If ever there was a band that deserves to be thrust into the
public’s mind, it is The Stooges. Well, perhaps there are others too, but
whatever list you care to compile, The Stooges had better be on it. They are
one of the most influential bands ever. Their three proper albums
might not have sold very much in their day, critics may not have spent very
much time thinking about them. They were seen as, indeed they were signed on the
basis of being, MC5’s ‘little brother’. But since that date, their reputation
has grown and grown. Even when their figurehead, Iggy Pop, has dropped off the
culturally relevant map, they have remained an essential touchstone for any
band that deserves to be called ‘rock’.
So ‘Gimme Danger’, a documentary directed by Jim Jarmusch
(no less), is very welcome. Obviously, front and centre is Jim Osterberg
himself. But we have contributions from all the central players, bar Dave
Alexander (who sadly passed in 1975); both Asheton brothers, their little
sister, Steve Mackay, and James Williamson. It was very nice to see something
of the background of Pop and the Asheton brothers. How they came to music. It
was fascinating to hear that Iggy had fulfilled his musical apprenticeship in
Chicago behind R&B artists. This was a revelation and a helpful one in
understanding where the ‘Iggy’ persona came from. It was similarly interesting
to see how they began to take themselves seriously as a band, rather than
simply 4 guys who really liked to get
high. There were also some insights into the personal costs that came from
being in a band that required total physical, psychological and pharmaceutical
commitment, especially in the period between Fun House (1970) and Raw
Power (1973).
However, it came across as hagiography. There was little
critical assessment. When things went wrong it was someone else, or it was a
one off, or it was drugs. Where criticisms were mentioned, they were brushed
off. For instance, Iggy recounts that Joey Ramone saw The Stooges during the
time of the recording of Fun House
and the band plays nothing from the first album and that Ramone thought this
disgusting. OK, why? Why does Iggy disagree with Ramone? That would have been
an interesting discussion to dig into.
The film assumed that the records themselves were
unimpeachable. They are great great records – that is not in question – but
there was still no sense of where things could have been better or more
functional. Given the people involved in these records and the decisions made,
there could have been so much more said. John Cale produced the first LP. Where
was he? I know that they were not so keen on the mix of the first album, but it
was the album that made them and contains some of their iconic tracks. Why not
have some discussion of that? Bowie produced Raw Power. Again, there were
discussions regarding the mix. But where was he? Bowie was instrumental in
reviving Pop’s career, in getting him a new contract, and remained integral to
his career deep into the 70s. If we have talking heads footage from Ron Asheton
who died in 2009, surely some conversation with Bowie would have been possible
– especially since the film was ready by April 2016, suggesting that much of
the filming was done in 2015 or earlier – i.e. while Bowie was still alive. All
we got was some bitching about Tony DeFries, Bowie’s manager at the time.
Finally, the movie pretty much stops in 1973. There is some
material about their inauguration into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is
nice, and about how Jay Mascis was involved in getting the band back together,
again nice. But there is nothing about the two albums, The Weirdness (2007) and Ready
to Die (2013). Truthfully, they
are not held in very high esteem, but to remain silent on them seems dishonest.
Overall, it is important to give this band their due. They
deserve it. Their place in the pantheon is secure and the film gives solid
evidence for why. However, it could have been more. I’d certainly recommend it,
but not without qualifications.
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