Before the summer began, we reported on the exciting news that Iggy Pop was in talks with original Stooges guitarist James Williamson for a possible reunion of the Raw Power lineup (the recently passed Ron Asheton played guitar on the first two Stooges records, but switched to bass for their 3rd album and Williamson took over the 6-string). Well, I’m happy to report that not only is the Raw Power reunion happening, but we’ve got dates: On May 2nd and 3rd of next year, at All Tomorrow’s Parties in London, the Stooges will play their classic album Raw Power in its entirety, Rolling Stone reports.
“[Iggy] asked me if I wanted to play guitar again,” Williamson said. “I was about to take an early retirement from my job in Silicon Valley, so I figured ‘What the hell, let’s do it.’”
Though, as Iggy said previously, “Raw Power would be the repertoire” for the reunion, Williamson has begun rehearsals with the band (minus Pop) and will be joined by his former frontman shortly to rehearse “songs from Raw Power, The Stooges, Fun House and Kill City.”
Between this story and that Jack White/Keith Richards collaboration, this week’s news is making me feel pretty good about the state of rock music.