Iggy Pop Says He Almost Joined AC/DC in 1980

Iggy Pop revealed that he considered joining AC/DC following the death of the band’s original singer, Bon Scott, in 1980.

Pop, 75, said he nearly joined the band, but he didn’t like the band’s music and wouldn’t “fit” their type of music.

“They had a manager many years ago when I hadn’t reformed The Stooges, I hadn’t moved to England, and this guy said, ‘Are you interested in joining AC/DC?’” said Pop. “They were looking for a singer. I listened to their record. I thought, I can’t fit that bill. I wasn’t, like, ‘Ugh, I don’t like them.’ It was quite well made. They do careful work, but I’m not what they needed.”

Shortly after Scott’s death, AC/DC decided to continue on as a band and found a fitting replacement in former Geordie singer Brian Johnson, who joined the band for the recording of their seventh album, Back in Black, and has remained their lead vocalist through the present.

At one point, Pop said that he even crossed paths with Scott before his death, but doesn’t remember the details of their meeting since they were both drunk. “I had some wonderful encounter with Bon somewhere, and we were both drunk and stoned,” shared Pop. “I see pictures sometimes. I go, I don’t remember, but that’s me with Bon. I loved what he did.”

Pop recently released the new single “Frenzy,” off his 19th album, Every Loser, out Jan. 6, under producer Andrew Watt’s Gold Tooth Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records.

Produced by Andrew Watt, the album —Pop’s first release since Free in 2019—features Guns N’ Roses‘ Duff McKagan on bass and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums, and also gives special thanks to the late Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins in the credits.

“I’m the guy with no shirt who rocks,” said Pop in a statement on the album. “Andrew and Gold Tooth get that, and we made a record together the old-fashioned way.” 

Watt added, “Iggy Pop is a fucking icon. A true original. The guy invented the stage dive. I still can’t believe he let me make a record with him. I am honored. It doesn’t get cooler. This album was created to be played as loud as your stereo will go. Turn it up and hold on.”

Photo: Alery Hache/AFP via Getty Images