The fabulous Iggy Pop recently turned 70 years old. Quite a milestone, really, when you think about how often he flirted with his own mortality back in the day. On his birthday last year, we told you about Mr. Pop’s loopy 1979 appearance on the Australian TV program, Countdown. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and read/watch that first here.
In March 2013, the Stooges were about to tour Australia, and Iggy was interviewed on 7.30 Report, a news program brought to you by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the country’s government-funded network. ABC is the same network that aired Countdown, which, in case you didn’t know, was a very popular Australian music show that ran from 1974 to 1987.
For the 7.30 Report segment, Iggy is asked about being labeled “The Godfather of Punk,” what he was like as a kid, and his legendary reputation as a live performer, before the reporter says she has a video she wants to show him. Iggy guesses correctly what he’s in store for: “Oh, no, let me guess: Would it be Countdown?” But Ig is amused and game to watch footage of himself from decades past.
Pop cracks up as he views the interview segment, and once the video gets to the part where he’s miming “I’m Bored,” he begins watching intently, seeming to have forgotten all about it. At one point, the clip makes him giggle! That’s right, we get to watch Iggy Pop giggle.
Here’s what he had to say about his demeanor, as well as his attire:
Pretty tight pants…It was the first time in my life that I’d been thrown out on a promotional tour. I had a pretty successful attempt to allude to the fact that I thought I was on a silly show and without being a grump about it. And I could’ve gone on there and spat at the guy or whatever. I didn’t do that.
On “I’m Bored” and the studio audience:
That’s a pretty rocking song and it’s hard to deliver a rock song solo like that. Harder when it’s an audience that doesn’t know what planet you landed in from, and wishes you’d go away, and wants their daddy to get rid of you or whatever. (laughs)
The clip of him watching the Countdown footage is embedded below, while the complete interview can be seen via ABC’s website.
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
‘Hiya Dogface!’: Wasted Iggy Pop goes totally off-the-rails on Australian TV, 1979
Iggy Pop’s racy 1979 appearance on obscure PBS program ‘Wyld Ryce’
Iggy Bop? New music from the godfather of punk on his 70th birthday—with a jazz trio!