infante, Brian James, Nancy Jeffries, Sherry and Bob Johnson, Brad Jones, Lenny Kaye, Andrew Kent, Nick Kent, Dan Kett, Francie King, Bill Kirchen, Whitey Kirst, Erdal Kizilcay, Lynn Klavitter, Annie Klenman, Cub Koda, Bob Koester, Nick Kolokithas, Esther Korinsky, Ivan Kral, Barbara Kramer, Wayne Kramer, Klaus Kruger, Harvey Kubernick, Bill Kurtz, Bobbie Goddard Lam, Sally Larcom, Bill Laswell, Sam Lay, Jenny Lens, Dave Leone, Charles Levison, Lonnie, Dayna Louise, Steve Mackay, Lori Maddox, Gerard Malanga, Andrew Male, John Mann, Ray Manzarek, Dave Marsh, Pete Marshall, Carol Martin, Robert Matheu, Glen Matlock, Nancy McArtor, Maria McCormack, Nancy McCrado, Jim McLaughlin, John McLaughlin, John Mendelssohn, Lewis Merenstein, Eduard Meyer, Arjay Miller, Connie Miller, Rumi Missabu, Philippe Mogane, Scott Morgan, Margaret Moser, Larry Mullins, Laurence Myers, Jon Newey, Kuelan Nguyen, Nite Bob, Ric Ocasek, Richard Ogden, Denny Olmsted, Jim Osterberg, Hugh Padgham, Mike Page, Phil Palmer, Mark Parenteau, Jim Parrett, Phast Phreddie Patterson, Steve Paul, Cynthia Payne, Dale Withers Peck, Randy Poole, Gary Quackenbush, Sharon Ralph Gingras, Joan Raphael, Ron Richardson, Scott Richardson, Lisa Robinson, Mick Rock, Michael Royster, Andrew Sacks, Hunt Sales, Tony Sales, Eric Schermerhorn, Natalie Schlossman, Rachel Schreiber, Roy Seeger, Joel Selvin, Robert Sheff (aka ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny), Vivian Shevitz, Jimmy Silver, John Sinclair, Leni Sinclair, David Stopps, Robert Stotts, Mim Streiff, Don Swickerath, Sam Swisher, Laura Taylor, Laurent Thibault, Dennis Thompson, Scott Thurston, Michael Tipton, Jaan Uhelszki, Gary Valentine, Cherry Vanilla, Tony Visconti, Jimmie Wade, Jeff Wald, Mike Wall, Don Waller, Sandra Ward, Don Was, Anne Wehrer, Joseph Wehrer, Dana Whipple, Bill Williams, James Williamson, Irvin Wisniewski, Janet Withers, Charlotte Wolter, Ygar of Zolar X, Tony Zanetta, Marc Zermati, Glenn Ziegler and Murray Zucker.

  INDEX

  A&M records

  ‘Absolute Beginners’

  AC/DC

  Academy of Music, NY

  Action, Rock see Asheton, Scott

  Adams, John (‘the Fellow’)

  Adamson, Barry

  Adverts

  Aerosmith

  ‘Again And Again’

  ‘Ah-Moon’s Café’

  Aladdin Sane (Bowie album)

  Albini, Steve

  Alejandra (girlfriend)

  Alexander, Dave (Dude Arnet): drops out of high school; in Dirty Shames; and formation of Stooges ; and LSD; interest in mysticism and the occult; at debut party; bass playing ; and Iggy’st birthday ; and Iggy’s first marriage ; as co-creator of Iggy Pop ; withdrawn nature; sacked by Iggy; visits Stooges’ rehearsals; death ; remembered at reunion

  Alomar, Carlos

  alter ego, concept of

  Alu, Nina

  ‘Ambition’

  American Caesar (Iggy Pop album)

  American Legion’s Boys’ State program

  Andrews, Barry

  Andrews, Ed ‘Punch’

  Andrews, Jaime

  Andrews, Pete

  ‘Angel’

  Animal records

  ‘Ann’

  Ann Arbor, Michigan: alternative arts scene; Angie Bowie in; Clint’s Club; depicted in Stooges lyrics; Discount Records ; East Town ballroom; economic and industrial status; hippie culture; Iggy’s schooldays in ; John Sinclair’s move to; Morgan Road studio; Mothers Teenage Nightclub (in Armoury) ; music scene; University Towers apartments; see also Michigan, University of

  Ann Arbor High School ; class of ’ reunion

  Apple, Annie

  Ardura, Evita

  Ardura, Mrs

  Arista Records

  Arm, Mark

  Armstrong, Kevin

  Arnet, Dude see Alexander, Dave

  Arnold, Jerome

  Aronoff, Kenny

  Artaud, Antonin

  Asano, Suchi ; depicted in ‘Shades’; homes with Iggy; Iggy marries; marriage break-up ; in Sid And Nancy; writes In Broken Wigwag (novel)

