Iggy Pop is apparently taking some time off from the Stooges, but fans of the band still have something to look forward to thanks to guitarist James Williamson, who is digging up some unreleased Raw Power-era songs for a newly recorded album called Re-Licked.
As Rolling Stone reports, the band wrote a batch of songs around the time of 1973's Raw Power, but they broke up and the material was never released. Now, Williamson has recruited the band's bassist Mike Watt, sax player Steve Mackay and touring timekeeper Toby Dammit to finally turn the songs into an album.
They will be joined by an assortment of guest singers. Much of the recording took place at Dave Grohl's 606 Studios in Northridge, CA, with vocalists including Mark Lanegan, Ariel Pink, Jello Biafra, Teri Gender Bender (Le Butcherettes, Kimono Kult, Bosnian Rainbows), Mario Cuomo (the Orwells) and Carolyn Wonderland.
These songs were performed live back in the day, and some cuts ("Open Up and Bleed," "I Got a Right," "Heavy Liquid," "She Creatures of the Hollywood Hills," "Wild Love") have appeared on bootlegs over the years. Eight tunes are done, with five more still to do.
Williamson said, "Some of the arrangements have been changed a bit and there's a few lyrical tweaks, but pretty much they're true to the originals."
As for Iggy Pop not being involved in the project, a spokesperson told Rolling Stone, "Iggy was never given an opportunity to participate on the album. He found out about the project in December of 2013 after it was rejected by an Australian label."
Re-Licked is expected out in August or September. In the meantime, fans can preview the project via a vinyl single for "Open Up and Bleed" and "Gimme Some Skin." This will come out on Record Store Day (April 19) and features Wonderland on lead vocals. Check out a teaser for "Open Up and Bleed" below.
As Rolling Stone reports, the band wrote a batch of songs around the time of 1973's Raw Power, but they broke up and the material was never released. Now, Williamson has recruited the band's bassist Mike Watt, sax player Steve Mackay and touring timekeeper Toby Dammit to finally turn the songs into an album.
They will be joined by an assortment of guest singers. Much of the recording took place at Dave Grohl's 606 Studios in Northridge, CA, with vocalists including Mark Lanegan, Ariel Pink, Jello Biafra, Teri Gender Bender (Le Butcherettes, Kimono Kult, Bosnian Rainbows), Mario Cuomo (the Orwells) and Carolyn Wonderland.
These songs were performed live back in the day, and some cuts ("Open Up and Bleed," "I Got a Right," "Heavy Liquid," "She Creatures of the Hollywood Hills," "Wild Love") have appeared on bootlegs over the years. Eight tunes are done, with five more still to do.
Williamson said, "Some of the arrangements have been changed a bit and there's a few lyrical tweaks, but pretty much they're true to the originals."
As for Iggy Pop not being involved in the project, a spokesperson told Rolling Stone, "Iggy was never given an opportunity to participate on the album. He found out about the project in December of 2013 after it was rejected by an Australian label."
Re-Licked is expected out in August or September. In the meantime, fans can preview the project via a vinyl single for "Open Up and Bleed" and "Gimme Some Skin." This will come out on Record Store Day (April 19) and features Wonderland on lead vocals. Check out a teaser for "Open Up and Bleed" below.
