Iggy Pop says he’ll never go diving again because it’s “too brutal”.
The music icon said NME in the current Big Read cover interview, he popularized the practice as a young punk rocker fronting The Stooges As a 75-year-old man, he is no longer able to live.
Speaking about next summer’s ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ gig at London’s Crystal Palace Park, Pop confirmed he would not be performing on stage.
“I’ve left the stage a few times if the crowd is too boring for me to rally them, but most of the time I don’t have to,” he said. NME. “I don’t dive anymore, I’ve managed to survive most of the time and I’m too delusional about it now.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Pop paid tribute to Taylor Hawkins, praising the “incredible style” and “colour” the late Foo Fighters drummer brought to his album Every Loser.
Pop has a slew of musicians contributing to the new record, which will be released on January 6, 2023, including Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith and former guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Blink 182’s Travis Barker, Pearl Jam praised his guitar. Stone Gossard and Jane’s Addiction Dave Navarro and Eric Avery.
He also detailed what led to the tracks “Remarks” and “Regency” by Hawkins, who died while on tour in Bogotá, Colombia in March.
“Taylor came up with an incredible style,” recalls the artist.
“I’m very lucky to have this color on the record. I was very saddened and shocked to hear about him. I happened to know the hotel where he was staying. I stayed in that city. Everything was different. He’s had a great career doing what he really wants to do and a good life in every way.”
“He cooks up a storm on these tracks and you can really hear it,” he continued. “It has this bubbly quality to it that really goes away.”
Pop also praised Italian rock provocateurs Måneskin, who sang vocals on a new version of their track “I Wanna Be Your Slave”. NME interview.
“It’s a really strong group,” he said of the foursome who often inspired him to form the group.
“Damiano [David] amazing singer and bass player, Victoria [de Angelis] It really does the position well and doesn’t overplay it, but on stage and in their videos it really stays with the message. Wow, he’s a firecracker.’
He also compared their guitarist Thomas Raggi’s performance to “somewhere north of Joe Perry” and called their drummer Ethan Torchio “smart”.
“I read an interview where they started marching in the streets in Rome and had to fight with other groups for good positions,” he said. “You can tell they have that background, they’ve done something together, they’ve had a little taste of poverty and uncertainty, and I think that gives them a really good edge.”
In other news, tickets are now on sale for the aforementioned outdoor gig in London next summer – Find remaining tickets here.