Iggy Pop Doesn’t Need Your Shirt
Attending Iggy Pop’s sold-out concert on March 24 at the Salt Shed in Chicago was a profound experience that offered a lesson in authenticity and the importance of context.
The diverse audience — including punk rockers with spiked green hair, parents with children, couples in their twenties, and Baby Boomers who grew up with Iggy Pop — gathered to witness the godfather of punk, a man who has profoundly influenced rock music.
Known for his vigorous stage performances that have sometimes shocked audiences, Iggy Pop has built a reputation for authenticity. His signature bare-chested appearances have long symbolized his vulnerability and deep connection with the audience. Articles have been written about his weathered, sinewy body, which tells a story of a life lived on the edge. (One of my favorites is Matthew Singer’s “An Annotated History of Iggy Pop’s Body.”) Carola Long of The Independent once wrote that Iggy Pop has “one of the most exposed torsos in rock . . . In a world where celebrities constantly reinvent themselves, his commitment to an authentic look is refreshing.”
Taking the stage at the March 24 concert, he was unapologetically himself. He lurched and prowled like a man fueled by instinct, his movements raw and unpredictable. His gait, shaped by scoliosis and one leg shorter than the other, gave him a feral rhythm — part strut, part stagger, all presence. It wasn’t graceful, but it was magnetic. Every twisted motion felt earned. He didn’t try to correct or hide the asymmetry. He used it and turned it into punctuation.
Each lunge, each stumble, each raised leg was its own exclamation: I am still wild. I am still here.
Song after song, he channeled energy into the audience, alternately snarling and cheering and then venturing into the crowd to allow us to embrace him while he sang. He was riveting, powerful, and a force of nature.
And yes, he was shirtless. His body was etched, creased, and corded like an ancient tree that’s weathered a thousand storms and refused to fall. His face was carved, not worn — marked by decades of rebellion, chemical combustion, and survival.
The audience roared with approval. The atmosphere was electric, amplified by his openness and appearance. It felt like he was challenging us: “What will you do with your life when you’re 77?”
Eager to share this experience, I posted videos from the concert on TikTok. The content went viral for unintended reasons. Many viewers expressed disgust at his shirtlessness and found his aged appearance unsettling. Some defended him, but most TikTokers were brutal with their ageist attacks. But I realized something as I read the onslaught of snark: the haters had inadvertently highlighted his authenticity. Iggy Pop has been provoking audiences for decades with his ability to surprise and shock. It’s reassuring to see he still possesses that power. And I was there. I felt it.
The TikTok responses also underscored a difference between those who paid to attend the performance and those who critiqued it from afar. People often claim to value authenticity, but when confronted with its unvarnished reality, they may recoil. Iggy Pop doesn’t need to conform to societal expectations by covering up. His unabashed display of self is his hallmark. Concealing his humanity would be a disservice to his authenticity.
I say, keep waving your freak flag high, Iggy.
