Photo: Getty Images Europe
After more than 55 years of performing, Iggy Pop has given up stage-diving.
In a new interview with Billboard, the 75-year-old Godfather of Punk said he's eliminating the stunt from his repertoire before a mishap takes him offstage entirely.
"I'm not doing that right now. I hit my limit," Pop said. "I did about 40 shows last year, and I crossed over a few times, but not with a full dive. A couple of times I sorta fell in and a couple of times I walked around, but if I don't have to, I prefer to stay on the stage. It's too much wear and tear at this point. I would get hurt."
He added that even if he's more tied to the confines of the stage, he's more than happy to see fans enjoy his shows as they always have.
"I prefer to stay on the stage, but now at some shows people do it themselves; they leap up, touch toe, do a grab and dive off," he explained. "That's cool with me."
Pop first "crossed the proscenium" at the second gig of his career, during a slot opening for Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention. The frontman recalled that his set was "going nowhere," so he let himself fall into the audience. Rather than being caught, however, he landed face first on the floor.
Pop's new album, Every Loser, arrives this Friday.