It’s funny that I mentioned a Mt. Rushmore of Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Tom Waits recently, as Pop himself has now brought up the subject of such a rock monument while elaborating on his reasons for authorizing his image and music to Lego Rock Band.
“Bo Diddley, because his music is already a virtual reality, and his name is very video game,” Pop told Classic Rock on the subject of other rockers he deems ready for the Lego treatment. “I would also say James Brown, but he’s not rock, more super-heavy funk. Both of these guys should be added to the Mount Rushmore monument, though.”
Pop signed over his shirtless image and music (“The Passenger”) to the upcoming game, but he’s never actually played with the toy and actually likens himself more to Donkey Kong. “Just look at him go!” he added.
As for those tough Lego Rock Band negotiations over artistic integrity, legacy-building, and cold, hard cash, Pop broke it down the way a true punk legend gentleman might: “They asked. There’s not much I won’t do, if you asked nicely.”