Iggy Pop Lives His Life In Boardshorts

Serendipity is a kinda shitty word but when Iggy Pop calls Billabong looking for boardshorts, no other word comes to mind. Yeah, sure, we can give you boardshorts, says Billabong, but why not work together on something bigger? “Sure,” says Iggy and this collaboration is born.

James Osterberg aka Iggy Pop, 70s years of age, resident of the tropical Florida spends his days poolside in boardshorts. He’s never surfed, hasn’t planned to but getting him together with the Billabong team in Hawaii made sense. Well, kinda.  

The campaign shoot took place in Malibu and the chemistry between Iggy and Creed is obvious. Creed has that rockstar energy about him. A pro surfer first and a musician second, a star in the making – in a Goons of Doom kinda way. So, when Billabong invited Iggy to the Pipe Masters, he said yes and they took the opportunity to have him join the team for a team shot.

Iggy and Billabong’s stooges.

Photography

Brian Bielmann

But, how does a guy who has never surfed sit alongside surfing icons? That was the question. For hours leading up to the shoot, holes were dug in the sand down between Log Cabins and Keiki. The idea was that a maniacal-looking Iggy would be the black sheep against the Billabong team and the juxtaposition of the iconic heads of Occy and Joel and Dorian and the Billabong team, would provide the narrative to a different kind of team photoshoot.

When Iggy arrived, tanned and clear-eyed, in his new boardshorts and leather jacket he was a poster boy for a rockstar life. Though certainly frailer than seeing him at a show in 1979, he held himself and immediately set it off with Creed once again.

When we set up a couch on the sand, and the energy between the two was palpable. As they riffed loosely, Iggy stepped into an acoustic version of “The Endless Sea”. The next four minutes the small crowd were transfixed. It was raw, unprompted and unrehearsed and Creed was a seamless fit. “I haven’t played this track in 25 years,” said Iggy afterwards.

The annual Billabong Pipe Masters party tonight at Off the Wall. The backyard of the house overlooks OTW, Backdoor and Pipe and it is always the party of the year. Creed’s band Wash are playing along with Skeggs. And, while Billabong’s contract with Iggy states there are no live shows, Creed tells Iggy he’s learned two tracks that he’ll play tonight. Iggy’s management says he definitely won’t be playing a song tonight but curiously Iggy asks that Creed learns two more tracks.

We’ll be there just in case. And, if you happen to be in Hawaii and want to come along, the first 10 people who email ([email protected]) can come along can roll with. See you there!

The absurdity of having surf icons neck deep in sand while a 70-year-old punk rocker wanders the beach holding a shovel hits home; the entire crew lost it.

From left to right: Taj Burrow, Iggy Pop, Mark Occhilupo, Griff Colapinto, Crred McTaggart, Shane Dorian, Ethan Ewing, Jack Freestone and Jackson Dorian.

Photography

Duncan Mcfarlane

Raw power!

Photography

Brian Beilmann

Creed and Iggy: Surf punx.

Photography

Brian Bielmann