The Stooges were a band seemingly lost in time, a decade ahead of their peers in the late 60’s. Throwing elements of psychedelia, American garage rock, and British blues into a blender, Fun House is effectively the first seed of punk rock that caused legions of bands to follow in their footsteps. The Clash, Ramones, and Sex Pistols (our write ups on the defining albums of punk from that Holy Trinity of Punk can all be found here) all owe a debt to this album, both for its unapologetic hedonism as well as its raw primal jam rock power.
Iggy Pop’s unhinged screams throughout this album (especially in “L.A. Blues”) are pure animalistic chaos. Whether a conscious decision to create an art rock masterpiece influenced by jazz, or a case of temporary insanity that should have prompted immediate medical intervention, Iggy Pop and The Stooges pushed 70’s rock past its conceivable limits into uncharted territories never before seen. It was made even more compelling when you consider their raucous live shows where Iggy Pop would famously cover himself in blood and peanut butter before stage-driving into the crowd. He’d go on to become a cultural icon in the decades that followed, the embodiment of grime and filth and the face of nihilism.
Standout Songs: “Down on the Street”, “1970”, “L.A. Blues”
