Michael S. Begnal teaches writing in the English Department at Ball State University, Indiana, USA. He is a poet as well as a scholar.

“…[Begnal] frames the Stooges’ output and achievement in terms of cultural and literary criticism and sound studies…most interesting is Begnal’s contextual analyses of the group as products of ‘60s social and political upheaval, who as scholars of jazz and blues were heavily steeped in the racial and cultural dialogues of the time. Within this he also dissects the relationship between market forces and the avant garde, and the record industry’s role as agents of capitalism and commodification.”Mojo“…author Michael S. Begnal has dredged up some surprising and provable influences on the band’s intentions to smelt their initial psychy improvisation into tangible riffs and steadily solidified albums…this is a fresh reminder of those intriguing early days, adding smarts back into a story that is often lazily wound down into a bunch of memes about Iggy not wearing shirts…the investigation into the words and sounds of ‘Loose’ along will keep most uber-fans engrossed…there are useful [interviews] from old articles throughout that you might not ever have come across before.”Ugly Things, 64“This ain’t just any ol’ Stooges book but one which really deals with the deep down whys and wherefores of just what the group was up to during their original pre-RAW POWER romp…TONS of pertinent information, a whole load of it unknown even to me…that is presented here along with the insight and workings of what was so unique and downright special about the Stooges…Begnal put[s] it into heady but understandable terms..really, this is worth the while.”Blog to Comm (blogsite of Black to Comm)

• Introduction: "A Strange Type of Life"1 Becoming the Stooges2 Action, Reaction, Advance3 The Making of Fun House4 Fun House in the World5 The Third Elektra Album That Never WasConclusion: Becoming "Classic"BibliographyDiscographyFilmography

Michael S. Begnal teaches writing in the English Department at Ball State University, Indiana, USA. He is a poet as well as a scholar.

“…[Begnal] frames the Stooges’ output and achievement in terms of cultural and literary criticism and sound studies…most interesting is Begnal’s contextual analyses of the group as products of ‘60s social and political upheaval, who as scholars of jazz and blues were heavily steeped in the racial and cultural dialogues of the time. Within this he also dissects the relationship between market forces and the avant garde, and the record industry’s role as agents of capitalism and commodification.”Mojo“…author Michael S. Begnal has dredged up some surprising and provable influences on the band’s intentions to smelt their initial psychy improvisation into tangible riffs and steadily solidified albums…this is a fresh reminder of those intriguing early days, adding smarts back into a story that is often lazily wound down into a bunch of memes about Iggy not wearing shirts…the investigation into the words and sounds of ‘Loose’ along will keep most uber-fans engrossed…there are useful [interviews] from old articles throughout that you might not ever have come across before.”Ugly Things, 64“This ain’t just any ol’ Stooges book but one which really deals with the deep down whys and wherefores of just what the group was up to during their original pre-RAW POWER romp…TONS of pertinent information, a whole load of it unknown even to me…that is presented here along with the insight and workings of what was so unique and downright special about the Stooges…Begnal put[s] it into heady but understandable terms..really, this is worth the while.”Blog to Comm (blogsite of Black to Comm)

• Introduction: "A Strange Type of Life"1 Becoming the Stooges2 Action, Reaction, Advance3 The Making of Fun House4 Fun House in the World5 The Third Elektra Album That Never WasConclusion: Becoming "Classic"BibliographyDiscographyFilmography

Michael S. Begnal teaches writing in the English Department at Ball State University, Indiana, USA. He is a poet as well as a scholar.

“…[Begnal] frames the Stooges’ output and achievement in terms of cultural and literary criticism and sound studies…most interesting is Begnal’s contextual analyses of the group as products of ‘60s social and political upheaval, who as scholars of jazz and blues were heavily steeped in the racial and cultural dialogues of the time. Within this he also dissects the relationship between market forces and the avant garde, and the record industry’s role as agents of capitalism and commodification.”Mojo“…author Michael S. Begnal has dredged up some surprising and provable influences on the band’s intentions to smelt their initial psychy improvisation into tangible riffs and steadily solidified albums…this is a fresh reminder of those intriguing early days, adding smarts back into a story that is often lazily wound down into a bunch of memes about Iggy not wearing shirts…the investigation into the words and sounds of ‘Loose’ along will keep most uber-fans engrossed…there are useful [interviews] from old articles throughout that you might not ever have come across before.”Ugly Things, 64“This ain’t just any ol’ Stooges book but one which really deals with the deep down whys and wherefores of just what the group was up to during their original pre-RAW POWER romp…TONS of pertinent information, a whole load of it unknown even to me…that is presented here along with the insight and workings of what was so unique and downright special about the Stooges…Begnal put[s] it into heady but understandable terms..really, this is worth the while.”Blog to Comm (blogsite of Black to Comm)

• Introduction: "A Strange Type of Life"1 Becoming the Stooges2 Action, Reaction, Advance3 The Making of Fun House4 Fun House in the World5 The Third Elektra Album That Never WasConclusion: Becoming "Classic"BibliographyDiscographyFilmography