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The Stooges

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The Stooges
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
FounderIggy Pop, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, Dave Alexander
Headquarters
Ann Arbor
,
United States
ProductsRock music albums and performances

The Stooges—also referred to as Iggy and the Stooges—originated as an American rock ensemble in Ann Arbor, Michigan during 1967. The founding lineup consisted of vocalist Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander. Their music was characterized by a raw and elemental rock and roll sound. Although their initial record sales were modest, they became notorious for provocative live shows, notably featuring Iggy Pop's self-harm performances.

Following the release of two albums—The Stooges in 1969 and Fun House in 1970—the group briefly dissolved. They later reassembled with Ron Asheton switching to bass and James Williamson joining on guitar, culminating in the 1973 album Raw Power. The band disbanded again in 1974. In 2003, the Stooges reunited with Ron Asheton back on guitar, Mike Watt handling bass duties, and saxophonist Steve Mackay, who had contributed to Fun House. This lineup persisted until Ron Asheton passed away in 2009. Subsequently, James Williamson rejoined, and the band released their final record, Ready to Die, in 2013. The Stooges officially ceased activity in 2016 after the deaths of Scott Asheton and Steve Mackay.

Recognized as pioneers of the proto-punk genre, The Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2004, Rolling Stone placed them at number 78 on its list of the 100 greatest artists ever. Additionally, they were honored with the Mojo Lifetime Achievement Award at the Mojo Awards in 2007.

Formation (1967–1968)

Before forming The Stooges, Iggy Pop, born James Newell Osterberg, played drums in various Ann Arbor-based groups during his adolescence, including the Iguanas and the Prime Movers—the latter bestowing upon him the nickname "Iggy." After encountering blues drummer Sam Lay in Chicago, Osterberg sought to develop a novel style of blues-inspired rock music, influenced by garage bands such as The Sonics and The Kinks. The group took shape with Osterberg as lead vocalist alongside guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander. Osterberg adopted the stage name Iggy Pop, inspired by a local figure and experiences like attending an MC5 concert.

Two significant inspirations fueled The Stooges' early drive: witnessing a live performance by the Doors and seeing an all-female rock band from New Jersey called the Untouchable. These events encouraged Osterberg to advance the band's development despite early uncertainties.

Their inaugural show took place on Halloween night of 1967 at their shared residence. Subsequently, they performed at Detroit venues such as the Grande Ballroom, opening for acts like Blood, Sweat & Tears. Early gigs featured experimental sounds utilizing household items and homemade instruments, crafting an avant-garde style that differed from their later punk rock approach.

In 1968, Elektra Records dispatched DJ and publicist Danny Fields to scout MC5. This led to recording contracts for both MC5 and The Stooges—though with differing financial terms: MC5 received $20,000 while The Stooges were offered $5,000—a detail highlighted in Jim Jarmusch’s 2016 documentary film Gimme Danger.

The Stooges, Fun House, and initial dissolution (1969–1971)

The band’s debut, the self-titled album released in 1969, experienced limited commercial success and received unfavorable critical feedback. The Stooges became notorious for their raw and chaotic live performances. Iggy Pop gained recognition for his provocative stage behavior, which included covering his torso with hamburger meat and peanut butter, inflicting self-injury with broken glass, and exposing himself to the crowd. He is often credited as a pioneer of stage diving.

Their sophomore effort, Fun House (1970), introduced saxophonist Steve Mackay into the lineup. On June 13 of that year, during the Cincinnati Pop Festival, Pop famously plunged into the audience during "T.V. Eye" and "1970," while smearing peanut butter on his chest—a container reportedly supplied by Stiv Bators from the Lords of the New Church and the Dead Boys. Despite its vigorous energy, Fun House also suffered from poor sales and mixed reviews.

In August 1970, bassist Dave Alexander was fired after appearing intoxicated at the Goose Lake International Music Festival. He was succeeded by several bass players, including former roadie Zeke Zettner and James Recca. The band expanded by adding a second guitarist; initially this role was filled by roadie Bill Cheatham before childhood friend James Williamson took over.

