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
The End of Christianity
The Stooges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She hit my weak spot at a crucial point
When its a black girl you cannot resist
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of you and me
No Christianity
She wore some short shorts
Man she wore them out
These bodies only come from way down south
I got a feelin' in my pineal
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of you and me
No Christianity
Now I'm a gator swimming in the sun
I go on instinct
Moral codes are gone
I cant tell if I'm dead or having fun
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of Christianity
Its the end of you and me
No Christianity
Its the end for you and me
No Christianity
The end for you and me
No Christianity
Its the end for you and me
No Christianity
The end for you and me
No Christianity
The Stooges’ song “The End of Christianity” talks about the end of traditional moral and religious beliefs through an encounter with a black girl who embodies sexuality and freedom. The singer meets her at a pizza joint, and the moment she appears, he feels an irresistible attraction to her. The girl may represent a catalyst that triggers the singer’s desire to break free from the chains of his religion and society. He feels like he’s breaking a taboo by falling for her, as though he knows he’s supposed to resist such urges to preserve his Christian beliefs.
The singer’s attraction to the black girl seems to awaken his primal instincts, and he feels that he can’t resist her because his attraction to her has transcended religious boundaries. He describes her as “a goddess” and implies that she’s exotic and different from the people he usually encounters. As he follows his instincts, he becomes less conscious of his surroundings and his sense of self. He becomes like a “gator swimming in the sun,” implying a loss of identity and a reversion to an animalistic state.
Overall, the song suggests that traditional religious beliefs and societal norms may be insufficient to fulfill people’s desires, and that they may need to break free from these constraints to enjoy life to the fullest. The singer’s encounter with the black girl becomes a metaphor for the end of Christianity and the beginning of a new era of freedom and pleasure.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a goddess in a pizza joint
I encountered a divine feminine energy in a mundane space.
She hit my weak spot at a crucial point
She touched me in a vulnerable place when I needed it most.
When its a black girl you cannot resist
There is an irresistible sensual power that comes from black femininity.
Its the end of Christianity
This experience challenges the dominant religious and moral structures.
Its the end of you and me
Our old selves and ways of being are no longer viable.
No Christianity
We must let go of the restrictions imposed by organized religion.
She wore some short shorts
She was dressed in revealing clothing.
Man she wore them out
She wore them confidently and with pride.
These bodies only come from way down south
These bodies have roots in the southern US and Black cultural traditions.
I got a feelin' in my pineal
I have a sense of heightened intuition and awareness.
Now I'm a gator swimming in the sun
I feel like a primal creature basking in the light.
I go on instinct
I act on my deepest impulses and desires.
Moral codes are gone
I am no longer bound by societal norms and expectations.
I cant tell if I'm dead or having fun
I am fully immersed in the moment and experiencing life without inhibition.
Its the end for you and me
Our old ways of being and relating to each other have come to a close.
No Christianity
We must abandon the ideas and beliefs that have limited us in the past.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: IGGY POP, RON ASHETON, SCOTT ASHETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind