Spun out

If the normally unreadable Spin magazine is going to claim to be relevant and review the return of the Stooges, you'd think they'd get some basic facts right. Like Ron Asheton being the original Stooges guitarist. A breath-taking faux pas. Don't forget to read the understandably irate comments - one of the posters appears to be the late Ron's sister Kathy.

James Williamson returns to live music...without the Stooges for now

His rejoining the Stooges still isn't finalised with a planned rehearsal put back from July to August but James Williamson is stepping onto a stage and playing guitar live for the first time in 35 years in San Jose, south of San Francisco, on September 5.

James will play with country-rockers the Careless Hearts at the Blank Club.

"Get there very, very early as it's a tiny place. Also be nice to me (as) I'm very, very old," James says. "But I'm kind of rockin' pretty hard these days." So there.

Check out the Careless Hearts here. They're a little different to the Raw Power Stooges but that shouldn't be a surprise. James' guitar tastes are quite eclectic these days with a focus on slack key guitar.

In case you were wondering, after a long career as a Sony electronics executive, James is retired and spends his time between his home north of San Francisco and a holiday place in the Hawaiian Islands.

And look-out below. It's James with ex-Pistol Steve Jones (left) at a recent Iggy show in L.A. Robert Matheu took the happy snap.

You Don't Want My Name You Want My Action

Tha's the name of the Stooges 1971 box set mentioned here a few weeks ago and it is about to ship. It features live twin-guitar fireworks from the brief six-string pairing of Asheton and Williamson. You can hear sound samples here.

For audience recordings, these aren't too bad. Just don't expect to get it in a shop. It's online sales only.

New Stooges book

I'm just re-reading Paul Trynka's magnificent Ig tome "OPen Up And Bleed" right now with its often forensic examination of the terminal-stage Stooges' death throes tour laying it out in all its stark and harrowing glory, but you can never get too much Stooges.

Photographer Roberet Matheu has authored this newie and knows the principals well so you know it's going to be worthy.