Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop, born James Newell Osterberg Jr. in 1947, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and radio broadcaster. Best known as the frontman and lyricist for the Stooges, who formed in 1967, he played a pivotal role in shaping proto-punk and punk rock. Nicknamed the Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop became famous for his raw, energetic performances, poetic lyrics, and unpredictable stage antics, such as stage diving and performing bare-chested. Though the Stooges initially found little commercial success, their confrontational style and groundbreaking albums like Raw Power went on to inspire generations of punk, alternative, and rock artists. In the 1970s, Pop developed a close friendship and creative partnership with David Bowie, leading to classic solo albums including The Idiot and Lust for Life. Over his career, his music has spanned garage rock, punk, new wave, electronic, and more. Iggy Pop’s most enduring songs include Search and Destroy and I Wanna Be Your Dog with the Stooges, as well as Lust for Life, The Passenger, and his US Top 40 hit Candy as a solo artist. A cultural icon with a distinctive voice recognized by NPR as one of the 50 Great Voices, Iggy Pop was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Stooges in 2010 and was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. Despite fluctuating commercial success, his influence reaches across genres, leaving a lasting impact on musicians from the Sex Pistols to Joy Division.