Iggy & The Stooges--Live In Detroit
MVD/Creem 2004
Last year, rockers worldwide saw the dream of a lifetime come to fruition as Iggy & The Stooges reunited for a string of concert dates. Unfortunately, our heroes were unable to play absolutely everywhere, leaving many diehards out in the cold. Whether you were fortunate enough to be present at one of those shows or not, there is reason to rejoice in this Stooges DVD, Live In Detroit. Thanks to video technology, everyone can now experience arguably the greatest rock n' roll band of all time onstage in full assault mode.
The main program of this DVD is the Stooges homecoming show from Detroit in 2003. Seeing Iggy and the Asheton brothers on the same stage is, by itself, enough to make even the hardest of hearts well up just a bit. The visual of these men bashing it out together really drives home what the dynamic was that made this band click in the first place--Iggy's hyperkinetic exuberance is always richly rooted in earth thanks to Ron and Scott's stonefaced coolness. Musically, this is everything you'd hope for--stripped down with the slop factor just right. It's incredible how the Stooges are able to stand on an arena-sized stage and make it feel as intimate as if they were playing the seediest little roadhouse in the world. Just amazing, and it all exceeds every expectation one could dream up.
As if that wasn't enough, the bonus material on Live In Detroit pushes this DVD completely over the top. This section of the disc is anchored by an in-store appearance the Stooges made at a New York record store during the reunion. Iggy dishes on the lyrical inspiration behind many pre-Raw Power classics and it is truly a gift being able to soak it all in. Musically, this performance is unfettered as it could get, Scott Asheton beating on a bucket and suitcase instead of drums. The way this performance was shot further adds to its special quality--watching it, you really get the feeling of being there and having the best seat in the house. In an attempt to further kill you with glee, you also get to hear Mike Watt (Minutemen/Firehose) reading an entry from his tour diary (he filled Dave Alexander's shoes in the bass slot during these reunion shows), as a Stooges photo slide show rolls. It's a moving account, confirming he didn't take a second of this ride for granted, which could have been easy considering his own legendary status. Add another slide show of vintage Stooges photos taken from the Creem magazine archives and Live In Detroit equals pure rock n' roll nirvana.
When it comes to music, it isn't really about who was there first--just who loves it most. That's one of the things that makes DVDs like Live In Detroit so important. There are legions of people who've been touched by the music of Iggy & The Stooges that weren't even born when they were originally a band. At long last, those folks can have a taste of the masters alive onstage. For those that were there from the band's inception, right up through to the newest of fans, Live In Detroit is proof positive that dreams do in fact come true.
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