The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds Ep127: James Williamson - Iggy & The Stooges
Jun 18, 2018
56:48
James Williamson co-wrote and played on the Iggy & The Stooges landmark LP 'Raw Power', thus laying a cornerstone of modern music. Today he shares his story, joining The Stooges, the making & butchering of Raw Power, Kill City, Ready to Die & more, as well as his diversion into IT and corporate executive life in Silicon Valley.
Topics Include:
- reflecting on his music career's twists and turns
- Williamson discusses balancing technology career with musical achievements
- Explains meeting Ron Asheton through The Chosen Few band
- Describes witnessing early Stooges formation and psychedelic phase
- Details joining Stooges after Funhouse album was recorded
- Discusses Stooges' transition from performance art to structured songs
- Describes band's drug problems leading to initial breakup
- Explains how Bowie and management discovered Iggy in New York
- Contrasts Detroit rock style with London's glam scene
- Details technical recording problems during Raw Power sessions
- Explains why Bowie's mix emphasized guitars over rhythm section
- Discusses management tensions and promotional issues after Raw Power
- Describes songwriting partnership with Iggy Pop over the years
- Explains transition from music to electronics and computing
- Details early Silicon Valley career at AMD and Sony
- Discusses keeping Stooges history private during tech career
- Explains receiving royalties through BMG publishing
- Comments on fan collecting of rare Stooges recordings
- Discusses Kill City remixing project with engineer Ed Cherney
- Explains origins of "I Got A Right" single release
- Details creation of Relict project using unreleased Stooges material
- Describes meeting Frank Meyer through Cheetah Chrome recommendation
- Outlines formation of Pink Hearts with Petra Hayden
- Dismisses possibility of future Stooges projects without original members
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About The Vinyl Guide
If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related.