How Cool It Is To Be A Dog...

Iggy Pop was one of the first (if not the first) of the nihilistic punk rockers. He recently turned 60 and has a new album of ballads. When he was younger I think he succeeded more on attitude than talent but as he has aged I think his talent has developed and his attitude has become a kind of charming charisma based on thoughtful self awareness (never easy especially for someone who was such a total lunk head). He was recently interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air and I found it really fascinating to hear about the arc of his life from his perspective. You can hear the interview at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104735787.  (In the trailer for his new album I think he sounds a bit like Jesse Ventura another guy whose talent and charisma evolved from attitude into something else over time.)