Iggy Pop Breaks Longevity Record on Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart

After a record 31 years away, Iggy Pop is back on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

“Frenzy,” the Godfather of Punk’s lead single from his upcoming album Every Loser, debuts at No. 38 on the ranking dated Dec. 10.

Iggy Pop makes his first appearance on the list since “Candy,” a duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52’s, peaked at No. 30 in January 1991 and charted into that February.

In between “Candy” and “Frenzy,” Iggy Pop has stayed busy, releasing nine albums between 1993 and 2019. While none spurred singles that reached Mainstream Rock Airplay, he appeared on Alternative Airplay with two tracks (“Wild America,” No. 25, 1993; “Little Know It All,” No. 35, 2003) and Adult Alternative Airplay with one (“Gardenia,” No. 26, 2016).

Iggy Pop’s 31-year absence from Mainstream Rock Airplay breaks a record set earlier in 2022 by Jeff Beck. Beck had been away for 28 years, from his Seal co-bill “Manic Depression” in 1994 to his featured turn on Ozzy Osbourne’s “Patient Number 9” this year.

Longest Gaps Between Mainstream Rock Airplay Entries
31 years, nine months, two weeks, Iggy Pop (1991-2022)
28 years, four months, Jeff Beck (1994-2022)
27 years, five months, Elton John (1992-2020)
25 years, 11 months, three weeks, Brian May (1993-2019)
23 years, four months, three weeks, Charlie Daniels (1987-2011)

“Frenzy” is Iggy Pop’s sixth Mainstream Rock Airplay appearance, dating to the chart’s 1981 inception. He achieved his best with “Real Wild Child,” which hit No. 27 in 1987.

Every Loser is due as one of 2023’s first album releases, on Jan. 6.