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Punk Legend Turns 60 and Still Rocks
22-Apr-2007
Written by: Jeannine Coppola
Iggy Pop celebrates his birthday by diving off a stage.
Iggy Pop, or the "Godfather of Punk," celebrated his 60th birthday by showing his fans that he can still rock at a concert in San Francisco with his reunited band, The Stooges. The singer, clad in tight blue jeans and no shirt, dove off the stage and into the crowd at Warfield Theater.
The 80-minute concert also featured the band and audience singing "Happy Birthday" to Iggy and balloons with his image on them descending from the ceiling. Iggy seemed suprised at the festivities. He then put on a t-shirt made by a fan that read "Birthday Boy Iggy."
Pop, whose real name is Jim Osterberg, was delighted by the attention, but quickly resumed his usual antics after thanking the fans. He continued screaming and dancing, spitting on the crowd, climbing the speakers, and throwing his microphone stand around, as always. During "No Fun," he invited fans on stage to sing along with him, affectionately calling their group the "Bay Area Dancers."
For Pop, turning 60 may not mean the end of pursuing anarchy, but Iggy no longer carves up his chest with knives, rolls around in glass, smears peanut butter on himself, or practices one of the most fatal hardcore drug routines in the history of Rock n' Roll anymore. However, the Michigan star, who lived in trailer parks as a youth, has outlasted other punk performers of his generation.
Iggy is now back on tour with the Stooges, the band he first became popular with in the late 60s. The Stooges were a new blend of garage rock that clashed with the sound of popular British Invasion rock of the time. The band helped lead the way for future punk rock bands, such as the Ramones and the Sex Pistols.
In 1974, the Stooges broke up after releasing three albums, whose success was not reflected in record sales. This caused Iggy to become homeless on the streets of the Sunset Strip until he checked himself into a psychiatric hospital. He had a come-back in 1977 as he co-wrote songs with David Bowie, including "Lust for Life" and "China Girl."
In 2003, Pop reunited with Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, and Ron's brother, drummer Scott Asheton. Punk veteran Mike Watt took the place of late bassist Dave Alexander. The group released their first alubm in 33 years last month, "The Weirdness."
After Iggy and the Stooges complete their North American tour, which ends on May 4th, they will begin a brief summer tour of European festivals.
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