By this time, all members except Ron Asheton had become heavy heroin users, a habit introduced by their new manager John Adams. Their live shows became increasingly unpredictable, with Pop often struggling to maintain his balance onstage. Elektra Records eventually dropped the group, resulting in a temporary break. The final lineup before this hiatus featured Pop, the Asheton brothers, Recca, and Williamson.

The Stooges officially parted ways on July 9, 1971. Shortly thereafter, Pop encountered David Bowie at Max's Kansas City, leading to a close friendship. Following Bowie’s counsel, Pop signed with Tony DeFries’ management company MainMan and soon secured a two-album contract with CBS/Columbia Records through Clive Davis.

Raw Power era and second disbandment (1972–1974)

In March 1972, DeFries took Pop and Williamson to the United Kingdom to rebuild the Stooges with British musicians; after failing to find suitable candidates, they reinstated the Asheton brothers. Ron Asheton’s move from guitar to bass created internal friction. This formation, billed as Iggy & the Stooges, produced their third studio album, Raw Power, which came out in 1973.

Though initially criticized for Bowie's subpar mixing work, Raw Power did not achieve commercial success but later became highly influential among early punk rock musicians. Numerous unofficial bootlegs titled Rough Power circulated among fans until Iggy Pop remixed and reissued the album in 1997.

The band incorporated a pianist—first Bob Sheff followed by Scott Thurston—and began touring in February 1973. They recorded the Detroit Rehearsal Tapes, featuring potential tracks for a fourth album; however, Columbia dropped them shortly after Raw Power’s release. During 1973, Williamson was briefly ousted due to management disputes but returned after guitarist Tornado Turner filled in for one show.

The Stooges dissolved again in February 1974 amid dwindling prospects and exacerbated by Pop’s heroin addiction and unstable conduct. Their final concert on February 9, 1974 in Detroit was captured on the live album Metallic K.O., released in 1976 by combining it with an earlier October 6, 1973 performance. Subsequent expanded editions appeared in 1988 and 1998 featuring additional songs and complete setlists.

Post-breakup era and reunion (1975–2003)

After completing his first stint in drug rehabilitation, Iggy Pop embarked on a tumultuous yet acclaimed solo journey in 1977, releasing the Bowie-produced albums The Idiot and Lust for Life. Meanwhile, Ron Asheton, having moved to Los Angeles, established the brief-lived group the New Order—not to be confused with the British band—with fellow Stooges members Recca and Thurston. He later joined Ann Arbor’s avant-garde ensemble Destroy All Monsters from 1977 to 1985. Prior to the Stooges' reassembly, Asheton supported himself by performing in several projects such as New Race, Dark Carnival, and the Empty Set. Williamson worked alongside Pop as producer and engineer on early solo efforts including Kill City and New Values, before transitioning to a career in electronics engineering in 1980. He graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1982 and retired as Sony’s vice president of technical standards in 2009. Scott Asheton remained musically active with Sonic's Rendezvous Band and the Scott Morgan Group while holding various day jobs. Dave Alexander passed away in 1975 due to pulmonary edema resulting from alcohol-related pancreatitis.

In 1997, Iggy Pop undertook a remix of the reissued Raw Power. Two years later, Rhino Handmade issued a comprehensive seven-disc box set titled 1970: The Complete Fun House Sessions, containing every recording from the Fun House sessions; all 3,000 copies were sold within twelve months.

By 2000, indie rock veterans J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr) and Mike Watt (Minutemen, Firehose) joined forces with Ron Asheton and drummer George Berz to perform live renditions of Stooges songs under the name J. Mascis and the Fog. This ensemble played intermittently until Iggy Pop became aware of their performances in 2003. That year marked a reunion when Pop collaborated with the Asheton brothers on four tracks for the album Skull Ring, featuring Pop on vocals, Scott Asheton on drums, and Ron Asheton handling guitar and bass duties. Shortly thereafter, the Stooges officially reunited, embarking on tours throughout the United States and Europe with Mike Watt on bass—invited by Ron Asheton—and saxophonist Steve Mackay from the Fun House era. Their Detroit homecoming concert, postponed due to the 2003 North America blackout, was later released as the DVD Live in Detroit.

The Weirdness, Ron Asheton’s passing, and James Williamson’s comeback (2004–2009)

On August 16, 2005, Elektra Records alongside Rhino Records issued remastered two-disc editions of the Stooges’ first two albums. These releases preserved the original mixes by including the initial album on disc one and outtakes on disc two, differing from the remixed version of Raw Power in 1997.

