Ep527: Tales from the Stooges with Mike Watt

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Mike Watt played with Iggy & The Stooges for over 10 years - today he shares all about his times with the brotherhood - Iggy, the Asheton Brothers, Steve Mackay, the comeback tours, The Weirdness, the end of the road and more!

Topics Include:

• Mike Watt discusses new Record Store Day release: 40-minute version of "We Will Fall"
• Without the Stooges, Watt believes punk movement wouldn't have existed as we know it
• Played with Stooges for 126 months after Iggy Pop called him in 2003
• First heard Funhouse in 1970-71 when most people dismissed the band entirely
• Stooges music helped Watt recover from serious illness 25 years ago
• Initially met Ronnie Asheton at Minutemen gigs in Detroit's Greektown neighborhood
• Played with Ronnie in 1996 for Todd Haynes film Velvet Goldmine
• Iggy and Ronnie hadn't spoken for 29 years before 2003 reunion
• Watt received fateful call at Tallahassee club: "Ronnie says you're the man"
• Iggy's first concern: Would Watt wear T-shirt instead of flannel? "Fuck yeah"
• Thought Coachella would be one-off gig, became decade-long musical journey
• Being youngest member at 45 allowed Watt to absorb everything from legends
• Asheton brothers had telepathic connection, communicated through rhythm more than words
• Lost Ronnie in 2009, Brother Steve in 2014-2015: "You always think you got time"
• Watt never wore same T-shirt twice during entire Stooges tenure
• One time played shirtless in New Orleans after wearing orange triggered Iggy's nightmare
• After Ronnie died, switched from T-shirts to black flannel honouring his memory
• Final years wore Dickies work clothes, embracing mechanic aesthetic Iggy appreciated
• Still calls Iggy every April 21st for his birthday, ringtone is "TV Eye"
• Instrumental tribute albums with Larry Mullins represent "paying back the debt"

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