The Iguanas (Ann Arbor)
Encyclopedia
The Iguanas was a garage rock
band formed during 1963 in Ann Arbor, Michigan
, and was one the first bands of James Osterberg, now better known as Iggy Pop
. Osterberg was the drummer of the band while in high school, and got his nickname "Iggy" from the name of this band. Also, an exhaustive compilation in several volumes (both LPs and CDs) by Greg Shaw
of recordings by the Stooges
was also named for this band and called The Iguana Chronicles. The line-ups over the years included Jim McLaughlin on guitar, Sam Swisher on saxophone, Jim Osterberg
on drums, Nick Kolokithas on vocals and guitar, and Don Swickerath on bass.
They originally performed in high school dances, fraternity houses and later clubs in Ann Arbor
. In 1965 they were an opening act for bands such as Four Tops
, the Shangri-Las and the Kingsmen at Club Ponytail in Harbor Springs
, a local resort area. Osterberg left the group soon afterward, and with another drummer (Tom Rolston) they sought but did not get a recording contract.
Osterberg exited the line-up in 1966 to join the Prime Movers; the remaining Iguanas hired a new drummer and played club dates in Boston and New York, but when a deal with Columbia Records failed to materialize the band dissolved in 1967. The band reunited in 1996 when McLauglin, Kolokithas and Swickerath announced their intentions to revive the group in the wake of the release of the retrospective Jumpin' with the Iguanas recording.
Some early "demo reel" recordings have survived, notably from when The Iguanas recorded at Detroit's United Sound Recording Studio, and the following tracks are known to be available on CD:
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band formed during 1963 in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, and was one the first bands of James Osterberg, now better known as Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
. Osterberg was the drummer of the band while in high school, and got his nickname "Iggy" from the name of this band. Also, an exhaustive compilation in several volumes (both LPs and CDs) by Greg Shaw
Greg Shaw
Greg Shaw was a Los Angeles-based fanzine publisher, music historian and record label owner. He grew up near San Francisco, California.It was as a young teenager that he started writing about rock and roll music...
of recordings by the Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
was also named for this band and called The Iguana Chronicles. The line-ups over the years included Jim McLaughlin on guitar, Sam Swisher on saxophone, Jim Osterberg
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
on drums, Nick Kolokithas on vocals and guitar, and Don Swickerath on bass.
They originally performed in high school dances, fraternity houses and later clubs in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. In 1965 they were an opening act for bands such as Four Tops
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
, the Shangri-Las and the Kingsmen at Club Ponytail in Harbor Springs
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Harbor Springs is a city and resort community in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.Harbor Springs is in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The Little Traverse Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on...
, a local resort area. Osterberg left the group soon afterward, and with another drummer (Tom Rolston) they sought but did not get a recording contract.
Osterberg exited the line-up in 1966 to join the Prime Movers; the remaining Iguanas hired a new drummer and played club dates in Boston and New York, but when a deal with Columbia Records failed to materialize the band dissolved in 1967. The band reunited in 1996 when McLauglin, Kolokithas and Swickerath announced their intentions to revive the group in the wake of the release of the retrospective Jumpin' with the Iguanas recording.
Some early "demo reel" recordings have survived, notably from when The Iguanas recorded at Detroit's United Sound Recording Studio, and the following tracks are known to be available on CD:
- MonaMonaMona may refer to:*Mona in Saxon mythology*Cercopithecus mona, a long tailed African Monkey*Mona at Birmingham Zoo in the United States*Mona , a female given name and surname...
(Video) - I Don't Know Why
- Again & again (the first Osterberg original)
- Out of limits
- Twist and ShoutTwist and Shout"Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby" and recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles with John Lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album...
- California SunCalifornia Sun"California Sun", is a song credited to Henry Glover and Morris Levy. Originally recorded by 35-year-old New Orleans-born singer-songwriter Joe Jones, and released by EMI in the winter of 1961, it peaked at #89 on the charts.-Cover versions:...
- Slow Down
- I Feel FineI Feel Fine"I Feel Fine" is a riff-driven rock song written by John Lennon and released in 1964 by The Beatles as the A-side of their eighth British single. The song is notable for the use of feedback on a recording for the first time by any musician...
- Blue MoonBlue Moon (song)"Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley....
- Walk Don't Run
- Things We Said Today
- Louie LouieLouie Louie"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
- Wild Weekend
- Tell Me
- Slow Down
- Summertime
- Outer Limits
- Johnny B. GoodeJohnny B. Goode"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
- Perfidia
- Travelin' man
- Surfin' BirdSurfin' Bird"Surfin' Bird" is a song performed by the American surf rock band The Trashmen; it is also the name of the album that featured this hit single. It was released in 1963 and reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100...
- Tequila
- Pipe Line