The Stooges: The Authorized and Illustrated Story

by Robert Matheu, Jeffrey Morgan (Editor), Alice Cooper (Foreword)

Formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967, the Stooges are icons of modern rock, influencing the fledgling sounds of punk, heavy metal, and hard core. From the beginning, lead singer and provocateur Iggy Pop (b. James Osterberg) astounded audiences with his outrageous stage performances, accompanied by guitarist Ron Asheton, his drummer brother Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander with their raw and bracing sound. The group disbanded in 1974, but reunited in 2003 to play before a vastly expanded fan base of over 10 million devotees worldwide, and they continue to tour today. In this book, rock photographer Robert Matheu compiles the first ever authorized book about the band, including iconic photographs, classic interviews, and vintage articles and ephemera dating from the band's breakout performances in Detroit in the late 1960s through their most recent shows in 2009. With new interviews from every significant member of the Stooges, past and present, previously unpublished photography, and a Stooges discography, The Stooges is the definitive book about this trailblazing band.


                                    

Genres: Music, Biography

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Tosh]

Who in the early 70’s would ever think an established old school art press like Abrams would do a coffee table sized book on the Stooges? Iggy, I am sure had a feeling that he will somehow be considered one of the greats. And the truth he is great. “No Fun, my babe, No fun.” That’s Zen philosophy in a nutshell.
This is a fantastic visual history of Iggy and the Stooges (this is not only about the Ig) via on stage photos, backstage snapshots, and official band portraits. A great document to have and of course to put on your table. But make sure you have twin speakers on the left and right of the book – and your blasting the first three Stooges album. Now that’s entertainment.

[Eric]

The story of the Psychedelic Stooges told with Creem-like reportage and terrific photos. C'mon, fess up. which album do you think is better, Fun House or Raw Power? And do you really think the band's second album inspired Miles Davis to get loose with On the Corner? I don't know, but I completely agree that "the Stooges were the sound of our twisted teen souls; the howl of the horny and the stoned; the poetry of the possessed dispossessed." God how I loved that band!

[Simon]

The Stooges The Authorized and Illustrated Story
By Robert Matheu

Yes this is the coffee table sized official
Stooges book containing loads of great photos of
the stooges from there inception right up till
2009 when James Williamson rejoined the band.
The history is provided in a series of essays
from among others Alice Cooper, Robert Matheu,
Jeffrey Morgan, Ivan Suvanjeff and Brian J Bowe.
The book never goes for the total scandal end of
things but doesn't avoid it either and finding
out that the reunion has earned the band over
$20 Million even before this book came out and
all the other Re-issues and new releases in the
last few months and coming months says that they
have indeed finally become a band of our time!!
If you love the stooges you will probably want
to put this book next to the Raw Power by Mick
Rock and I Need More by Iggy pop on your now
crowded coffee table!!
It's also perfect to read during the adverts
while watching TV Eye!

[Wayne]

Great photo book. Little writing but what is there is pretty darn good. Remembrances, anecdotes, legends and history by friends, press and peers. One of the great bands I never tire of, long live the music of The Stooges!