Iggy Pop will deliver the fourth annual John Peel lecture at this year’s Radio festival on the subject of “free music in a capitalist society”.
Taking place in Salford on 13 October, Iggy Pop’s first lecture will tackle an issue he describes as “a struggle which never ends,” and should provide an illuminating follow-up to the talk by the Who’s Pete Townshend in 2011, whose inaugural John Peel lecture explored the implications of digital music media in an age of free downloads.
Each year, the lecture series invites a music industry figure to host a debate about music and music-related media. This year’s lecture also finds particular reverence, because it marks 10 years since Peel’s death. Peel was the first DJ to play the Stooges on UK Radio, bringing the track Little Doll from their debut album to listeners in August 1969. Iggy Pop had this to say about the late broadcaster:
I get the feeling that John was the kind of guy who would have done his job for nothing, as long as he felt great about it. So we have that in common. I was interested to learn that he found his voice in large part through his wanderings in America. Sometimes it takes strange circumstances to provide a mirror in which to find yourself. Anyway, he’s done a lot to give others a voice, and that’s the most important gift you can give. Here was a person with strong opinions and enthusiasms who wasn’t defined by any system, because of that his show became an exciting location, kind of like a shop that’s a good hang. So it was a social as well as a musical phenomenon.
Bob Shennan, director of music for the BBC, promised the proto-punk frontman, who has a show on BBC 6 Music, will “give a topical and thought-provoking speech.”
In previous years, lectures have been hosted by revered figures from music, including Billy Bragg in 2012, whose speech explored music and radio’s dependence on mavericks. Last year, Charlotte Church gave a speech on the theme of women’s representation in the music industry.
Pop’s lecture will be broadcast live on BBC 6 Music and broadcast on BBC4 at 8pm on 19 October.
