Some years back, I attended an Iggy Pop show at Max's Kansas City, the legendary New York venue, where the Igster was at the top of his game, rolling around in broken glass and crooning such immortal fare as “I Got My Cock in My Pocket.” Since then, innumerable bands have come along who embody those timeless punk virtues--i.e., they're louder, more profane, more violent, more repellent, and so on. So what's the appeal of seeing Iggy and the Stooges (including original members Scott Asheton on drums and Ron Asheton on guitar) together again onstage? Well, it sure ain't hearing Iggy, in his mid-50s at the time of this 2003 show, screaming, “Detroit, I love you! God bless!” in Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS audio. Neither are they very good musicians, frankly; but as one fan who clambers onstage during “No Fun” puts it, “They're Iggy and the fucking Stooges!” Iggy (born James Osterberg in 1947) is still in remarkable physical shape, and his energy never flags as the band charges through “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “1969,” “Funhouse,” and other sorta classics (bonus features include a lo-fi performance of many of the same tunes at a New York record store). Sure, it's moronic--why do you think they're called the Stooges?--but if you're willing to surrender a few brain cells, you'll find that, song title notwithstanding, this is lots of fun. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Graham)
Iggy & the Stooges: Live in Detroit
(2004) 100 min. DVD: $19.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 4
Iggy & the Stooges: Live in Detroit
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: