Iggy Pop Every Loser
Looking back at the number of celebrities and dignitaries born in 1947 and the list is impressive. All-time NBA scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, late-night legend David Letterman, horror master Stephen King are all part of the Class of ’47 as well as 8-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close, Oscar winner Richard, and former First Lady Hillary Clinton.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is well represented in the Class of ’47. Sir Elton John, AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson, Carlos Santana, and Queen guitarist Brian May are some of the members of the Hall of Fame born in 1947. One other member is still recording new music over 50 years since first hitting the scene as the lead singer of the influential punk band The Stooges. James Newell Osterberg Jr., who is better known to the world as Iggy Pop, just released his 19th solo album entitled Every Loser.
The “Godfather of Punk” is up to his old tricks on his latest outing lambasting on the system. He collaborated on Every Loser with mega-producer Andrew Watt and co-wrote the album as well with him. Watt, who won a Grammy in 2021 and has worked with Post Malone, Morrissey, Ozzy Osbourne, Dua Lipa and Juice Wrld, was able to bring Pop back to his roots after a few experimental records including 2019’s jazz-fused Free and 2012’s collection of covers sang in French called Aprés.
The scene-stealer from John Water’s Cry-Baby enlisted help from some of his celebrity rock star friends. Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan finds himself playing bass with Pop as he did on 1990’s Brick By Brick. Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers lends his talents on drums, as does Travis Barker and the since passed Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, while Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro and Eric Avery join the frenzy as well. With the production of Watt and the combination of his rock star friends, Iggy is hoping the new album brings him the type of solo success he had with his fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and Class of ’47 classmate David Bowie. Bowie produced some of Pop’s biggest hits including “Lust for Life” and “Blah-Blah-Blah.”
The feral, wild-eyed energy Pop has been know for for over half of a century is ever so present on Every Loser. Album opener “Frenzy” kicks the record off in high gear and right off the bat we find Iggy being Iggy singing the very first line of the song with the lyric, “Got a dick and two balls, that’s more than you all.” “Strung Out Johnny” finds the Detroit-native telling the story of how a drug addict become just that. He channels his inner Leonard Cohen on the song speak-singing how God made him a junkie but it was Satan who told him he was one.
Iggy Pop, with the help of some rock friends young enough to be his sons and even grandsons, has entered the new year with another excellent record to add to a resumé that is filled one after another. Iggy never went away, so this cannot be labeled a comeback, but he is back to being his lewd, crude, honest self, which is what has made him so lovable after all of these years.
Steven McCash is the Lead Music Writer and Utility Man for SoBros Network. Steven is the host of the ‘Drinking With…’ podcast, and the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music in addition to the occasional live show review. He also pitches in as a Nashville lifestyle writer and football analyst (hence the ‘Utility Man’ title). Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
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