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Stooges To Play Raw Power In Its Entirety
6-Nov-2009
Written by: Robyn Chelsea-Seifert
Iggy Pop and Stooges ready for 2010 tour.
Is there anything more genuinely exciting than hearing The Stooges will reunite for a 2010 tour? Yes, beloved guitarist Ron Asheton sadly passed in January of a heart attack. Charismatic James Osterberg or Iggy Pop as he is known in some circles is rounding 63. James Williamson disappeared into the everyday fold of civilian life long ago trading guitar licks for keyboard strokes. But Iggy was, is and always will be in this for life and anyone who gets the opportunity to hear “Raw Power” one of the greatest punk albums ever recorded, live, should do so.
The quintessential punk band will perform “Raw Power” in its entirety at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in London May 2 and 3 and feature original drummer Scott Ashton and Minutemen bassist Mike Watt rounding out the band.
It’s been over 30 years since Williamson and Pop have performed together. After Pop’s 1980 “Soldier” LP the two had a blowout and didn’t speak for 20 years.
So when Iggy rang him up, James was a little unprepared as he told the BBC, “He asked me if I wanted to play guitar again. I was about to take an early retirement from my job in Silicon Valley, so I figured ‘What the hell, let’s do it.’”
Williamson hadn’t played since the band broke up in ’74, running the technology standards office at Sony for the last 12 years. Getting him up to speed was a priority. He flew to L.A. to practice with band members minus Pop who’s been working on other projects.
“The band has been rehearsing more without me than with me because I've been doing other things this year,” Iggy said. “But we have been rehearsing all together more recently. We're going to be doing a one-off show in Brazil in a few weeks but the real touring starts next year.”
While Asheton is sorely missed on the tour Iggy notes, “We're all very sorry about Ron. His spirit within the group remains with the rest of us and he is still a presence within the group without being on the physical plain.”
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