Lust for Life: Iggy Pop delivers The John Peel Lecture

I’ll admit it. It’s been a while since I have attended a lecture. In fact, even when they were compulsory as part of my degree in Popular Music Studies (stop sniggering at the back…it is a real qualification) I think I was only present in body, not necessarily in mind and/or spirit. With all due respect to my esteemed tutors, things may have been very different had Iggy Pop been holding court in the musty halls of the music block.

This evening at 7.30pm, ‘Mr Pop’, who confesses to having: “never given a lecture in my life” will hold his first one in Salford when he delivers the BBC Music John Peel Lecture as part of the Radio Festival 2014. He will tackle the subject of free music in a capitalist society and it is unlikely the ‘Godfather of Punk’ will pull any punches when discussing giving the system a shake-up.

Last year saw the first female lecturer, Charlotte Church who spoke about women and their representation in the music industry. This year Michigan born Iggy (real name James Osterberg) will be the first American to take the reins. At 67, he will also be the oldest speaker (just). Although two years Pete Townshend’s junior (who presented the first Peel Lecture) he will be one year older than Townshend was when he spoke in 2011.

Like Billy Bragg who delivered 2012’s lecture, The Stooges frontman got his first spin on UK radio courtesy of John Peel in August 1969 when the DJ played Little Doll from their debut album. Now a broadcaster himself (he hosts a show on 6Music) Pop has a great deal of respect for Peel: "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.” This year’s lecture will have added poignancy as it marks 10 years since John Peel died in October 2004.

The annual BBC Music John Peel Lectures began in 2011 and were the brainchild of 6Music’s Head of Programmes, Paul Rodgers, who developed the idea with 6Music deputy editor Mike Hanson and then pitched it to the Radio Academy. Since then, each year 6Music has selected and invited a notable figure from the music industry to shape a debate and create insight around music and music-related media. The station works with the lecturer to find a subject that is current, and that the individual is able to use their personal experience working in the industry to talk authoritatively about.

On the night, Iggy Pop will be interviewed by Lauren Laverne, this along with the lecture will be broadcast live on 6Music. The event is being filmed for BBC Four and the broadcast of the lecture, on Sunday 19 October at 8pm, will include a Q & A session with invited guests.

So then this just leaves the burning question - will Iggy Pop deliver the lecture with his top on or off?

Jen Macrois digital content producer, About the BBC Blog and Website.

• Iggy Pop will deliver his John Peel Lecture on Monday 13 October at 7.30pm. You can listen to it live on BBC 6Music and watch it on BBC Four on Sunday 19 October at 8pm.
• His weekly radio show is broadcast on 6Music on Sundays at 4pm.
• Watch Iggy talk to Kirsty Wark about the Peel Lecture on Newsnight.
• For more information about the BBC 6Music you can visit the station’s website.
• Follow @BBC6Music on twitter.