Iggy Pop Stories: Musicians And Writers Reflect On The Punk Icon

Soundcheck seems to be in the midst of what is shaping up to be Iggy Pop week. You can hear a full album stream of Iggy And The Stooges' brand new record, Ready To Die, and this Sunday, April 28, Soundcheck and NPR Music are co-presenting a live show and video webcast with Iggy Pop and The Stooges performing that new record, plus some old favorites.

As one of rock’s most notorious frontmen, Iggy Pop has made many impressions -- and we’re asking for yours.

We invited a few musicians and critics to share some of their stories. We check in with music journalist Sylvie Simmons, the prolific garage rocker Ty Segall, Time Out New York's Sophie Harris, and Sarah Everton of the Philly-based band Bleeding Rainbow.

First, we asked the roundtable to give us the essence of Iggy in one word. Simmons said "fearles," Harris said, "butch." Everton said "scar tissue," and Segall went with "God."

More of their stories, below. Got an Iggy Pop story? You can tell us in the comments section below, on Twitter at @Soundcheck, or call us at 866-939-1612 and leave a voice mail.

Sylvie Simmons, music journalist, whose latest book is I'm Your Man: The Life Of Leonard Cohen

I was interviewing Iggy Pop in Paris. He was reading a very intellectual book and wearing the identical pair of fishnet tights that I was wearing, so we had a very good bonding experience. We were talking, and somehow Leonard Cohen's name came up.

And Iggy says, "Oh, I have a story about Leonard. I was in Los Angeles recording an album when Leonard Cohen phoned me up one night, and he said, 'Iggy, come over I have a personal ad from a girl who says she wants a lover who would combine the raw energy of Iggy Pop with the elegant wit of Leonard Cohen.'"

Cohen decided they should reply to the personal ad as a team -- and they took a photo together in the kitchen, both looking very pouty, and exactly what a girl would want when she puts an ad like that in the paper. And so they replied. And I asked Iggy, "Did you go on a date with her?" And he said "No... but I think Leonard did."

Ty Segall, garage rock musician, whose latest album is Twins

I've never met him or seen him -- I hope to. But the thing about Iggy is that he is kind of like this god for kids who don't believe in God. I was 13 when I heard Raw Power for the first time. I have this very distinct memory of walking into the record store as a young kid just getting into punk. I had a Black Flag CD and a Minor Threat CD. The clerk was listening to Raw Power and it was just this perfect moment of dude...laying down the gospel.

 

Sophie Harris, writer at Time Out New York

About five or six years ago at a Mojo award ceremony, I was standing near the bar with [Arcade Fire's] Win Butler, having a chat, and we were a few meters away from the bar. Standing at the bar was Iggy Pop. I think he might have been talking to Bjork at the time. I was standing a little ways away talking to Win, and we would be chatting, and every so often [Win Butler] would look over the bar at Iggy. And I'd say, "Do you want to go over and talk to him? I could introduce you." And he'd say, "Oh, no no no, that's fine." And he'd glance over and I'd say, "Are you sure?"

This went on for a while. This tickled me because it's such a good illustration of the magnetism of Iggy. Because I was staring too. And as I remember Iggy was shirtless, although that could be my mind coloring it in. But you just can't help but stare.

Sarah Everton, of Bleeding Rainbow, whose new album is Yeah Right

The first time I ever saw Iggy Pop was on the TV show The Adventures Of Pete and Pete, which aired on Nickelodeon in the early '90s. He was a recurring character, he played the father of one of the Pete's friends, Nona Mecklenberg. He was James Mecklenberg. And I remember watching the show and having no idea who he was. And now, looking back, it's really hilarious. He plays a really sweet, overprotective father. The show was meant for kids -- but it was also definitely meant for adults too; cool parents who would know who he was and get why it was so funny.