"Ready to Die" is the fifth and final studio album from the American rock band, The Stooges. Released on April 30, 2013, by Fat Possum Records, the album presents the reunited version of the band, which includes Iggy Pop, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Mike Watt.
This album marks the first time Pop and guitarist James Williamson worked on a full-length album together since 1973's "Raw Power." Both Mike Watt and saxophonist Steve Mackay were previously involved with the band's 2007 album, "The Weirdness," marking this album as a reunion of the Raw Power lineup with Mike Watt filling in for the late Ron Asheton. Unfortunately, Ready to Die also remains the final studio album featuring Scott Asheton, who passed away in 2014.
The 10-track album encompasses hard rock ("Burn"), ballads ("Unfriendly World"), and raw punk ("Job"). Its hard-hitting sound remains true to The Stooges' style and punk rock roots. Despite its mixed critical reception, the rebellious and unfiltered ethos of the album reunites and showcases the influential band in their raw, undiluted form. It showcases themes like sex, money, despair, mortality, and even tales of older rockers in tracks like "Sex and Money," "Job," and "DD's." The album cover features a stark black and white photo of Iggy Pop, topless and flipping off the viewer, setting a defiant and direct tone for the album.
