The Stooges Record New Album, But Where’s Iggy Pop?

The Stooges are reportedly putting together a brand new album. However, the group is moving forward without iconic singer Iggy Pop.

The protopunk band released Ready to Die last year, a record that found them on the road once again. Although James Williamson, James Williamson, Steve Mackay, and Toby Dammit wanted to create some material for a new album, Pop apparently wasn’t quite ready to pick up the mic just yet.

According to Consequence of Sound, The Stooges are putting together the new batch of songs while the frontman takes some time off. In his place, they’re getting some help from a few famous fans to officially craft a few songs that were originally written during the early 70s.

Mark Lanegan, Jello Biafra, and Teri Gender Bender, are just a few of the singers who are helping out The Stooges with Re-Licked. The band reportedly put together the material at Dave Grohl’s recording studio in California.

How does Iggy Pop feel about The Stooges moving on without him? Rolling Stone reports that the singer has offered nothing but support to his bandmates. However, Williamson pointed out that it was probably a “bitter pill” for Pop to swallow.

Iggy said in a recent statement on the matter:

“I don’t have a problem with anything, I don’t oppose anything. This statement about the ‘hard pill’ sounds kind of passive aggressive to me. The guys in the touring group have been phoning and emailing me and my rep before during and after the recordings, wondering how I felt about this. These guys are my friends and we’ve all worked together many years. I am glad someone is paying them; they are working musicians and they need to play. I want to thank all the wonderful singers on this record for covering my songs.”

A.V. Club suggests that the singer was fine and dandy with The Stooges and their latest project because he didn’t know anything about it. Prior to issuing the statement you just read, reps reportedly hinted that Iggy wasn’t approached to record any of the material on Re-Licked. However, it’s unclear if there’s any truth to that rumor.

Regardless of whether Pop’s happy with the project, the new record is on its way to retail shelves just the same. The Stooges’ Re-Licked is presently scheduled for release this August or September. What do you think about the band recording an album without their iconic frontman?

[Image via May the Rock Be With You]