Editing The Stooges (section)

===First two albums and first breakup (1968–1971)===
[[File:The Stooges - Cashbox ad 1969.jpg|thumb|''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' advertisement, August 30, 1969]] 
The Stooges soon gained a reputation for their wild, primitive live performances. Pop, especially, became known for his outrageous onstage behavior: smearing his bare chest with hamburger meat and peanut butter, cutting himself with shards of glass, and flashing his genitalia to the audience. Pop is sometimes credited with the invention or popularization of [[stage diving]].{{fact|date=March 2025}}

In 1968, [[Elektra Records]] sent DJ/publicist [[Danny Fields]] to scout the MC5, resulting in contracts for both that band and the Stooges. The contracts were at different pay rates: MC5 $20,000, the Stooges $5,000, as revealed in the 2016 [[Jim Jarmusch]] film, ''[[Gimme Danger]]''. In 1969, the band released their [[The Stooges (album)|self-titled debut album]]; sales were low and it was not well received by critics at the time.

In 1970, their second album, ''[[Fun House (The Stooges album)|Fun House]]'', was released, featuring the addition of saxophonist [[Steve Mackay]]. On June 13 of that year, television recorded the band at the [[Cincinnati]] Pop Festival. While performing the songs "T.V. Eye" and "1970", Pop leaped into the crowd, where he was hoisted up on people's hands, and proceeded to smear peanut butter all over his chest. In a broadcast interview at [[WNUR]] [[Northwestern University]] radio station in Evanston, Illinois, in 1984, [[Stiv Bators]] of [[the Lords of the New Church]] and [[the Dead Boys]] confirmed the long-standing rumor that it was he who had provided the peanut butter, having carried a large tub from his home in Youngstown, Ohio, and handing it up to Iggy from the audience.

''Fun House'' was also poorly received by critics and the general public. Alexander was dismissed in August 1970 after arriving at the [[Goose Lake International Music Festival]] too drunk to play.<ref name=Mojo161b>Keith Cameron ''Return To The Fun House'' Mojo No.&nbsp;161, April 2007</ref> He was replaced by a succession of new bass players, including former roadie [[Zeke Zettner]]<ref name=mojo119>[[Jack White (musician)|Jack White]] interview with Iggy Pop Mojo No.&nbsp;199 October 2003</ref> and [[Jimmy Recca|James Recca]]. Around this time, the band expanded their lineup by adding a second guitar player, roadie [[Bill Cheatham]],<ref name=Mojo29/> who was eventually replaced by [[James Williamson (musician)|James Williamson]], a childhood friend of the Ashetons and Alexander.

By this time, the Stooges, with the notable exception of Ron Asheton,<ref name=Mojo29/><ref name=Mojo78>Paul Trynka ''Night Of The Iguana'' Mojo No.&nbsp;78, May 2000</ref> had all become serious [[heroin]] users. The drug was introduced to the band by new manager John Adams.<ref name=Mojo29/> Their performances became even more unpredictable, and Pop often had trouble standing up on stage due to his extreme drug abuse. Elektra soon eliminated the Stooges from its roster, and the band had a hiatus for several months. The final lineup was Pop, the Asheton brothers, Recca and Williamson.<ref name=Mojo29/>

The breakup of the Stooges was formally announced on July 9, 1971.<ref name="Iggy Pop Librio">Nicolas Ungemuth, ''Iggy Pop'', Librio Musique / [[Groupe Flammarion|Flammarion]], September 2002</ref>