Profile of Iggy Pop, Stooges band simply rocks

Published 1:30 am Friday, November 11, 2016

Iggy Pop and Soupy Sales — what could possibly be the connection between the notorious pre-punk rock star and the longtime comedian and kiddie-TV host? Aside from their catchy made-up showbiz names, that is.

As Iggy reveals in “Gimme Danger,” Jim Jarmusch’s wonderful documentary about The Stooges, Soupy used to ask kids to write to his show — but to keep their letters to 25 words or less.

As Jim Osterberg, a kid growing up in his parents’ trailer outside Detroit, this made an impression on Iggy. He wanted to be a musician. Maybe writing songs of 25 words or less would be a good way to go.

There are many such gems in “Gimme Danger,” which really does focus on the members of the band, and not just the illustrious Mr. Pop (large sections of his solo career are left out). This documentary is required viewing for anybody who digs rock and roll history.

The Stooges balanced Iggy’s wild stage antics (there’s a moment in the archival footage that gives him credit for the invention of the stage dive), sheer loud noise, and nods in the direction of the avant garde.

The stuff didn’t sell, of course, but the live shows became legendary for the shirtless Iggy’s habit of ending up smeared with food or his own blood. And after the band broke up in the 1970s, their songs became the fuel for countless punk bands trying to prove their street cred.

Jarmusch was able to interview some key members of the Stooges before they died in recent years. There are good anecdotes from all, and representative concert material.

Jarmusch, who has employed Iggy Pop as an actor in a couple of his films, clearly adores the band; this is not a film of critical distance. The musicians are honest about how heroin affected their lives before the break-up, but this is not a movie to dwell on the bad stuff.

The unlikely reunion (Iggy prefers “reunification”) of the group in 2003, after which they became a real touring and recording band again, makes for a happy ending, too.

Iggy will be 70 next year; like the continued existence of Keith Richards, his survival is a testament to how much random chance affects life. He tells stories in a Michigander drawl that makes him sound like a mildly eccentric guy sitting next to you on the bus, not rock’s craziest frontman.

All this, plus a story about how the band’s manager called up Moe Howard of the Three Stooges to make sure it was all right to use the name The Stooges. For that, and for many reasons, “Gimme Danger” is a keeper.

“Gimme Danger” (3 stars)

Jim Jarmusch directed this wonderful documentary portrait of The Stooges, whose pre-punk Detroit sound—wrapped around the wild stage antics of frontman Iggy Pop—influenced many musicians who followed in their footsteps. Some great rock and roll anecdotes and solid performance footage make this a keeper.

Rating: R, for language, subject matter

Showing: Guild 45th