by Jim McGuinn, Program Director and Host, Y-Rock on XPN

Nothing will ever top this one. Another hero and icon, and a surprisingly friendly guy. A man who pretty much invented punk rock. Who used to cut himself open with glass every night on stage. Who was institutionalized, who found and probably invented some weird sins with partner in crime, David Bowie (at his most debauched), and who continues to walk out to the edges and inspire each new generation of rockers. With the release of 2003’s Skull Ring, a ‘let’s get Iggy to do some songs with the kids – like Green Day and Sum 41’ attempt at a commercial comeback, Iggy suddenly was interested in doing things to promote his career. At Y100 we loved him (ok, well, I did anyway) and convinced him to do a Sonic session. But rather than record it in the comfy confines of a studio with an audience on couches, we brought in a remote studio to the Khyber and created the hardest ticket in town. To be in the crowd among 150 sweaty fans while Iggy Pop played an out of control, half naked (isn’t he always?) set on that tiny stage was magical – there’s no halfway with Iggy. But then to head upstairs and record Iggy as he helmed a Radio Takeover set – choosing to play Bukka White and the Doors among others, delivering his DJ breaks while staring straight at me as I engineered – that was otherworldly. And unlike so many times in my life when I either didn’t have a camera at the ready, or felt shy or awkward about getting a photo (I DIDN’T get a picture with U2 back in 1985 when I was their college rep – doh!), this time there was a staff photographer there to document the night I hung out with Iggy, and his girlfriend’s white poodle Lucky. Which perfectly describes me on this night.

Iggy and the Stooges circa 2007…

Stooges documentary footage (some language issues)

Iggy and Tom Waits from Jim Jarmusch’s “Coffee and Cigarettes”