The Stooges formed in 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, born out of the local garage rock and avant-garde scenes. Singer James Newell “Iggy” Osterberg (later Iggy Pop) was inspired by the primal energy of Chicago blues, the theater of The Doors, and the chaos of free jazz. He teamed up with guitarist Ron Asheton, bassist Dave Alexander, and drummer Scott Asheton (Ron’s younger brother). Originally called The Psychedelic Stooges, they aimed to strip rock down to its most primitive, physical form - long before “punk” was a word in music. Their shows were less concerts than confrontations: Iggy smeared himself with peanut butter, rolled in broken glass, and dove into the crowd, testing the limits of both performer and audience. The Stooges caught the attention of The Velvet Underground’s John Cale, who produced their self-titled debut album “The Stooges” (1969) for Elektra Records. Featuring “I Wanna Be Your Dog”, “1969”, and “No Fun”, it was raw, repetitive, and minimalist - a deliberate break from the complex psychedelia dominating the era. At the time, critics largely dismissed the album as amateurish, but its blunt force and nihilistic attitude would later be seen as revolutionary. Their second album, “Fun House” (1970), recorded in Los Angeles with producer Don Gallucci, pushed their sound even further. It mixed scuzzy-blues-based riffs, manic saxophone from Steve Mackay, and Iggy’s unhinged vocal performances. Songs like “Down on the Street” and “Loose” were snapshots of a band teetering on the edge - both musically and personally. Though it sold poorly, “Fun House” would later be hailed as one of the greatest rock albums ever made, influencing everyone from the Sex Pistols to Sonic Youth. By 1971, drug abuse and internal tensions threatened to end the band. Elektra dropped them, and Dave Alexander was fired after turning up too intoxicated to play. But salvation came in the form of David Bowie, who was an outspoken fan and helped secure them a deal with Columbia Records. Rebranded as Iggy & The Stooges, they released “Raw Power” (1973), with new guitarist James Williamson and Ron Asheton moved to bass. The album, mixed (controversially) by David Bowie, delivered ferocious tracks like “Search & Destroy” and “Gimme Danger”. The record was louder, faster, and more aggressive than almost anything else of the time - proto-punk in its purest form. Despite its now-legendary status, “Raw Power” was a commercial failure, and the band collapsed in early 1974 after chaotic shows, heavy heroin use, and mounting debts. Iggy Pop embarked on a solo career, working again with David Bowie on “The Idiot” and “Lust for Life”. The Stooges’ original albums quietly grew in influence, inspiring the first wave of punk bands like The Ramones and The Damned, and later alternative and grunge acts including Nirvana and The White Stripes. By the late 1980s and 1990s, “Fun House” and “Raw Power” were being reissued and rediscovered by younger fans, cementing the band’s reputation as proto-punk godfathers. In 2003, Iggy Pop reunited with Ron and Scott Asheton for a series of concerts, eventually leading to the release of “The Weirdness” (2007) - their first album in 34 years. Following Ron Asheton’s death in 2009, James Williamson rejoined, and the band recorded “Ready to Die” (2013). The Stooges continued to tour until 2016, when Iggy announced the end of the group after Scott Asheton’s passing in 2014 and saxophonist Steve Mackay’s death in 2015. The Stooges never sold millions of records or topped the charts, but their influence is immeasurable. They rewrote rock’s rulebook by proving that raw emotion, repetition, and noise could be more powerful than technical virtuosity. Today, “The Stooges”, “Fun House”, and “Raw Power” are considered essential rock albums, and Iggy Pop is celebrated as one of rock’s greatest frontmen – a performer who tore down the barrier between artist and audience. “I’m not ashamed to dress like a woman because I don’t think it’s shameful to be a woman.” - Iggy Pop