Iggy & The Stooges, Raw Power Live

By Less Lee Moore

Raw Power, the last official Stooges record, was originally released in 1973 and has been the subject of conflict ever since (amongst the band and its fans), due to the various remixed and reissued versions. This live album, recorded in September 2010 at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival in New York is a great interpretation of Raw Power and completely free of any polemic politics. There are some minor changes: the track list is slightly rearranged and “I Got A Right” is added on at the end, but nothing could ever change the incredible spirit of these songs. Raw Power is the perfect description of not just The Stooges, but Iggy Pop himself.

In his 2007 Iggy Pop biography, Open Up And Bleed, writer Paul Trynka conveys the idea that much of the legendary rocker’s troubles have stemmed not from James Osterberg’s creation of the Iggy Pop persona, but his inability to control it. It’s an interesting metaphor and one that seems quite appropriate when witnessing Iggy and The Stooges in a live setting.

The difference is that now Iggy Pop is the master of controlled demolition. He swears, screams, shrieks, howls, and hollers, but his familiar vibrato is always present in between the cacophony, ensuring everyone knows that despite his age, he can SING. Introductions are brief and enthusiastic and each song ends with an absolutely joyous whoop of excitement, like Iggy’s continually proud of and amazed by his own badass self.

And he should be. Raw Power Live includes the closest facsimile of the Stooges lineup we’ve got now: James Williamson on guitar, Scott Asheton on drums, Steve Mackay on sax, and the brilliant Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE) on bass. This band is so fast and tight and fresh that each song feels like it was written and performed just for this one night.

I was lucky enough to see this lineup of the band perform (for FREE!) in Toronto in June 2010 and though I could hardly see for the massive crowd, I was absolutely mesmerized. Each glimpse of the musicians and Iggy’s insane acrobatics was a flash of lightning. To listen to this is to relive that once-in-a-lifetime experience. The communal energy is alive and all right. And “Gimme Danger” still gives me chills.

For those who only know of the legend of The Stooges or Iggy Pop but haven’t yet taken the plunge, this album is a perfect place to start.

Raw Power Live was released on 180-gram vinyl via MVD Audio on April 5 and is available through See Of Sound.