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Interview with JAMES WILLIAMSON
Webmaster : A lot of people only connect your name to the Raw Power period of the Stooges, but you were already in the band for a couple of years before Raw Power was released. Actually, you would have played guitar on the legendary 3rd Stooges album that was rejected by Electra. What would this album be like?James Williamson : Frankly, I don't remember the songs very well. I do recall them be very franetic. Most likely, they wouldn't have been as structured as the Raw Power Tracks.
Webmaster : The fact that so called "outtakes" of a band actually turn into classics is very rare, maybe unique. Indeed, songs that were not officially released, like "I Got A Right" or "Sick Of You", are highly appreciated and still played live by Iggy, who's also stated that "Gimme Some Skin" is his favorite Stooges song. Legend has it that, apart from those known outtakes, there were some others too, like "Fresh Rag", "Nigger Man", or "Egyptian Woman", as well as different versions of "Search and Destroy" and "I Need Somebody". Can you clear up the subject? Is it possible that there are some more hidden treasures from those first sessions?
James Williamson : I doubt it. After 30 someodd years, I think everyone's pretty much cleaned out their basements and atics of old out takes.
Webmaster : During the post-RP period, the Stooges seemed to be going for a more "normal" R'n'R direction. But by '75-'76 the punk scene was exploding in both sides of the Atlantic and bands like Sex Pistols, The Damned, Television, Johnny Thunders etc were highly influenced by The Stooges. Could it be that, if the Stooges had survived but gone a bit closer to mainstream they'd probably be out of time for one more time ?
James Williamson : I don't know how to answer this..it seems retorical.
Webmaster : Needless to say that your guitar style is superb and, although you've played in only a handful of songs, you've been as big influence to other guitarists as players that can be heard in many records. How come you didn't play on New Values ?
James Williamson : I did play on "Don't look down". However, mostly I had stopped playing and Scott Thurston was very good...he did a great job on that album. I was busy producing it.
Webmaster : NV is Iggy's album that sounds closer to the Stones that any other. Was that direction a decision of you and him ?
James Williamson : No, we were WAY over the Stones by NV...in fact I disagree...I don't think its sounds like the Stones at all...it sounds like New Values.
Webmaster : Although both you and Ron have said that you're still friends and there are no hard feeling between you, you weren't invited to join in the much-anticipated Stooges reunion. Why ?
James Williamson : I doubt if it was Ron's decision, but anyway actually I don't know the real answer. Maybe they just wanted to do the original lineup. I have no idea.
Webmaster : If you were in the band, the addition of the RP songs would create the absolute killer live set. If your business engagements allowed it, and, of course, if you were invited, would you play with the Stooges again ?
James Williamson : Hard to say...anything and everything is possible We'll have to see how things turn out.
Webmaster : Have you talked to Iggy lately ?
James Williamson : Nope...the last time I spoke with him was when he was in San Francisco for a show about 6 or 7 years ago.
Webmaster : Do you still plug the guitar sometimes, or is music over for you ?
James Williamson : Rarely, but I pick it up from time to time.
Webmaster : What do you think of Iggy's solo career compared to the Iggy / Williamson circa ?
James Williamson : It's apples and oranges...one was with a band, the other was solo...its up to the audiences to decide really.
Webmaster : How did you start playing guitar ?
James Williamson : I Started in 6th grade with a Sears F hole guitar in Oklahoma.
Webmaster : As a Mid West young guy, what did playing music represent for you ?
James Williamson : Music was one of the most important aspects of my life at that time.
Webmaster : What were your musical influences ?
James Williamson : There were so many. Depending on the time frame they included the Beatles, the Stones, the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, etc. etc. etc. Jeff Beck and so on.
Webmaster : What did you know about that Stooges before playing with them ?
James Williamson : I had played in a band with Ron (playing bass) called the chosen few many years before...I had also known Iggy from that period so I knew the band members very well.
How were they considered by the other Ann Arbor / Detroit bands ?
James Williamson : I don't know and I didn't care.
How did you start playing with the band, and when was it ?
James Williamson : I started playing with the band after the rhythm guitar player (I think Dave Cheetum) was no longer playing with the band...I don't recall exactly when but I thin around 1971.
I’ve heard that Ron wanted a second guitar player. Is it true ?
James Williamson : It wasn't Ron's decision,, the band had already been playing with 2 guitars and so this occured naturally.
What was the importance of the music when the band split for the first time ? What was actually the reason ?
James Williamson : You can answer the first part better than I can...part 2 is very complicated so I cannot answer it honestly...but we had had enough.
How did the second period of the band begin ? (Did Iggy call you right after having met Bowie and Defries in New York ?) Yes.
What did you know of Bowie and Defries at this moment ?
James Williamson : Nothing, but I learning quickly.
Webmaster : Did you hear many musicians in England, before calling for the Ashetons brothers ?
James Williamson : Yes, we listened to many but didn't like any of them
Webmaster : Wasn’t it hard for Ron to become the band’s bass player ?
James Williamson : Of course it was, but we felt it was the right line up.
Webmaster : At this moment in England the band used to rehearse a lot. Is it true that you wrote a plenty of songs that wasn’t rejected by Mainman for a new album ? (I mean songs like Scene of crime, Gimme some skin…)
James Williamson : We could have recorded whatever songs we liked, but choose the ones on Raw Power.
Webmaster : What was Mainman’s plans to drive the new called band “Iggy & the Stooges” to success ?
James Williamson : They didn't have a plan, that was part of the problem.
Webmaster : What was the band’s way of living in England ?
James Williamson : The best we could
Webmaster : I’ve heard that Ron and Scott were so bored after a long time in England that they destroyed their house. Is it true ?
James Williamson : I don't recall any destroying of the house...sorry.
Webmaster : I’ve also heard that when the band came back to the United States, Ron was with Angie Bowie ? True ?
James Williamson : You'll have to ask Ron as that is a personal question.
Webmaster : Could you say that all the band members were friends ?
James Williamson : Yes, I think so. The band was in LA in 1973-1974.
Webmaster : Was it a good thing for the band ?
James Williamson : Depends on who you talk to....I think it was an important experience.
Webmaster : Did you tour a lot at this moment ?
James Williamson : Yes
Webmaster : Were the conditions of touring “comfortable” ?
James Williamson : We had fun mostly
Webmaster : How did you become the new composer of the band ?
James Williamson : I always wrote original songs and Iggy recongized that from before I joined the band.
Webmaster : What was your way of composing songs with Iggy ?
James Williamson : I would write the songs and he would write the lyrics and then we could combine the two.
Webmaster : What did hard drugs bring to the band ?
James Williamson : nothing.
Webmaster : Many people say that Raw Power sounds more like classical rock’n’roll unlike Funhouse. Do you agree with that ?
James Williamson : I'm not sure what that means...its a differant style, but I think that it defined that new style.
Webmaster : If Iggy asked you to play with the new gathered band, would you accept it ?
James Williamson : Probably not...only because I don't have time to deal with it, but it might be fun to play once or twice (at the hall of fame or something of that sor)...anyway, I don't really play guitar any more, so it would take me a little while to ramp up.