Iggy Pop Discusses David Bowie, 'Raw Power' Reissue -- Exclusive Video

Many of you got it wrong. Let's first start with the author of the article. What's wrong with that information is Raw Power was made during a time when drugs were a problem with the band and thus having little faith in them Columbia Records gave them the worst recording gear possible.

Not to mention that in 1973 nobody sounded as aggressive as the Stooges and it was ahead of it's time soon to give birth to Punk, Hard Rock, Alt. Rock, Grunge among others.

Because of the utter unique quality of the Stooges sound was yet another reason why Columbia worked against them. Iggy made a mix that was as close as possible to what was desired despite poor quality recording equipment. Columbia discarded it. That mix went missing. Bowie then came in, did his mix, which wasn't too far from the quality of Iggy's mix, but again due to Columbia's disinterest [and in fact plans on dumping the Stooges] that mix was second best but still decent given what tools were worked with. Bowie was unfairly blamed for years for ruining their opus.

Yes, it's a bit trebly to say the least, all highs & very little bottom end. Iggy re-mastered it digitally in 1998 which beefed up the range of sounds. I remember hearing that 1998 re-mix for the first time [after listening to the Bowie mix for a dozen years] and I was thrilled because for a change it was in the red, it was gloriously loud as they deserve to be heard. While, bass and drums could be heard, it was perhaps maybe a bit too much at the expense of hearing James Williamson's magnificent guitar work, which is an absolute shame.

The new 2010 re-master meets somewhere in between the 1973 and 1998 version. It's much closer to the 1973 version where you can hear the guitar dynamics exploding like dynamite, including an enhanced bottom end without overdoing it.

Some of you consider Bowie superior, Iggy inferior and vice versa. Nonsense!!! They both contributed equally to music, influenced hundreds of bands, whether those bands are even aware of it or not. They both have their respective qualities just as much as the Velvet Underground & MC5 had. Invest your ears and you will discover this to be true. You must also consider that apart from Hendrix & the Beatles, Stones, Zep little else was as cutting edge. Look into it kids.

That's interesting that they have reverted back to the original Bowie mix for this release. I read somewhere that the original master mix Bowie did was lost and so you'll only ever have the original release to hear it. So I guess that was bull.

And no one ever mentions the reason I read once upon a time as to why the original mix he did, didn't go down well. Because apparently, Iggy tried mixing it first but dumped it down onto only 4 tracks. So Bowie effectively could only ride the faders trying to bring certain elements out by making things louder or softer. If he'd had more of the instruments spread out on more faders he could've done more.

But then I know nothing about music recordings so...

Iggy and the Stooges "Raw Power" is probably the greatest album ever made. The likes of Lou Reed, Bowie and Ferry are all wonderful artists in their own right, but they can't hold a candle to the Stooges circa 1972/3. And 'Raw Power" in particular.

Iggy was a dominant force in Bowie's life but he didn't transform Bowie's hippie visual';
that credit goes to the cast of Andy Warhol's "Pork" which played in London in 1971,to an audience that included David and Angie Bowie; all these odd NY creatures, led by Cherry Vanilla, Wayne County, Tony Zanetta and Leee Black Childers, transformed the Bowies completely,and that's why Bowie 'adopted' them all'
when his Mainman company opened in NY , Zanetta was named President, Childers Vice president, Vanilla head of PR/Film/ and she became Bowie's offical spokesperson,and Wayne County was signed as an artist; it was the Warhol crew that turned the Bowies upside down; ask Angie,or read the Dave Thompson book..

I saw a photo of iggy kissing bowie in a bar, and I have read that they slept together, no doubt with iggy in the dominant role, because bowie is a self-admitted 'queen bitch', and none of this has anything to do with the music, just throwing it out there.

Ha, without Iggy and the Stooges, Bowie would still be strumming an acoustic guitar to hairy-pitted folkie girls in lame coffee houses! Iggy gave him the sonic kick in the pants he needed! Damn straight Bowie was (still is) amazing, but everyone needs a catalyst and Iggy was a major one for the Thin White Duke.

I didnt see anything about making fun of, all I seen was an honest opinion on their take of the time, and what they feel now, yes bowie is great at his own music and had some excellent songs, but he wasnt giving the feel of the band, he was putting his own take on the album, good or bad the original band had a different idea of what THEIR album was supposed to sound like.
as for alot of the jerk comments, it proves that alot of people are prejudice and jerks toward things they don't like for whatever reason. :- )

well i grew up with both, and considering the fact that bowie can still hit the charts and iggy has and did disappear in the '70s, and bowie is still selling music albums concert tickets, well i guess agree or not bowie is the clear winner, not to mention the richest ma in rock n roll

gotta love people and their incessant need for comparison. maybe you like one, and the other, not so much. so what? one doesnt always have to be good, and one bad. different strokes.

p.s. - nklfrank, very well played, sir.

Anyone who was lucky enough to hear and experience James and the band live {as I did in Toledo,Ohio} came away from hearing Raw Power with tremendous disappointment. The album in no way did The Stooges justice and did not capture the sound, energy and genius of the greatest band that ever hit a stage. The Stooges never realized Bowie's wealth because they refused to sell out. And for that I will always honor them, The Stooges...as the true rockers in history. No one else ever came close.