In 2007, the band unveiled The Weirdness, an album recorded with Steve Albini and mastered at London’s Abbey Road Studios. Reception was mixed among critics. Additionally, they contributed a rendition of Junior Kimbrough’s "You Better Run" for a tribute compilation.

The Stooges earned induction into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2008.

Between 2003 and 2008, extensive touring took place across five continents, featuring appearances at festivals such as All Tomorrow's Parties, Iggy Pop’s 60th birthday celebration at San Francisco’s Warfield Theater, Lollapalooza, and a notable performance during Madonna’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony—where they protested their exclusion despite six previous nominations (the band was inducted two years later). A significant setback occurred in August 2008 when their equipment was stolen while in Montreal. Initially concentrating on material from their early albums alongside selections from The Weirdness, by 2008 they had reintroduced classics like "Search and Destroy", "I Got a Right", and "Raw Power" into their setlists. The last show featuring Ron Asheton took place on September 29, 2008, in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Ron Asheton passed away on January 6, 2009, reportedly due to a heart attack at age 60. The group described him as "irreplaceable".

On October 1, 2009, Abrams published The Stooges: The Authorized and Illustrated Story, authored by Robert Matheu and Jeffrey Morgan.

In May of that year, Iggy Pop announced plans to continue performing with James Williamson returning as guitarist. Pop clarified that while “the Stooges” ended with Asheton’s death, “Iggy and the Stooges” would carry forward. Their inaugural concert with this lineup occurred on November 7, 2009, in São Paulo, Brazil, incorporating tracks from Raw Power along with selections from Pop’s early solo catalog.

Final album Ready to Die and band dissolution (2010–2016)

In 2010, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame welcomed the group, honoring Williamson, Pop, Alexander, Scott Asheton, and Ron Asheton as inductees. This recognition came after seven previous unsuccessful nominations and featured a performance with former keyboardist Scott Thurston. The band remained active with Williamson, including their appearance at the 2010 All Tomorrow's Parties festival where they performed the entire Raw Power album. Subsequently, on April 10, 2010, Raw Power was reissued, presenting the first remastered version of David Bowie’s mix alongside a live recording from 1973. In 2011, Detroit-based author Brett Callwood released The Stooges – Head On: A Journey Through The Michigan Underground, which explored the Asheton brothers’ careers following their time with the band.

The Stooges unveiled their final studio effort, Ready to Die, on Fat Possum Records on April 30, 2013. Their extensive 25-city global tour that year culminated in a performance at San Jose’s C2SV Festival on September 28.

Drummer Scott Asheton passed away from a heart attack on March 15, 2014, at age 64. Saxophonist Steve Mackay died in October 2015 at the age of 66.

In 2016, acclaimed filmmaker Jim Jarmusch directed the documentary Gimme Danger, chronicling the band's history.

On June 22, 2016, guitarist Williamson publicly declared the band's conclusion: "The Stooges is over. Basically, everybody's dead except Iggy and I. So it would be sort of ludicrous to try and tour as Iggy and the Stooges when there's only one Stooge in the band and then you have side guys." He further indicated his plans to retire from touring.

Musical style

The Stooges are widely recognized as pioneers of proto-punk and played a crucial role in shaping punk rock, alternative rock, heavy metal, and rock music at large. Prior to noise rock becoming an established genre, they fused elements of noise with punk aesthetics.

Legacy

Lester Bangs was among the earliest national advocates for the Stooges, particularly around their second album, Fun House. Other notable supporters include Legs McNeil. Steve Peregrin Took, former percussionist for Tyrannosaurus Rex, credited Iggy Pop’s stage presence as a key influence on his own unpredictable performances.

The proto-punk sound pioneered by the Stooges served as a blueprint for numerous punk acts. The Sex Pistols famously covered "No Fun" in 1976. Sid Vicious performed several Stooges tracks solo, including those featured on his Sid Sings album. Dee Dee Ramone noted that the Ramones bonded over their shared admiration for the Stooges—a band often dismissed by their contemporaries. Joey Ramone recorded a rendition of "1969" for his solo work Don't Worry About Me. Additionally, Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie and the Banshees acknowledged their influence.

