They say the trick to a long and happy retirement is to keep busy. After working as a Vice President for Sony, what better plan for a man of 60, than to retire early and re-join the band you were in before you took up a career, which, in James Williamson's case was the Stooges. He looks quite content up there on stage playing those jaggedy riffs, while Iggy, bare-chested after 50 seconds, is forever throwing himself into the crowd or doing his crooked child dance. The man never stands still. I've imagined standing here waiting for the guitar riff to 'Search & Destroy' to kick in, and now I'm here.
Driving home to Liverpool from Ormskirk one Friday evening Mark Lamarr announced a song as the best rock record ever. I thought this was a ridiculous suggestion, but when I heard the start of 'Search & Destroy' I just thought fair enough. Bank holiday Monday and I'm standing here listening to it being played live. I kind of wish I was standing closer though, I've thought about this too much, it doesn't seem real.
I wonder if James Williamson had a guitar and amp in the corner of his office so he could practice his Stooges riffs every once and a while? Or maybe he totally forgot them. He seems quite at home now though, standing on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo.
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