I was terrified watching the Stooges at Ungano's.

I was going down there to see this amazing band and be ready for anything, but it was ten times

more than I bargained for. I mean, I was scared, actually nervous, but so exhilarated, and so involved in the sound of this band and this unbelievable guy Iggy--this wiry little thing--who could cause more damage than all the tough guys I knew in my neighborhood. Other guys would punch you in the mouth, that would heal, but Iggy was wounding me psychically, forever. I was never gonna be able to be the same after the first twenty seconds of that night and I haven't been. We went back the next night, and it was the exact same songs, but it was totally brand new. This had nothing to do with last night, this had nothing to do with rehearsal, this had nothing to do with sound check--this was living and being born and coming for your fucking children in the middle of the night right in front of you... And every time I saw that band it was the same thing--there was never a yesterday, there was never a set they'd played before, there was never a set they were ever gonna play again. Iggy put life and limb into every show. I saw him bloody every single show. Every single show involved actual fucking blood. From then on, rock & roll could never be anything less to me. Whatever I did--whether I was writing or playing--there was blood on the pages, there was blood on the strings, because anything less than that was just bullshit, and a waste of fucking time.