  Asheton, Ann

  Asheton, Kathy

  Asheton, Ron: background; Iggy’s first meeting with; on Iggy as schoolboy; interest in Nazis ; and formation of Iguanas; in Prime Movers; avoids military service; in Chosen Few; bad behaviour with Koester; and formation of Stooges; role in Stooges; heroes; starts as bass player; as lead guitarist ; and drugs ; at debut party ; finances; loses virginity ; on Iggy’s alter ego; reaction to Danny Fields; and New York ; and Stooges’ first album ; as Iggy’s best man; TV tastes; as co-creator of Iggy Pop; known as ‘Cummings’ ; role in Fun House; songwriting; and Fun House sessions; and first Stooges split ; feels betrayed by Iggy’s Bowie contract; demoted to bass for Stooges reunion and feels sidelined; contributes to Williamson’s sacking ; on end of the Stooges; skill as bass player; positive attitude and humour; sexual activities ; lucky memento; scarred by flying coin; and Stooges’ last gig ; starts New Order; post-Stooges contact with Iggy ; depicted in ‘Dum Dum Boys’; and Velvet Goldmine soundtrack; Iggy blames for failure; still lives with mother ; and reformed Stooges

  Asheton, Scott (Rock Action): appearance; background ; Iggy’s first meeting with; and formation of Iguanas; bad behaviour with Koester; and formation of Stooges; drumming style; role in Stooges; and drugs ; at debut party; arguments with Iggy; home near Fun House; and New York ; teases Iggy’s first wife; and Stooges’ first album; as co-creator of Iggy Pop; in Los Angeles; on Iggy’s decline; friendship with Williamson; road accident; sidelined in reunited Stooges; contributes to Williamson’s sacking ; and Stooges’ last gig; on end of the Stooges; lucky memento; threatens Slade roadies; depicted in ‘Dum Dum Boys’; in SRB; reaction to Iggy’s autobiography; Iggy blames for failure; and reformed Stooges

  Ashley, Robert

  ‘Asthma Attack’

  Atlanta, Georgia

  Attwooll, Hugh

  avant-garde

  Avenue B (Iggy Pop album)

  Ayeroff, Jeff

  Aylesbury Friars

  Babcock, Jay

  Back Door Man (magazine)

  Bailey, Hiawatha

  Baker, Bob

  ‘Ballad Of Cookie McBride, The’

  ‘Bang Bang’

  Bangs, Lester

  Bart, Lionel

  Bauhaus

  Bayley, Roberta

  Baylis, Farmer (‘the Bear’)

  Beach Boys

  Beaghen, Seamus

  Beat ’Em Up (Iggy Pop album)

  Beatles

  Beattie, Leo

  Benson, Eric (Iggy’s son)

  Benson, Paulette

  Berg, Karin

  Berlin: Café Exil; Hansa studios; The Idiot sessions; Iggy’s flat in; life in ; Low sessions ; Lust For Life sessions; Schlosshotel Gerhus; UFA studios

  Berlin, East

  Berlin Wall

  Berry, Chuck

  ‘Beside You’

  ‘Beyond The Law’

  bikers

  Billboard

  Bimbo’s,
San Francisco

  Bindon, Johnny

  Bingenheimer, Rodney

  bipolar disorders

  Birthday Party

  Bishop family

  Black Flag

  Black Rain (film)

  Blah Blah Blah (Iggy Pop album) ; promotional tour

  Blondie

  Blood Sweat and Tears

  Bolan, Marc

  Bomp Records

  Bomser, Alan

  Booth, Mary

  ‘Borderline’

  Bosworth, Richard

  Bourgoise, Dan

  Bowbeer, Chuck

  Bowie, Angie

  Bowie, David ; Iggy’s first meetings with ; Williamson and; and Ziggy Stardust; motives for championing Iggy; compared to Stooges’ decadence ; US tour; Raw Power mixed by; Iggy inspires tracks on Aladdin Sane; ‘Cock In My Pocket’ inspired by; Japanese tour; allows MainMan to drop the Stooges; rivalry with Elton John; Iggy tries to contact; visits Iggy in hospital; overwork; and cocaine; records with Iggy in LA; offers Iggy ‘Sister Midnight’; Station To Station tour; relationship with Iggy ; rumours of gay relationship; visits Moscow with Iggy; and fascism ; The Idiot sessions ; cuts down on drugs; paints portrait of Iggy; Low sessions; and promotional tour for The Idiot; Lust For Life sessions; and “Heroes” ; RCA and; finds drummer for New Values; visits and enlivens Soldier sessions ; asks Iggy not to release ‘Play It Safe’; interrogates Kral ; charm with musicians; and Baal; gives advice on Iggy’s autobiography; and Let’s Dance ; success of ‘China Girl’; guitar borrowed from; Iggy holidays with; later songwriting collaborations with Iggy; and Tonight; film projects ; and Live Aid; records Blah Blah Blah with Iggy; admires’s Album; depicted with Iggy in Velvet Goldmine; visits Tony Sales in hospital; on Iggy’s compulsion to tour

  Bowie, Zowie

  Bowne, Doug

  Boyce, Tommy