Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor from Muskegon, United States, born James Newell Osterberg, Jr. in 1947. He becomes known as “Iggy” in high school, where he plays drums with the local blues group The Iguanas. His work spans punk, punk rock, rock, classic rock, garage rock, hard rock, and proto-punk, and he is often described as a major figure in punk rock and an early influence on the genre.

The Stooges

Pop is the vocalist of The Stooges, a late-1960s and early-1970s band that includes Ron and Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander. The group is important in the development of hard rock and proto-punk. Their debut album is produced by John Cale of the Velvet Underground. One of their best-known songs, “I Wanna Be Your Dog”, becomes a garage punk standard. Their album Raw Power is first released in 1973 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential records of its kind.

The Stooges are also known for confrontational live performances, with Pop jumping from the stage, smearing raw meat or peanut butter on his chest, and cutting himself with broken bottles. Pop and the surviving members of the group reunite in 2003, and the band is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Solo career and collaborations

Pop’s solo work covers a range of styles, including pop, hard rock, jazz and blues. His best-known songs include “Lust for Life”, “The Passenger”, “Real Wild Child”, “Candy”, “China Girl”, “Nightclubbing”, “Search and Destroy” and “I Wanna Be Your Dog”. “Candy” is a duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52’s. “The Passenger” is based on a poem by Jim Morrison. “Lust for Life” later features on the soundtrack to Trainspotting.

Guitarist James Williamson becomes an important collaborator, and their work together is documented on the 1978 album Kill City. David Bowie also plays a major part in reviving Pop’s post-Stooges career, and he works with him on Lust for Life and The Idiot. Bowie and Tina Turner both cover Pop’s song “Tonight”, while Bowie records his own version of “China Girl” and Grace Jones covers “Nightclubbing”.

Other projects

Pop is associated with The Stooges, Iggy and The Stooges, Bewlay Bros., The Trolls, The Iguanas, Various Artists for Children’s Promise and Detroit Panthers. He records on the label IGHO, LLC.