Beat 'Em Up

This article is about the Iggy Pop album. For the game genre, see Beat 'em up.

Beat Em Up, is the thirteenth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop. Recorded at Hit Factory Criteria studios in Miami Beach, Florida, it is the first Iggy Pop album in which the Trolls were credited. The Trolls were: Iggy Pop, Whitey Kirst, Pete Marshall, Alex Kirst and Lloyd "Mooseman" Roberts.

Beat Em Up
Studio album by Iggy Pop
Released	June 18, 2001
Recorded	December 2000
Studio	Hit Factory Criteria (Miami)
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	72:27
Label	Virgin
Producer	Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop chronology
Avenue B (1999) Beat Em Up (2001) Skull Ring (2003)

Background

'Art Collins, Pop's manager, said of the album: "I'm not saying this is another Raw Power, but if Raw Power is a true Iggy album, then this is another true Iggy album". He added there would be some "ranting on the album, some humor, some rock on it."^[1] The album was self-produced.

Release

Beat Em Up was released on June 18, 2001, and included as an unmentioned bonus the song acknowledged as "Sterility" on tour playlists,^[1] featured right after "VIP". The album was dedicated to Mooseman, who had been killed in a drive-by shooting after its recording.^[2]

Reception and aftermath

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	58/100[3]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Blistering	[5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[6]
Pitchfork	2.5/10[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[8]

Pitchfork was largely dismissive of the record, proclaiming its content "third-rate bar band stuff".^[7] Several critics noted the similarity of the album to the nu metal bands of the time.^[9]

Aftermath

"Mask" was included on the compilation A Million in Prizes: The Anthology. The murder by drive-by shooting of bassist Lloyd 'Mooseman' Roberts, a former member of Ice-T's Body Count and a member of the Trolls at the time of his death, postponed plans to tour, though "Mask" was performed to great effect on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Track listing

All songs composed by Iggy Pop and Whitey Kirst, except where indicated. Track 15 (7:10 + 1:01 silence + 4:59) features a hidden track, "Sterility".

1. "Mask" (Iggy Pop, Lloyd "Mooseman" Roberts, Alex Kirst, Whitey Kirst) – 2:53
2. "L.O.S.T." – 3:24
3. "Howl" – 5:05
4. "Football" – 3:52
5. "Savior" – 4:37
6. "Beat Em Up" – 4:26
7. "Talking Snake" – 4:28
8. "Jerk" – 3:44
9. "Death is Certain" – 4:38
10. "Go for the Throat" (Pop, Mooseman, Kirst, Kirst) – 3:56
11. "Weasels" – 2:59
12. "Drink New Blood" – 4:33
13. "It's All Shit" – 4:57
14. "Ugliness" – 5:37
15. "V.I.P." (Pop, Mooseman, Kirst, Kirst) – 15:31

B-sides and alternate versions

• "Mask" (Single edit) – 2:53

Personnel

• Iggy Pop – vocals

The Trolls

• Whitey Kirst – guitar
• Pete Marshall – guitar
• Alex Kirst – drums
• Lloyd "Mooseman" Roberts – bass

with:

• Danny Kadar – theremin on "L.O.S.T.", mix engineer, mixing
• Pete Marshall – rhythm guitar on "Ugliness"
• Todd James – cover illustration

Charts

Chart performance for Beat 'Em Up

Chart (2001)	Peak position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10]	70