50 years after the release of Johnny O’Keefe’s rock ‘n roll classic The Wild One, unlikely collaborators Iggy Pop and Jet have given it an update. The Aussie lads were invited to Iggy’s hometown of Miami, where they recorded the song at the Hit Factory Studios. Iggy has trod this territory before, having covered The Wild One in the ‘80s (perhaps that’s why he looks so glum in this photo?).
“My introduction to Johnny O’Keefe came through Iggy Pop covering this song,” Jet’s Nic Cester says in the press notes. “Although I don’t think we have been directly influenced by Johnny O’Keefe, the ripples that he created are enormous. If the only thing that comes of this is just alerting other Australians that this existed, that’s a good thing.”
The Jet and Iggy Pop take on The Wild One will be released as a single on 19 July 2008, through Warner Music.
