Singer Iggy Pop and his wild onstage antics were often the focus of attention. The band had a shambling, energetic sound deliberately reminiscent of past garage rock groups. They sold very few records in their original incarnation and often performed to indifferent or hostile audiences. Nevertheless, the Stooges are often regarded as hugely influential both on then-nascent heavy metal movement and also on punk rock. As has been said about The Velvet Underground, the handful of people who did actually buy the Stooges' early records at the time ended up forming bands of their own and thus changed history. In fact, Velvet Underground member John Cale produced the original incarnation of their self-titled album. The 1969 album 'The Stooges' has received since its release critical acclaim from many reviewers over the years.
The Stooges drew their sound from a variety of influences. Examples include the often transgressive rock and roll artists The Doors, The MC5, The Rolling Stones, The Troggs, and The Who. As well, the band members enjoyed the work of jazz and soul artists such as Booker T and the MGs, James Brown, and Miles Davis (particularly 'Bitches Brew').
In 2003, Iggy, Scott, and Ron reformed The Stooges with Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt filling in. The 2000s lineup played festivals around the world, and in 2006 recorded a new album with Steve Albini.
Founding member and guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead at his home in Ann Arbor, MI on January 6, 2009. Iggy Pop posted a message on his website stating "I am in shock. He was my best friend."
On June 22, 2016, Williamson made an official statement for the band saying that the Stooges are no more.
"The Stooges is over. Basically, everybody's dead except Iggy and I. So it would be sort-of ludicrous to try and tour as Iggy and the Stooges when there's only one Stooge in the band and then you have side guys. That doesn't make any sense to me."
Website: www.iggyandthestoogesmusic.com
Skull Ring
The Stooges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fast cars
Hot chicks
Money
Skull rings
Fast cars
Hot chicks
The touch of a hand in the wasteland
You're walking asleep and dreaming cheap
A bird's wing don't beat for free
You're freezing cold and your family
Skull rings
Fast cars
Hot chicks
Money
Skull rings
Fast cars
Hot chicks
Fancy things
Fingers on fire to do what's bad
Ring on the finger is a skull man
Strong as a bar of steel
Weakness is that you can't feel
Skull rings
Fast cars
Hot chicks
Money
Skull rings
Fast cars
Hot chicks
Fancy things
My life is dirtied, my mind is loaded
I'm feeling and breathing and fighting
To see
People get ready now
Baby come on give your heart to me
Skull rings
Fast cars
Hot chicks
Money
Skull rings
Fast cars
Hot chicks
Fancy things
The lyrics of The Stooges' song Skull Ring revolve around a few recurring themes, all reflecting a very masculine take on society's luxury symbols. The first verse describes a stereotypical image of male privilege, with skull rings, fast cars, hot chicks, and money being treated as a package deal of sorts. This perception of the perfect life is then repeated in the chorus, with the addition of "fancy things," a term that conveys a sense of glamour and superficiality that flows throughout the song.
The second verse offers a more poetic view of the same situation, with a reference to a "wasteland" and a "bird's wing." The lyrics suggest that the singer is walking through life half asleep and dreaming of cheap thrills, even though the beauty and fragility of the natural world around him should be enough to awaken his senses. The chorus that follows emphasizes once more the song's obsession with material possessions, which are presented as essential to the person's identity.
The third and final verse focuses on the tension between strength and weakness, with the singer using the image of his fingers being on fire to evoke a sense of danger and excitement. The skull ring is then introduced as another symbol of toughness, described as being "strong as a bar of steel." However, the singer's weakness is that he has numbed himself to the pleasures of the flesh and the beauty of the world he inhabits. Ultimately, the song seems to be torn between the wish for immediate gratification and the realization that fulfillment is not found in objects, but rather in human connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Skull rings
The obsession with material things, particularly jewelry, as a way of feeling powerful or significant.
Fast cars
The desire for speed and luxury, which can represent a symbol of status and success.
Hot chicks
The expectation of having attractive women around as a symbol of sexual prowess and desirability.
Fancy things
The constant need for extravagance and luxury as a way of showing that one has achieved a certain level of wealth and success.
The touch of a hand in the wasteland
The desperation for human connection and affection in a world that feels empty and devoid of meaning.
You're walking asleep and dreaming cheap
The feeling of being stuck in a rut and going through the motions without any real purpose or direction.
A bird's wing don't beat for free
The idea that everything has a cost, and that even seemingly natural things like the movement of a bird's wings require energy and effort.
You're freezing cold and your family
The sense of isolation and loneliness that can come from pursuing material success at the expense of personal relationships and emotional well-being.
Fingers on fire to do what's bad
The excitement and temptation that comes from engaging in risky, dangerous behavior.
Ring on the finger is a skull man
The symbolism of the skull ring as representing death and darkness, suggesting a fascination with the macabre and morbid.
Strong as a bar of steel
The feelings of strength and invincibility that can come from the pursuit of wealth and power.
Weakness is that you can't feel
The idea that becoming too focused on material possessions can lead to a loss of empathy and emotional connection with others.
My life is dirtied, my mind is loaded
The sense of guilt and confusion that can come from pursuing a lifestyle focused on material success at the cost of personal relationships and morality.
I'm feeling and breathing and fighting
The sense of determination and aggression that can come from trying to pursue success and power.
To see
The desire to achieve clarity and understanding of oneself and one's motivations.
People get ready now
The sense of urgency and impatience in trying to achieve success and power.
Baby come on give your heart to me
The need for emotional connection and intimacy in the face of the emptiness and superficiality of material pursuits.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IGGY POP, RONALD ASHETON, SCOTT ASHETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind