Tag Archives: James Williamson

Stooges’ Guitarist James Williamson’s ‘Re-Licked’ Comes Into Focus

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Cover art by Trina Merry for the “Open Up and Bleed” single.

I’ve previously written about the album James Williamson, The Stooges’ guitarist best known for his contribution to the amazing 1973 Stooges’ album Raw Power, has been recording.

Williamson’s guitar work on Raw Power put him on the map, but I’ve also always loved his playing on the Iggy Pop solo album, New Values, and there are plenty of Stooges’ bootlegs that show off Williamson’s unique sound as well.

Now I’ve got more info about Re-Licked via Joel Gausten’s website.

The album will be comprised of songs Williamson and Iggy wrote but that were never officially released (or properly recorded).

Songs to be on the album include: “I Got A Right,” “Rubber Legs,” “She Creatures Of The Hollywood Hills,” “Wild Love,” “Heavy Liquid” “Open Up And Bleed” and “Gimme Some Skin.”

Singles include: Jello Biafra, Mark Lanegan, Ariel Pink, Lisa Kekaula of The BellRays and Carolyn Wonderland, the Texas singer who is on the upcoming single, “Open Up And Bleed” b/w “Gimme Some Skin.”

The current touring version of The Stooges — bassist Mike Watt, saxophonist Steve Mackay and drummer Toby Dammit — play on the album along with Williamson of course.

So far the album has mostly been recorded at Dave Grohl’s studio in Northridge, CA.

Re-Licked will be released on Williamson’s Leopard Lady label.

-– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –

Tensions Revealed Between Iggy Pop & James Williamson

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Photos via Iggy’s Facebook page.

So what exactly is going on between chief Stooge Iggy Pop, and Stooges’ guitarist James Williamson?

First we learned that Williamson and the current version of the Stooges (bassist Mike Watt and drummer Toby Dammit and sax man Steve MacKay) are recording an album, Un-Licked, of officially unreleased Stooges’ songs with guest vocalists including Jello Biafra and Mark Lanegan.

OK, that sounded cool, and the partial version of “Open Up and Bleed” we heard sounds good.

And then, today, Rolling Stone runs an article in which Williamson says that for Iggy, “it’s a hard pill to swallow when someone is doing all your songs with your band and you’re not on it.”

And Iggy counters: “This statement about the ‘hard pill’ sounds kind of passive aggressive to me.:

Rolling Stone also reports: “Last week, a spokesperson for Iggy Pop told Rolling Stone that Iggy wasn’t given an opportunity to participate on the album and he only learned of it in December of 2013, after a Chicago label turned it down.”

Here’s Williamson’s full quote:” He [Iggy] gave me his blessing and wished me success. But it’s a hard pill to swallow when someone is doing all your songs with your band and you’re not on it. I think he’s cool with it so far. We’ll see how things progress…I hope he maintains his positive attitude.”

Here’s Iggy’s full quote: “I don’t have a problem with anything, I don’t oppose anything,” Iggy tells Rolling Stone in a written statement. “This statement about the ‘hard pill’ sounds kind of passive aggressive to me. The guys in the touring group have been phoning and emailing me and my rep before during and after the recordings, wondering how I felt about this. These guys are my friends and we’ve all worked together many years. I am glad someone is paying them; they are working musicians and they need to play. I want to thank all the wonderful singers on this record for covering my songs.”

Come on guys, no hard feelings, OK?

Iggy and The Stooges including James Williamson:

-– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –

Watch: New Teaser Video from Stooges’ James Williamson – ‘Open Up and Bleed’

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The Stooges’ James Williamson has a single due out on Record Store Day featuring remakes of two Stooges’ songs, “Open Up and Bleed” and “Gimmie Some Skin.”

There will be an album, Re-Licked, but there’s no release date yet. The album will feature a number of vocalists covering “obscure” Stooges’ songs. Playing on the album are the current touring version of The Stooges: Mike Watt, Steve Mackay and Toby Dammit.

For “Open Up and Bleed” Williamson has enlisted Texas blues singer Carolyn Wonderland.

It’s good.

-– A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –