King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are one of Australia’s best-loved and most prolific bands. Iggy Pop is the legendary Godfather of Punk who also hosts his own regular BBC Radio 6 music show titled Iggy Confidential.
It’s hardly surprising the Melbourne psychedelic collective would have an affinity for the Stooges frontman, but it appears the appreciation is mutual, because Pop recently played two King Gizz songs back-to-back on his radio show.
After dissecting his love for singer Louis Prima, who he notes had a red Cadillac and a “giant girlfriend”, Pop quips, “Here’s some guys from a faraway place where you should have a red Cadillac and a giant girlfriend, it’s King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard from Australia.”
After fading out from the chilled-out sounds of ‘Paper Mâché Dream Balloon‘, Pop discusses his relationship with King Gizzard’s music and how their music differs from the old-school psychedelia that he saw around him (and participated in) in the ’60s.
“I keep waiting to not like that but it never happens,” Pop says of the track with a laugh. “It comes close but it doesn’t happen. I liked it, I enjoyed it. I lived through the original psychedelic era and made it out the other side.”
“And this has some of the same notes and it’s got a flute, but it’s a little different. I notice that because it’s the kids of today they’re not afraid to give the drums a good whack behind it or the bass a good thunk.”
“The backing tracks on the original psychedelia used to tend either be ponderous or kind of fey, but these people tend to just bonk on in there and it’s a pretty well-crafted melody, I reckon. Maybe like Love, but not as advanced. Still, I want to hear them one more time.”
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Pop then shifts into the jazzy ‘Sense’ (another cut from 2015’s Paper Mâché Dream Balloon) and bookends it with ‘Portrait of the Living Sky’ by the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra, which he explains is a fitting accompaniment.
Naturally, the King Gizz boys were chuffed to be handpicked by one of the most iconic rockers still living and took to Facebook to share their excitement, writing, “Iggy Pop played ‘Paper Mache’ and ‘Sense’ back to back on his BBC Radio 6 Music music show!!! We love you Iggy xxx.”
Check out the entire episode via BBC Radio 6 here.