Several groups derived their names from Stooges songs or lyrics; examples include Radio Birdman, Penetration, and Raw Power. Australian band Radio Birdman named one of their early venues "The Oxford Funhouse" and covered "TV Eye" on their 1977 release Radios Appear, underscoring the Stooges' impact.

Artists from diverse genres have cited the band as an inspiration—among them Misfits, Sonic Youth, Bauhaus, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., The Sisters of Mercy, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Mudhoney, Ride, Pere Ubu, and Crime.

Kurt Cobain consistently identified Raw Power as his favorite album in his personal Journals.

Joan Jett included a cover of "I Wanna Be Your Dog" on her platinum-selling 1988 album Up Your Alley. The British punk group The Damned closed their debut record with a Stooges cover. The Birthday Party frequently incorporated Stooges songs into live performances. Other notable covers have been recorded by Sonic Youth; English space rock ensemble Spacemen 3; Guns N' Roses ("Raw Power"); Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Search and Destroy"); Soundgarden ("Search and Destroy"); Slayer ("I'm Gonna Be Your God"); Rage Against the Machine ("Down on the Street"); and R.E.M., who performed alongside Patti Smith during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

In August 1995, all three original Stooges albums were included in British magazine Mojo's list of "100 Greatest Albums of All Time," with Fun House achieving the highest placement at number 16.

Their track "Search and Destroy" was featured in the PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero II.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the Stooges at number 78 among the most influential artists over the preceding half-century.

Layne Staley from Alice in Chains expressed admiration for the band. Emanuel covered "Search and Destroy" for the soundtrack of Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. In 2009, Cage the Elephant released a complimentary cover of "I Wanna Be Your Dog".

Slash named their debut album among his favorites while Peter Hook highlighted their live record Metallic K.O. as a top choice.

Final lineup

Image Name Active years Instruments played Release credits
Template:CSS image crop Iggy Pop
  • 1967–1971
  • 1972–1974
  • 2003–2016
  • lead vocals
  • keyboards (1972–1973)
 all recordings
Template:CSS image crop James Williamson
  • 1970–1971
  • 1972–1974
  • 2009–2016
  • lead and rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals (1972–1974)
Template:CSS image crop Mike Watt 2003–2016 bass guitar all releases from Live in Detroit (2003) forward, except for You Don't Want My Name... You Want My Action (2009), Have Some Fun: Live at Unganos (2010), and Live at Goose Lake, August 8th, 1970 (2020)
Template:CSS image crop Toby Dammit (Larry Mullins) 2011–2016
  • drums
  • percussion

Ready to Die (2013)

Former members

Image Name Active years Instruments played Release credits
Template:CSS image crop Scott Asheton
  • 1967–1971
  • 1972–1974
  • 2003–2014 (until his passing)
 drums

all recordings

Template:CSS image crop Ron Asheton
  • 1967–1971
  • 1972–1974
  • 2003–2009 (until his passing)
  • lead and rhythm guitar (1967–1971, 2003–2009),

    bass guitar (1972–1974),

    backing vocals (1967–1969, 1972–1974)
 get recordings from The Stooges (1969) through to Have Some Fun: Live at Ungano's (2010)

|- | 

|Dave Alexander 
|1967–1970  
|bass guitar; backing vocals  
|

|} |- | 

|Steve Mackay 
| 
|saxophone 
|

|} |- | 

|Bill Cheatham
|1970 
|rhythm guitar
| rowspan="2" |Have Some Fun: Live at Unganos (2010)

|} |- | 

|Zeke Zettner
|1970 
|bass guitar

|} |- | 

|Jimmy Recca
|1971
|bass guitar
|You Don't Want My Name... You Want My Action (2009)

|} |- | 

|Bob Sheff
|1973 
|keyboards
|no releases

|} |- | 

|Tornado Turner
|1973
|lead and rhythm guitar
|no releases

|} |- | 

|Scott Thurston
|1973–1974 
|
|

|}


Discography

Videography

  • Live in Detroit (2003)
  • Iggy & the Stooges Reunion at Coachella! (2003)
  • Escaped Maniacs (2007)
  • Gimme Danger (2016)

External links

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