First 2 Stooges albums re-released

The first two Stooges albums, 1969's The Stooges and 1970's Fun House, are being re-released today (Tuesday, August 16th) in remastered and expanded editions. The Stooges' second disc features 10 alternate takes and mixes, with liner notes by Alice Cooper, while Fun House features 14 alternate tracks and notes by the White Stripes' Jack White. Stooges frontman Iggy Pop told us that the Stooges were the perfect vehicle for his first recorded music: "At one point, when I was gonna start a band, I'd petered out as a drummer. I wanted to start something... So I was looking for guys. I was looking for some people who I felt had endless charisma but at the same time weren't really programmed yet... Some people I could communicate with, mold if you will. And they fit the bill."

The Stooges reached Number 106 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, while Fun House did not chart at all.

The Stooges have been nominated several times for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but have never been voted in.

Pop reunited with Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton and drummer Scott "Rock Asheton" Asheton two years ago. They recorded four songs for Pop's 2003 album Skull Ring and are working on new material now.

The group has three festival dates lined up this year: August 26th at the Leeds Festival and August 28th at the Reading Festival, both in England, and September 5th at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle.