Reunited Stooges to release "Weirdness"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -

Iggy Pop's pioneering punk rock group the Stooges will release their first album since 1973 on March 20, and will promote it with a world tour.

"The Weirdness," a Steve-Albini-produced set including such tracks as "Greedy Awful People" and "End of Christianity," will be released by Pop's Virgin Records label.

Pop reunited with brothers Ron and Scott Asheton for the project, while bass player

Mike Watt has taken over for original member Dave Alexander.

The Stooges' last studio album, "Raw Power," came out in 1973, at a time when Pop was in the middle of a lengthy heroin addiction. With the help of

David Bowie, he embarked on a successful solo career in the mid 1970s, scoring such hits as "Lust for Life" and "The Passenger."

During sessions for his 2003 album "Skull Ring," Pop called the Ashetons, who agreed to contribute to four songs on the disc. That year, the band (with Watt) played its first show together in 30 years at the Coachella music festival in southern California. A full tour followed.

The "Weirdness" tour will include a March 17 stop at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

Reuters