So far, 2023 has turned out be a magnificent year for Iggy Pop fans!
First, his new album “Every Loser” is being sold as part of a package that includes a new issue of PUNK magazine!
The official Iggy website shares some details…
As part of the release of Every Loser, Iggy is offering an exclusive relaunch of legendary fan zine, PUNK with a full Iggy issue which contains an exclusive in interview with Iggy by Flea. Iggy originally graced the cover of the John Holmstrom helmed fanzine in july 1976.
This special 47th anniversary issue of the original punk magazine is the biggest and the best ever: 64 pages (with no ads!). The ultimate Iggy Pop magazine, it chronicles “the first punk’s” amazing recording career and his latest and greatest solo album Every Loser. This punk mag is a very limited edition and is guaranteed to become a prized collector’s item. It was commissioned by Every Loser’s record producer Andrew Watt as a special gift for Iggy’s hardcore punk fans.
Highlights include: an exclusive interview with Iggy Pop conducted by Flea; a 21-page history of Iggy’s recording career; visual interpretations of Every Loser’s songs; a personal account by Niagara, the “queen of Detroit” about curating the CPOP art gallery show in Detroit that featured artwork by Iggy, Ron and Scott Asheton, Lou Reed, Joey and Dee Dee Ramone, as well as members of Sonic Youth, Devo, The Melvins and photographs by Bob Gruen and Leni Sinclair.
John Holmstrom, publisher of PUNK magazine, described how this came to be…
Back in late July, some guy texted me:
“Hey John this is Andrew Watt the producer. I wanna talk to you about this secret IGGY album I just made. I have some cool ideas.”
This guy, Andrew Watt, said he wanted me to devote an entirely new issue of PUNK to Iggy’s new album. He wanted it to be an authentic PUNK magazine, with the whole scraggly, hand-lettered mess of photos and comic strips we usually came up with. “What was your last issue number?” he once asked.
“Twenty-one,” I replied. (Our CBGB Tribute!)
“Then this will be PUNK magazine Number Twenty-two,” Andrew said. (And to be honest? He stuck to this promise all the way through. This is an authentic PUNK Magazine. I enjoyed complete creative control throughout.)
An entire issue devoted to Iggy Pop… Great idea, right? How could I say “No!”? So I agreed to do it. What could go wrong?
As a rabid fan of PUNK magazine, I’m ecstatic that this project came together. I’m loving both the new PUNK issue and Iggy’s latest album. As the PUNK-zine does provide a highly entertaining overview of his career, there are some moments where that darned song* does get some attention.
Second, he’s released yet another LOUIE LOUIE record by Iggy & the Stooges, available on 7″ purple/black splatter vinyl. This was recorded at Olympic Studios in London in 1972. The flip side is “Wild Love,” recorded in Detroit in 1973. The official release date for this one is June 2, 2023 but it’s available now directly from Cleopatra Records.
This appears to be the same LOUIE that was heard on the 2005 “Heavy Liquid” 6CD box set (Easy Action Records), the 2021 “Born In A Trailer – The Session & Rehearsal Tapes” 4CD box set (Cherry Red Records) and the 2014 “Gimme Some Skin (the 7″ collection)” which is also a Cleopatra Records release.
Anyways, all of this stuff is highly recommended.
A fine pile of goodies to help celebrate International LOUIE LOUIE Day… which for some of you, may already be happening!
Reference Links:
The Iggy Pop store – Every Loser CD + PUNK magazine #22
John Holmstrom – The EVERY LOSER Iggy Pop PUNK Magazine Extravaganza
Cleopatra Records -Iggy & The Stooges – Louie Louie (Purple/Black Splatter Vinyl)
Bandcamp – the Iggy Pop/Cleopatra Records -Gimme Some Skin (the 7″ collection)
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* “Darn song” = the topic of this website.