As the concept progressed, I felt that the kind of music we were doing needed to expand and explode as the record moved forward, and that’s why we brought in Steve Mackay to help blow us over the top with his psychedelic sax. I’m not sure what Ron thought about that, but he definitely enjoyed what we were doing on this new record. Scott Asheton and myself were both very keen to do something much more aggressive than our first record which was more laid back in certain ways. Once it was solid, we’d play it at our gigs on the weekend. Anyway, I’d write a number that I thought the group could play well, bring it downstairs from my attic room and try to rehearse it up. So, he wasn’t as prolific as he had been previously, and I don’t blame him. Ron had gotten his hands on the best private apartment, and a nice girlfriend too named Shelly. The songs on the album were all written there, most of it in my attic bedroom. There was a lot of dope smoking, some good writing, and a bit of rehearsal done at that house which later became known as “The Funhouse” after the album. There was a kitchen, rec room, tv room, rehearsal room, 2 proper bedrooms, 2 separated apartments, and a converted attic and basement. The farmer was too old to live there anymore, so we took over. There was an abandoned corn field and junked car in back. It had a wide porch, a stately driveway, and a nice lawn and trees. The rehearsal room was set up in the former salon of a lovely old farmhouse we rented for $325 a month on the outskirts of Ann Arbor. I remember thinking “this is it we’re going with it.” We were about half way through writing and preparation for our sophomore album, and it needed a title this time.

I was laying on my back on the floor of the Stooges rehearsal room, stoked on LSD and reefer, staring at the lovely amplifiers and egg cartons on the walls, when I thought I saw the word “Funhouse” hovering above me in the air, just below the ceiling. On the eve of the release of the Fun House Deluxe Box Set, Iggy recounts the creation and recording of the album.

Iggy pop raw power lp