Pamela Conn Hyde stays in touch with Don Swikerath, a member of the Iguanas, a garage band started in 1963 that became one of Michigan’s hottest acts.
In addition to Don (bass guitar) and Nick Kolokithas (rhythm guitar), three of the members were in our class: Sam Swisher (saxophone and flute), Jim McLaughlin (lead guitar), and Jim Osterberg, aka Iggy Pop, on drums. Four of the guys also shared vocals.
Last spring, Don sent Pamela an email about how three of them had a reunion. Iggy was playing four limited tour dates on the west coast, including April 29 at the Palms Hotel Concert Theater in Las Vegas, where Jim lives. He and Don, and Don’s wife got free admission and backstage passes to the concert and had a meet and greet with Iggy.
The backup band didn’t disappoint, either:
Keyboards: Chuck Leavell (of the Rolling Stones)
Drums: Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Guitar: Duff McKagan (Guns ‘N Roses)
Guitar: Andrew Watt (Grammy award-winning producer and songwriter)
Don told Pamela, “It was a great adventure. Jim's a high energy performer, from his first song until the last. He had total audience control throughout the show. This concert was filmed for a future documentary on ‘Iggy Pop’. [He’s still ‘Jim’ to the band members.] Henry McGroggan, my friend and Osterberg's personal manager for over 40 years, arranged to have both McLaughlin and myself interviewed for this documentary. Backstage we had the opportunity to take a trip down the Iguanas memory lane together. Great memories, including a story of David Bowie introducing Osterberg to Mitch Jagger as the guy who played with the Iguanas from Michigan in the USA. It was a wonderful time for all of us.”
