Iggy Pop & David Bowie (August 27, 1977) – “Lust For Life” Album Review – New Musical Express
This New Musical Express review from August 27 1977 examines Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life album, produced in collaboration with David Bowie. Written by Max Bell, the piece captures the manic energy and creative synergy between the two artists during their Berlin period, portraying the record as a high‑voltage burst of rock vitality.
Publication: New Musical Express Date: August 27 1977 Country: United Kingdom
Under the Albums section, Max Bell reviews Lust For Life (RCA), noting how Iggy Pop “gets into tone and David Bowie tunes into a very high frequency of saxophonic radio.” The article praises the album’s intensity and Pop’s rejuvenated performance, describing it as both disciplined and explosive.
Bowie’s production is highlighted for its sharpness and clarity, steering Pop’s raw energy into a more structured form.
The review situates Lust For Life as a follow‑up to The Idiot, emphasizing its brighter, more rock‑driven sound. Bell’s commentary reflects the excitement surrounding Pop’s creative resurgence and Bowie’s role as mentor and collaborator. The page also features photographs of both artists — Pop grinning mid‑performance and Bowie appearing on a television screen — symbolizing their intertwined artistic personas.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
By mid‑1977, Iggy Pop and David Bowie were deep into their Berlin collaboration, producing two landmark albums that redefined Pop’s career.
Lust For Life was recorded quickly at Hansa Studios, with Bowie co‑writing and playing piano, guitar, and saxophone.
The record’s title track, driven by Hunt Sales’s pounding drums, became one of Pop’s signature songs.
The NME review reflects the British press’s fascination with the Bowie‑Pop partnership — a union of chaos and control.
Bell’s tone captures the tension between Pop’s anarchic charisma and Bowie’s meticulous craftsmanship.
The phrase
“Gog and Magog? No, Dog and Maindog” humorously frames their dynamic as mythic yet grounded, suggesting that their collaboration was both visionary and human.
This issue of NME also includes reviews of Dennis Wilson’s Pacific Ocean Blues, situating Lust For Life within a broader context of introspective, artist‑driven albums emerging in 1977.
The page stands as a snapshot of the era’s creative ferment — when Bowie and Pop were reinventing rock through European experimentation and emotional honesty.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Review of Lust For Life album by Iggy Pop, produced by David Bowie Era: 1977 – Berlin Collaboration / Post‑Punk Transition Era
Tone: Energetic, witty, and analytical Photography: Black‑and‑white images of Iggy Pop performing and David Bowie on a TV screen
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
NME Albums section dated August 27 1977
Review of Lust For Life by Max Bell
Headline: “Gog and Magog?! No, Dog and Maindog”
Additional review of Dennis Wilson’s Pacific Ocean Blues
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