Metallic K.O.

Metallic K.O. is a live recording by American hard rock band The Stooges. In its original form, the album was purported to contain the last half of a performance at the Michigan Palace in Detroit, on February 9, 1974—the band's final live performance until their reformation in 2003. The performance was notable for the level of audience hostility, with the band being constantly pelted with pieces of ice, eggs, beer bottles and jelly beans, among other things, in response to Iggy Pop's audience-baiting.
Subsequent investigation of the master tapes and the May 1988 release of the double album Metallic 2X K.O. reveals that the original album contained the last half of the February 9, 1974 show, but opened with the first half of an earlier show (from October 6, 1973) at the same venue. The "2X K.O." version features the full shows from both dates.
In 1998, the album was re-released under the original title with a reverse show order, (mostly) expanded track lengths and even more complete set-lists.
History.
The album was recorded on a reel-to-reel tape machine by Michael Tipton, later obtained by Stooges guitarist James Williamson. Considering Williamson's involvement, and the endorsement of Iggy, it was considered a "semi-official" bootleg, when released on the Skydog label in 1976.
The album is mostly composed of previously unreleased material. Studio demo and rehearsal recordings of some of the songs would later turn up on similarly semi-official posthumous Stooges compilations.
The album proved popular, due to its release in the first era of punk rock and The Stooges' growing legend as protopunks. "Metallic K.O." outsold The Stooges' major label official releases, selling over 100,000 copies in America as an import in its first year alone.
Musical style.
The album is notable for Iggy Pop's vulgar rendition of "Louie, Louie", which deviates wildly from the song's original lyrics. Overall, the playing on the album is ragged, and during "Rich Bitch" the band go out of time with each other, having to be coached back into the song by Iggy - "Gimme just the drums! It's the only way you're ever gonna get it right, take it down to the drums!". He then counts the other players back into the beat. In addition to long-time Stooges members Pop, Ron Asheton (bass guitar), Scott Asheton (drums), and Williamson (guitar), the line-up on the album features Scott Thurston on piano, who had become an official member of the band by this point.
Context by Lester Bangs.
In the essay "Iggy Pop: Blowtorch in Bondage" critic Lester Bangs calls the album a "documentation of the Iggy holocaust at its most nihilistically out of control." He describes the Stooges concert he attended that immediately preceded the "Metallic K.O." performances:
Track listing.
All songs written by Iggy Pop and James Williamson, except where noted.
Original 1976 release.
There have been many wildly varying releases of "Metallic K.O." over the years on many different labels. This track listing is based on the first release, the 1976 Skydog LP.
All tracks were recorded in Detroit's Michigan Palace. Side one was recorded on October 6, 1973; side two was recorded on February 9, 1974. The 1974 show was the final Stooges show until the band's reunion in 2003.
Metallic 2X K.O. 1988 release.
This expanded version of the album includes the complete shows from both 1973 and 1974. The 1973 show is presented on sides one and two; the 1974 show is presented on sides three and four. The track times are taken from the original, vinyl release and do not include Iggy's audience baiting.
Metallic K.O. 1998 re-release (82:39).
In 1998, Jungle Records re-released the album with a reverse show order, (mostly) expanded track lengths and more complete set-lists.