“Dum Dum Boys” came into my earphones on my walk to work this morning and immediately made my day significantly better.
Sure, we all know his more celebrated singles like “Lust for Life,” “The Passenger,” “Nightclubbing,” “I’m Bored,” and … ugh … “Wild Child” and “Candy” (never liked those two), but as far as great solo Iggy Pop tunes go, this one really ranks, to my mind, among his (and producer Bowie’s, for that matter) finest work.*
Here’s the studio version now, for your edification. Enjoy…
As a smoldering lament to the dissolution of his original Stooges (the “Zeke,” “Dave,” “Rock,” and “James” in question from the slow-building intro), the song is now leant extra poignancy by the fact that most of those dudes are now dead -– apart from “James” -– that being Raw Power-era guitarist James Williamson who, not coincidentally, “went straight,” as wearily cited, years before re-joining his Igness in the wake of the passing of Stooges centerpiece, Ron Asheton.
I didn’t know all that upon my first hearing of “Dum Dum Boys,” of course, as I didn’t immerse myself in full fandom for the mighty Stooges until my college years (as detailed on this ancient post). Prior to learning of its proper backstory, I imagined “Dum Dum Boys” as kind of a post-“West Side Story” ode to the demise of a slack-jawed street gang (which, I guess, is still kinda accurate). I’ve also never been able to shake an association between “Dum Dum Boys” and, oddly enough, a certain Beatles tune. To my ears, the central guitar riff that anchors the song sounds entirely like a certain George Harrison flourish in “Cry, Baby, Cry” off The White Album, an observation that would probably make all parties concerned wince.
For a great, considerably more authoritative breakdown of the story of “Dum Dum Boys,” incidentally, check out this amazing post.
Meanwhile, as an extra bonus, I found this great, homemade video for a live recording of “Dum Dum Boys” this morning. Captured in 1981, this performance (from Toronto, I believe – arguably the same as this clip) features a slew of great, New York City footage from the mid-to-late `70s. It’s a great collection (although I’m not sure Iggy was actually living here, at the time). Regardless, it’s cool.
*For its title alone, my kids thing Iggy’s finest hour is “Butt Town.”
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