Jul 6, 2012 at 4:15 PM | MusicNews | By Rock Square

The past few years have seen Iggy Pop trade rock for melancholy French covers, and shirtless struts for a more introspective performance style. Now the Godfather of Punk has become vocal in questioning the intentions of the genre he (for better or worse) helped establish. “I couldn’t stand the sincere punks,” Pop recently told New York Times (source). “I never believed them. Still don’t.”

The musician goes on to single out The Clash as one of the “sincere punks” he takes offence with. “The Clash were going to make the world politically correct for everybody’s benefit – but only if you kept buying Clash records,” he says. “I never really went for the righteousness. I went for the more profligate, sneering groups.”

Along with eschewing punk, Pop says his view on his iconic stage dives has altered with age, particularly after a show in 2010 when he wasn’t caught after a jump. “Nobody caught me because it was the Carnegie Hall-Tibetan-whatever audience,” he recounts. “I was a little miffed. We’ve done two gigs this year, and I haven’t done one yet. Stages are getting higher and higher, and I’m getting older and older.”

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