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Iggy Pop was born on April 21, 1947. His real name is James Newell Österberg, Jr. He is an American rock singer and songwriter. He didn’t have much mainstream success, but he is still considered an innovator of punk and garage rock. He is widely known as one of the most dynamic stage performers ever. He began calling himself Iggy after his first band in high school, The Iguanas.

Iggy was the lead singer of The Stooges. The Stooges were a big influence in the styles of punk rock and heavy metal styles.  The band became infamous for their live performances. During the gig, Iggy would consume narcotics, verbally abuse the audience, expose himself and leap off the stage. Iggy was the first person to do a stage dive. Many performers still try to emulate Iggy’s stage antics today.

Österberg began as a drummer in different bands in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He started exploring local blues-based bands. While he was attending college at the University of Michigan, he dropped out to move to Chicago to explore the blues more. While in Chicago, he played drums in local blues clubs. Inspired by the Chicago blues as well as other bands like The Sonics and The MC5, he formed the Psychedelic Stooges. The band was made up of of Iggy on vocals, Ron Asheton on guitar, Scott Asheton on drums, and Dave Alexander on bass.

In 1968, a year after the band’s live debut, and now called the Stooges, the band signed with Elektra Records. The Stooges’ first two albums, The Stooges and Fun House, both sold poorly. Shortly after the new members joined, the group disbanded because of Pop’s growing heroin addiction.

In 1971, Iggy Pop and David Bowie met at Max’s Kansas City. Iggy’s career received a boost from his relationship with Bowie. Bowie decided to produce an album with Pop in England in 1973. James Williamson was signed as the guitarist, the search began for a rhythm section. After searching, neither Pop or Bowie was satisfied with any players in England. They decided to reunite The Stooges.

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It wasn’t a full reunion because Dave Alexander, who was stuck in alcoholism, couldn’t play on the record. Dave later died in 1975. Ron Asheton also grudgingly moved from guitar to bass so that Williamson could play guitar.

The recording sessions produced the album Raw Power. After the albums release, Scott Thurston was added to the band on keyboards. During this time, Iggy’s drug problem persisted. Drug abuse paused his career again for several years. Iggy Pop recorded some songs with James Williamson after The Stooges second break up. These songs were not released until 1977. The songs made up the album Kill City.

Iggy’s drug use was out of control. He checked himself into a mental institution to try to clean up. Bowie was one of his few visitors there. Bowie continued to support Iggy through the process. It was also rumored that Bowie snuck in cocaine for Iggy.

Iggy Pop signed with RCA in 1977. Iggy and Bowie wrote and produced The Idiot and Lust for Life. Those two albums were Iggy’s most acclaimed albums as a solo artist. Bowie also played keyboards in Pop’s live performances. In exchange, Iggy contributed backing vocals on Bowie’s album Low.

Iggy Pop had grown dissatisfied with RCA. He later admitted that he had made the album, TV Eye, as a quick way of fulfilling contract with RCA. He then signed to Arista Records. His first album with Arista Records was New Values in 1979. The album’s musical style went back to the guitar sound of The Stooges. The album was not comercially popular, but it is highly regarded by Iggy’s fans.

Iggy’s 1982 album, Zombie Birdhouse, was released on the label Animal. David Bowie recorded covers from Iggy’s previous records such as China Girl, Tonight, and Neighborhood Threat. Since Iggy was a co-writer to these songs, he got massive royalties. It also boosted Iggy’s career again.

1986’s new wave-influenced album called, Blah Blah Blah, featuring the single Real Wild Child, a cover of Wild One. The original song was made popular by Australian rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Johnny O’Keefe in 1959. The single was successful around the world, especially in Australia.

Iggy’s following album was called Instinct. Instinct was released in 1988. The album’s sound was more like the Stooges sound than any of his solo albums to date. After the album was released, his record label dropped him. In 1990, Iggy recorded Brick By Brick. The album was his first Gold certified album in the U.S. It also featured his first Top 40 U.S. hit, Candy.

In 1993, Pop released American Caesar. The album included two successful singles, Wild America and ‘Beside You. Iggy released Naughty Little Doggie in 1995. The first single off of the album was I Wanna Live. In 2003 Iggy released another album called Skull Ring. The album featured collaborating artists such as Sum 41, Green Day, Peaches, and The Trolls.

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