Fans of Iggy and The Stooges who are set to see the iconic band hit our shores at the end of March might be lucky enough to catch some new material, with the band announcing today the release of their first studio album since 2007’s The Weirdness, with the original Stooges lineup returning for the new collection.
Ready to Die is set to be released on April 30 via Fat Possum Records and will see the return of guitarist James Williamson and drummer Scott Asheton for a full-length album alongside frontman Iggy Pop and Mike Watt, who is filling in for the late Ron Asheton on bass. This sees the entire group reuniting for a full album of all-new material for the first time since the iconic Raw Power sessions.
In a new video speaking about their decision to record and release new material, Pop commented:
“My motivation in making any record with the group at this point is no longer personal. It’s just a pig-headed fucking thing I have that a real fucking group when they’re an older group they also make fucking records. They don’t just go and twiddle around on stage to make a bunch of fucking money… and it’s the only thing I really have left to say is the Stooges are a real group.”
Ready to Die is set to be a time capsule to 1973 which will hopefully see the same rhythm, bluntness, and mission statement the band offered years ago. Releasing a teaser video for lead track ‘I Got A Job But It Don’t Pay Shit,’ – featuring Pop dressed up as a scarecrow – the band have returned with a repetitive foot stomper with direct yet strained lyrics, reminiscent of the old ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ days.
According to NME, the new release which features tracks ‘Burn’, “Sex & Money’, ‘Job’ and title track ‘Ready To Die’. The album was mixed by Ed Cherney, who said of the album: “It’s old-time Stooges. It’s raw. They’re great songs, but not necessarily big choruses. They’re the Antichrist of anthems”.
Ready To Die was fittingly produced by guitarist Williamson at Fantasy Studios in San Francisco, with Pop recording his vocals in Miami. Speaking of Iggy Pop’s timely lyrics, Cherney added, “he knows what he wants to say. He’s watching the world around him.”“It’s old-time Stooges. It’s raw… They’re the Antichrist of anthems.” – Ed Cherney
The release will come shortly after Iggy & the Stooges are set to return to Australian shores in late March with headline shows in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, with a special performance at Bluesfest in Byron Bay. Tour promoter Viv Lees says that “with superlative reviews from the recent Riotfest and ACL Festivals its clear that the irrepressible Iggy and the Stooges will continue to play their music way into the future”.
It is unsure at this point whether Ready to Die will be able to channel the unbridled ferocity of Raw Power, 40 years after its original release. As we covered in our retrospective on the iconic Iggy & The Stooges release, the album is rock and roll at its most unbridled, a cornerstone for the early punk rock scene. It remains to be seen whether Iggy & The Stooges can pick up where Raw Power left off and bring back ferocious and powerful spectacle for a whole new generation.
Ready to Die comes alongside a heap of long-awaited albums with news of new material from Brooklyn outfit The National, the latest from Parisian indie popsters Phoenix, the fifth LP from New Yorkers The Strokes,Daft Punk’s long-awaited fourth studio album, David Bowie’s first new album in a decade, and anticipated releases from the likes of Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Knife’s 98 minute opus, Shaking The Habitual.
Similarly we can see brand new tunes from Australian hopefuls including the Cat Empire’s latest, the second album from Melbourne twosome Big Scary, The Drones’ tour backed I See Seaweed, and a heap of new albums from the likes of Bernard Fanning, Birds of Tokyo, Hermitude, Airbourne, Super Wild Horses, and new material from Perth outfit Pond.
You can view the artwork for Ready To Die, and Iggy And The Stooges Australian tour dates below:
Iggy And The Stooges 2013 Australian Tour Dates
With special guests: The Beasts Of Bourbon
Adelaide – Monday 25th March – Thebarton Theatre
Tix: www.venuetix.com.au
Melbourne – Wednesday 27th March – Festival Hall
Tix: www.ticketmaster.com.au
Sydney – Tuesday 2nd April – Hordern Pavillion
Tix: www.ticketek.com.au
Also appearing: Saturday 30th March – Byron Bay Blues Festival
Tix: www.bluesfest.com.au
