By Michael Haskoor
Recently, bassist Mike Watt told Rolling Stone that The Stooges have been working on a new album for which a handful of instrumental tracks have already been recorded and are awaiting Iggy Pop’s lyrics. The Stooges’ last album titled The Weirdness was released a distant five years ago, a long wait for fans. Guitarist James Williamson is back working with the band since they broke up not long after their third album, Raw Power (1973). He reunited with the band in 2009 (following the death of guitarist Ron Asheton), but this will be the Stooges’ first new release with Williamson since he’s been back. Watts expressed his excitement in the interview with Rolling Stone, also mentioning the difference in sound (neither in a good or bad context) that Williamson brings to the table.
The Stooges appeared last night in Chicago at Riot Fest. Among those performing this past weekend were lasting punk rockers Elvis Costello and The Descendents, as well as some second generation bands like Alkaline Trio and NOFX. Riot Fest is a punk rock and alternative music festival that formed in Chicago in 2005, and has branched to a few cities across the continental U.S. Talks of an album release for The Stooges are still up in the air and these new songs may only serve as new material for live shows, at least according to Watt. More news will inevitably unfold in the coming months as the band decides on what to do with the new music.