Offering a healthy serving of Stooges, the opening disc of this two-disc set features an August 2005 concert recorded at Belgium's Lokerse Festival (available here in the original version and a director's cut) serving up a 15-song set that covers 30 years in the band's rollercoaster career. At the time of the concert, Iggy Pop was just shy of 60, but he looks and moves like a man who is decades younger (the face may betray a few creases, but Iggy remains as sinuous as a snake). Clad in low-cut jeans and signature shirtless look, Iggy and his cohorts concentrate on the band's first two records, plus the new tunes “Skull Ring” and “Dead Rock Star.” The lineup includes original members Ron Asheton (guitar) and Scott “Rock” Asheton (drums), while Mike Watt (the Minutemen, fIREHOSE) fills in for departed bass player Dave Alexander. Filmed in b&w and color, Iggy sings, struts, beats his chest, and patters profanely as Watt and the Ashetons rock, roll, and rumble persuasively behind him. If there are no big surprises, the Stooges nevertheless prove that they can still bring on the noise. Highlights include time-tested tour staples such as “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” blasts from sax player Steve MacKay on tracks like “Funhouse,” and Iggy's exhortation to audience members to dance with him on stage during “Real Cool Time” and “No Fun” (it's amusing to watch relatively young folks try to keep up with this perpetual-motion machine), all presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo. The second disc includes in-depth interviews (with Iggy, the Asheton brothers, and photographer Esther Friedman), a 60-minute “Iggy Retrospective” documentary, DVD-ROM accessible “extended tales and stories,” and a booklet. Definitely recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)
Iggy & the Stooges: Escaped Maniacs
(2005) 2 discs. 334 min. DVD: $19.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 6
Iggy & the Stooges: Escaped Maniacs
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