Iggy Pop Blasts Music Industry: ‘Why Don’t I Just Die Now?’

Iggy Pop talked about the current state of the music industry, drugs and his societal concerns at the premiere of ‘Gimme Danger’ at Cannes.

Iggy Pop attended the Cannes Film Festival Thursday in support of Jim Jarmusch’s new Stooges documentary Gimme Danger. At a press conference anchored to the film’s premiere, the singer talked about the current state of the music industry, drugs and his concerns about society.

“Things are getting too wired up,” Pop said. “In my lifetime, I’ve seen the lakes and rivers get foul to the point where you can’t drink the water and then you can’t drink it out of the tap and you finally have to buy it. Everything’s become a business. If everyone could just calm the fuck down a little bit that would be good. There’s a stimulation today that’s really intense.”

Pop also defended analog technology, likening it to “throwing an amp into the spirit of man.” Pop said that digital music stifles music’s ability to transmit the kind of raw emotion Pop is known for. “It’s like, ‘Why don’t I just die now?'” Pop said.

Gimme Danger premiered as part of the film festival’s Midnight Screenings section,with the documentary featuring unseen archival footage and photos from the influential punk act. The film also spotlights Pop in his wilder days, as the singer told the press, “I don’t drug up anymore. Everybody should just drop that shit, simple as that. For me, the best is a very good wine ”“ but weed is OK for most people.”

In recent years, Pop has seen the deaths of close friends and collaborators like the Stooges’ Scott and Ron Asheton, Steve Mackay and David Bowie. Pop marveled at the fact that he is still alive. “For some reason I seem to have been able to regenerate from the various things I put into myself,” he said. “Just by trying to take it easy or go to bed early.”