Iggy Pop’s legendary career has been tumultuous, reaching great heights, producing mega-hits, while at times hitting rock-bottom lows in jail and mental institutions. Along the way, he’s become a cult rock hero, an inspiration for dozens of other famous rockers, and has had a pretty good time of it, too. But the image of Iggy Pop versus the man behind that image, James Newell Osterberg, Jr., are surprisingly contradictory. As the author deftly reveals in this first-ever biography of Iggy, the “nude and rude” punk rocker was the vice-president of his high-school class and is considered an intellectual by many.
Living in Ann Arbor among Iggy’s childhood friends and pre-fame lovers and interviewing dozen of musicians including Iggy himself, Trynka has created a sincere and fascinating portrayal of the real man behind the rock star.
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"So far, this is a shockingly good read. No blurbs and I'm not that big into rock bios, so I was wary, but I'm impressed. Well researched, opinionated, and just gossipy enough. As for the subject, the "godfather of punk" never ceases to shock, mystify, inspire. Lotta talent, lotta trouble." — Leigh (4 out of 5 stars)
"So far, this is a shockingly good read. No blurbs and I'm not that big into rock bios, so I was wary, but I'm impressed. Well researched, opinionated, and just gossipy enough. As for the subject, the "godfather of punk" never ceases to shock, mystify, inspire. Lotta talent, lotta trouble."
“There’s plenty of detail on the creative process behind Iggy’s music...but inevitably, the best parts are the blackly funny tales of Iggy at his worst.”
“When you strip away all the nonsense, Iggy is a pro. Trynka too.”
“An obsessively detailed and compulsively readable biography that is as high-energy and entertaining as its subject.”
“Dufris’ voice is invested with meticulousness, weighing each word carefully and swooping to a near-baritone halt at the close of each sentence. Dufris is the anti-Iggy, polite and modulated, and it is his counterexample that allows the light to shine more brightly on Pop himself.”
“[Trynka] deftly walks the line between fan boy and dogged researcher…This is the definitive word on Iggy, elbowing past even his autobiography.”
“The author’s love for a flawed-but-deep-down-okay dude, plus his amazing eye for detail, make this one of the finest rock bios of recent memory: Music and pop culture fans will dig it.”
" I didn't think it was possible for the life of Iggy Pop to be boring, but Paul Trynka made it that way! If you are a hardcore Stooges fan, this might be worth a look; otherwise, move on. This is another book that could have been really interesting, but suffered from an overly-academic writing style. "
" Voted "most likely to succeed" in school.Succeed he did indeed do, one of the most influential punk rock musicans out there. At the time I was into David Bowie and came to Iggy because of their friendship and liked his(Iggy) music, especially as The Stooges. "
" He really comes off looking like a comple douche. "
" This is as definitive as it gets (don't skip the "notes and sources"), with the added bonus of being read-able. (and balanced - Iggy, as a character, gets less attractive the further one gets into the story). "
" Iggy's party has been going off since the 60's. "
" Fascinating subject matter. The writing tripped me up, though. I found it repetitive, draggy, and pedestrian. I bailed out about half-way through. The photos are worth the price of admission. "
" An alright bio of Iggy. Nothing great. "
" Mad debauchery, drugs, aggression, but not as entertaining as I expected. Kind of depressing, but I'm at the point where Iggy's at his lowest, might feel different as he climbs away from his dopesick phase. "
" IGGY IS A FREAK AND YOU CAN SEE HIS PENIS IN THIS BOOK OTHERWISE THIS SHIT WAS NOT THAT TIGHT "
" Like many rock star bios it's interesting but ultimately depressing repetitive story. "
" Definitely worth a read. I'm giving it 4 stars not so much because it's a great book, but for my fellow fans of the rock music (the *TRUE* rock music), it's definitely something you should read to understand the full history of one of rocks greatest, consistently under-appreciated icons. "
" Well written biography. Lots of facts, which makes the read heavier. But with insight into the person as well as the career. "
" A lot of detail, probably too much for some, but written with sly humour, and excellent insight / oversight. "
" Very detailed story of Jim Osterberg/Iggy Pop. Maybe even too detailed. I would have preferred more crazy tour stories and fewer details of Iggy's multiple record contracts, managers, etc. Could have been a bit jucier. "
" The American Shaman deserves better treatment than this. Terribly written, although I enjoyed reading about his fascinating childhood. "
" I don't listen to Iggy Pop, but i saw this one day at the local library and figured why not. It was interesting but seeing how I am not really a fan, this only struck an interesting chord with me. "
" I just love Iggy... And if you do like Iggy, especially The Stooges, then i highly recommend reading this! "
" An awesome read. I never thought about Iggy being an essentially separate entity from Jim Osterberg. Okay, and I am now afraid of (and for) Iggy in many ways. And I know what he looks like naked. "
" I came to read this for the story. It delivered in that regard, so it gets 2 stars. It's good I wasn't looking to it for the writing, 'cause the writing is often shit. Trynka needs a new editor--if he has one at all. "
" A fun read, but I didn't like the tone of the biographer. "
" A very interesting and exciting biography of a punk legend. It was extremely detailed about how Iggy seemed to be rising to the top and then ruining his own dreams. Overall, I thought this book was very entertaining and is a must read for true music fans. "
" I can't believe it, but this book made me dis-like Iggy. Wow blasphemy--I have forsaken my God. I just get sick of reading about rock star dudes and their relationships with 14-year-old girls. "
" As it wears on...boy you start to hope something good will happen, ahhh Iggy. "
Paul Trynka is a former editor of Mojo magazine. He has also been the editorial director of Q magazine, launch editor of The Guitar Magazine, and editor-in-chief of new projects at Emap, a media company that specializes in publishing and television. He is the author of Portrait of the Blues and Denim. He currently lives in London.
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.
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