Originally released on Animal Records in 1982 and produced by Chris Stein of Blondie, “Zombie Birdhouse” is something of a lost classic. This album may just be Iggy’s Morrison Hotel; like that Doors classic, Zombie Birdhouse takes an almost novelistic look at the character of America that is by turns funny and angry, reverential and irreverent. It’s filled, too, with an almost mystical primitivism that brings out the shaman in Iggy’s soul. Throughout, Iggy’s collaborator, guitarist-keyboardist Rob duPrey, manages to produce some fascinating noise by altering, filtering and treating his instruments. A heady concoction of drones, Afrobeats and freeform lyrics, the album was Iggy’s 6th solo studio album and represents him at his freewheeling best.Chris Stein and Clem Burke of Blondie provide the exotic rhythmic spice that seasons this record to perfection. The sleeve notes have been written by long time Iggy fan Irvine Welsh.
A visual for lead single ‘The Villagers’ is unveiled as a taster of the album,
The reissue of Zombie Birdhouse has been remastered by Paschal Byrne at The Audio Archive, London. It features the singles ‘Run Like A Villain’ and ‘The Villagers’ along with rare photographs from the original photo-shoot by Esther Friedman.
The CD edition is Expanded with the addition of a Bonus Track in the form of the original version of Pain and Suffering, which features fellow Blondie band member Debbie Harry on backing vocals. The song was originally recorded for the ground-breaking animated feature film, Rock and Rule (Iggy provided the voice of the Monster From Another Dimension and Debbie Harry the voice for the character, Angel) but the OST was never released.
The Fat Angel Sings 