Open up and read.

Recently finished up a comprehensive and solidly done new Iggy bio, Open Up and Bleed, by British journalist Paul Trynka. I haven't read Iggy's autobio, so I'm not sure how much of the same ground is covered, but Trynka does a yeoman's job of capturing all aspects of Iggy's career -- his home life, musical achievements, extra-musical relationships -- if not setting any stylistic milestones. The central conceit is a Jekyll & Hyde-like narrative that pits Iggy vs. Jim in a battle for the singer's soul. Trynka is quite solid and believeable on the music itself, praising what's great while also calling out the dogs in Iggy's oeuvre. He also seems to have spoken to anyone who ever came within ten feet of Iggy's dick, which amounts to a lot of people.

Iggyophiles may already be aware of this odd encounter, but I wouldn't have believed Trynka fully until I finally watched it myself. Here is Iggy performing on the Dinah Shore Show, in support of The Idiot, I believe:



The band is Iggy, Bowie, and Soupy Sales' kids. Elsewhere on youtube you can find more Iggy from this appearance, speaking with Dinah on the couch. A few years later, Iggy appeared on Tom Snyder's show, "Tomorrow." You can hear the audio from this interview at Post-Punk Junk. And for an articulate reivew of the upcoming Stooges album, Marcello has it.