Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed: A Biography Paperback – Illustrated, April 8, 2008

great read

Rob Trynka has done a great job gathering the details of Iggy's life, including a few "lost" eras when Iggy dropped out of the public eye. The author presents a very readable account that rings true in a way that many rock biographies don't. Even though he interviewed Iggy extensively, he also interviewed seemingly every living musician who's worked with Iggy (with the notable exception of David Bowie, who would not participate). He also interviewed many of Iggy's childhood friends and acquaintances and other musicians from the late-60s Michigan scene. And in recounting a lot of Iggy's self-mythologizing, and a lot of the classic Stooges tales, Trynka will often conclude that the recollections of another witness are more plausible than Iggy's version. That's something you usually won't get in a rock biography whose writer has the access that Trynka had. There are behind-the-scenes recollections from the participants of just about all of Iggy's albums, Stooges and solo. And the author even makes a strong case for the origin of the term "punk" in describing music--citing Lenny Kaye's original review of the first Stooges album, which he called the music of punks cruising for burgers. I'd always wondered where the first reference to "punk rock" appeared.Beyond the 320-page biography, there's an appendix that lists Iggy's albums in chronological order, with original release and label information and info on the musicians. And as hard as it is to get excited about footnotes, they really stand out in this book. Each chapter's notes are like an add-on chapter, where the author provides supporting quotes, and often gives a longer version of a short quote from the narrative.Maybe best of all are the two sections of photos. You can flip through the photos and captions and get a good preview of the full narrative, with great photos from the Stooge and solo eras. But if you read in public (as I did, on the subway) you might want to watch out for the full-nude shot.

For the most part, I am very impressed by the seeming double checking of facts by the author. He often provides quotes that give differing viewpoints from people who were actually there or who were participants in a situation or event. WHAT WORRIES ME, however, is his quote from the bass player for New Order stating that "Metallic K.O." was playing on the turntable when Ian Curtis hanged himself in his parents home. WRONG IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!!!!!!!!!!!Where you been, Paul Trynka? New Order admitted 2 decades ago that Curtis most likely died from an accidental overdose of prescribed medication (for, I believe, diabetes). It may have been a suicide, but it is unlikely. And he certainly did NOT hang himself!!!!! That is the fantasy/legend out of which New Order claimed its fame, which is why they didn't dispel the rumor until they had become quite successful without Curtis. They fessed up in a video has been internationally released (documentary called, I believe, "Ceremony" -- I taped it from TV in the 1980s) and admitted to some extent they should be ashamed of the way they exploited Curtis' death.Such a glaring error makes me question the validity of other "facts" in the book. I like to think this is the only one, but who knows?

OK Im Listening to a hard show in Barcelona 1981(years that Iggy gets trashed (physically/critically)in this book.WOW IGGY influencened me from a young age-I 1st scene him live at the Palladium in 1977 I was an impressionable 10 year old who the prior year my parents took my to my 1st rock concert (KISS)lol-My young mind remembers for all the"show"kiss" had -Iggy&THAT BAND did SO MUCH MORE W?/TALENT,& THAT Devil/Zues of a man-even though I seen him a # of x's met him a couple -esp. when we both lived near each other on the lower east side-ahhh the mudd,save the robots,pyramid,the World.Sorry-This book took a slightly cynic reader I though this was going to be so much that I thought I knew-BUT LIFE IS WONDERFUL when you are suprised and humbled by exceptional work.Mr.Trynka-spent over 10 years carefully reasearching &as hard as he could objectfully wrote Iggy/Jims carrer so Far!!1st I actually am so gratefull that Iggy and the Stooges are still here(most of) to entertain,enlighted,educate,and remind us that its ok not to follow to get ordinary &its ok to suufer for something better.Iam still rereading this book for the 24th time it is that Great,That entertaining,More messages I reveal from it -Well needless to say Even if you do not like Iggy or Rock or proto industrial,or are mental stable -It Behooves you to read this book.I humbly thank Mr.Trynka for writing &doing the dillingence it took to properly write this...PS.Since I also Love selvedge Denim-Paul Trynka has written a seemingly definitive book on Denim that I look foward to getting.

Great bio. As a huge Iggy/Stooges disciple, this looked like a must read and I was not disappointed. The fact that Iggy lived past 1974 is a miracle in itself. Grab a copy if you are so inclined. The insanity is real!

Lots of good info and photos on Iggy. The data seems too fragmentary and unsynthesized and the books style was reminiscent to me of a textbook or "WWII" history book -- a bit subdued for Mr. Pop and his cast of colorful charachters.I have found more informative and profound the IG section of "The Dark Stuff" and "Please Kill Me" but for a full book on our favorite Stooge this is the best thing out there so you might as well purchase it.

Bought this a gift for my hubby and he loved it! He is a hard core punk fan and really enjoyed it! Delivered in a timely manner and in great shape!