Ahead of his headline performance at the In The Meadows festival in Dublin this summer, Paul McLoone looks back at the amazing career and life of the Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop - listen above.
Born James Newell Osterberg Jr. on April 21, 1947, in Muskegon, Michigan, Iggy rose to fame as the charismatic frontman of The Stooges, a band known for its raw energy, rebellious attitude, and influence on punk and alternative rock. With his wild stage antics, shirtless performances, and distinctive voice, Iggy Pop became a symbol of rock's raw, untamed spirit, continuously pushing boundaries across decades.
Despite early commercial struggles, his work with The Stooges became legendary, especially albums like Fun House and Raw Power. Iggy’s solo career flourished in the late 1970s, particularly through his collaboration with David Bowie, producing landmark albums such as The Idiot and Lust for Life, later immortalized as the soundtrack for the opening scene of the movie Trainspotting.
"Who the hell is playing that piano?" 🎹 @IggyPop Confidential is the perfect companion to your Sunday afternoon, and his recommendations are second to none.
— BBC Radio 6 Music (@BBC6Music) May 16, 2023
Listen on Sundays from 4pm on @bbcsounds pic.twitter.com/ox8ShiOx12
In recent years, he's been hosting a celebrated music show for BBC Radio 6 Music, and remains an incendary live performer at 77 years of age.
Iggy Pop headllines In The Meadows at The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin on June 7th, 2025 - find out more here, and listen to more from RTÉ Arena here.
