EMI press conference (March 26th 2009)


PressConference - MC talks about controversy about insurance.

IggyPop - In fact, I don't give a shit, I did the gig and it was cool.

PressConference - Why to you use your image in these campains ?

IggyPop - It's because they use the music. Where I come from, the kids dream is to become a rock star, and get signed. The companies that do that are big symbols, when those companies used that music, that's respect that I receive... And also: they pay a lot more than the record companies!

PressConference - Let's talk about the album. Is this a concept album ?

IggyPop - It's a concept album that happened. I read this book in 2007 in an old seaside hotel here in France. I read some of Houellebecq's poetry and thought "this motherfucker can write". I recognised some of my own traits in the book, and then discovered some more.

PressConference - Does Michel Houellebecq know your album is inpired by this?

IggyPop - Yes, we met and corresponded about it. The guys who did the documnetary about Houellebecq's film asked me to do the music, and gave me carte blanche for the tracks. In the beginning I wanted to do just accoustic guitars with one mic and then it grew, no one asked me anything about it, but I wrote and wrote in a small cabin. Thanks to the Internet the tracks were elaborated without me seeing some of the musicians, which was great. I imagined them as bearded crazy guys. I met them and they are healthy americains ! I had to do a song in French, and saw a picture of Houellebecq at seaside. The adaptation in English is Autumn Leaves, but it was impossible to clear it. So the guys from movie said "do it in French and we can clear it".

PressConference - Do you feel the same as for The Brave Soundtrack ?

IggyPop - Yes absolutely, I like these areas from music. I like to get this comedy grip, it's the same path.

PressConference - Do you want to become a crooner in Vegas ?

IggyPop - I don't like Vegas, but if they want to pay me for a week, why not ?

PressConference - Does it matter to you that Houellebecq is French? How much is it a gift for the French?

IggyPop - I made a video explanation about the record. It's just that when I done the record, I wondered "who is gonna hear it?". Once I had the tracks, for the French, I could do this and this and they could appreciate it. The producer, Hal Craigin, married a French woman. He and her had read the book. There was one song that was "I want to go to the beach". The beach is where I want to die, but in the nice sense of it. It was just an accoustic piece. [Iggy sings accapela]. I sent it to Hal, and it came out as a beautiful french 60s pop piece... I was in front of mediterranean sea and wrote the lyrics to "Spanish Coast"... There s also this track called She s a business. I wanted it to be in French without getting in the way too much.

PressConference - How do you think the other people in the world are gonna perceive it?

IggyPop - Well, Japanese are Francophiles, Koreans are open to anything, then you have the Germans, Italians, yeah they'll say "why don't you sing in Italian"... It's called Preliminaires for some reasons, it was made for a 1 hour music. There are 12 tracks, it's slim. The americains, they're gonna kick me out! I reckon that the real connection will be done by some people who will connect together.

PressConference - Is there anything about France that appeals you?

IggyPop - I hate giving compliments. But when you traval around here, things a kept well. A lot of people trashed my country. When I was a kid it was beautiful. In America people always want to build some shit. But I feel people are well educated here in France. I think it's interesting.At a certain time, I received support here before I got it anywhere else. When I came here in the 70s, the city provoked me, and I went me. I look back at footage of what I did and some things were erratic. I think Berlin is feeling competition with Paris and that s healthy.

PressConference - What's the diference between the dog from the novel and Lucky?

IggyPop - I was on a tour break and I was lone in the US. The dog fox seemed like the most sympatetic character. Re reading the book, I felt manipulated: the dogs dies 3 times.  As Nietszhe said, we all know who killed God: us. But who has killed the rock and roll ? Man you are the only one who doesn't make shit !How does it come from ? I have 3 dogs but that was not my idea! First he just barked at me, but we became close... One of the worst things about being a dog, is that you have to wait for someone to open the door.

PressConference - Does Preliminaires mean that there will be another one?

IggyPop - I hope to make something else that comes from this, whatever that means.

PressConference - What about the cover from Marjane Satrapi ?

IggyPop - I worked for her doing the uncle in Persepolis. I did it for the english version. It was nominated for the oscar. When I see her drawings, it makes me think of Edward Hopper.

PressConference - In your video, you talk about being tired of guitars, is it linked to Ron's death ?

IggyPop - No this album was done already when Ron died. For personal pleasure I listened to Louis Armstrong, gnawa music for southern morocco etc...

PressConference - fromDiext is jazz punk music ?

IggyPop - When Jazz started yes, they were dressed bizarrely, they were hustlers, they had the sex drugs rock and roll lifestyle.

PressConference - from Apache Congrats for working with Arno

IggyPop - Yeah!

PressConference - Do you think you will record an entire electronic album

IggyPop - No, after 4 hours of boum tchick I feel ill.

PressConference - Do you want to be adopted by europeans?

IggyPop - I'm open for adoptation.

PressConference - Do you bring your dogs on tour?

IggyPop - I brought Lucky and he tried to lick everyone and come and kiss me...

PressConference - will there be any touring?

IggyPop - No

PressConference -  Is this new album the end of punk rock?

IggyPop - there was never a beginning of punk rock for me, I did those things and some marketing guys did the rest, we pied and other licked...

PressConference - Do you see any glimmer of hope for the artists of your country?

IggyPop - Yes, I'm not an social science expert, but I noticed a trembling effect, booming and busting, with the previous administration. I think the new president is more sensitive and more sensible, certainly better educated. Maybe he can do something.

PressConference - What does Houellebecq think of these songs ?

IggyPop - He was pleased I was doing it, he was very encouraging about the music, he has his own favourite which is Spanish coast.

PressConference - Do you listen to French music at home ?

IggyPop - Leo Ferré, from time to time. Juliette Greco, Gainsbourg.

PressConference - You said "I wish for a new life". What kind?

IggyPop - I'm open, I'm at the point I don't have anything to say with myself, so I just react. There s a whole world, a lot of good people, a lot of things happening. If you learn to react, you end up doing good things. when you're young you're very self obsessed, then you say "I wanna hang on", and then if you re lucky enough to get to the third part, it's more relaxing. I work as an actor sometimes, you just check people out...

PressConference - Do you have acting projects?

IggyPop - I'm working for Marjane Satrapi again in fall. I'm doing something in Germany called "A Century of Songs". I have something coming out with Danger Mouse also. I have 5 songs of the Ashton brothers. Really unforgiven, unreconstructed shit. I just had time to listen to the rough mixes and it was silent, I don't know if it was a joke from Ron or my player. I would like to make something with these tracks, I worked on two.

PressConference - Is the biopic going on ?

IggyPop - I don't think so, I reacted bad. It opens with my mother and father worrying about me. My father was alive at the time and it felt like an intrusion. They can wait for me to be dead. Fuck you, I won't do your biopic promo.

PressConference - Some french singers sing in english because they feel it's better. Are there some songs you feel are better in french ?

IggyPop - Yeah, Happy Birthday song!

Interiew edited by webmaster@iggy-pop.com.