For a while back in the 1970s, James Osterberg's manic alter ego completely hypnotised David Bowie. He named his most famous creation Ziggy Stardust after him, and shifted the register of his singing lower in a bid to match Iggy's growling baritone. According to Bowie's guitarist Mick Ronson, "David wanted to be Iggy." When he was at his lowest point in 1975, sleeping in a Hollywood garage on a stolen mattress, being supported by a gay hustler called Bruce, Bowie spirited him away to Berlin to produce what are undoubtedly his two best albums, The Idiot and Lust for Life. In response, Iggy used to refer to his benefactor as "that f***in' carrot top" and now doesn't mention him at all. "Everybody wants to be Iggy" is all he says when the subject of Bowie's adoration comes up.

Robert Sandall, reviewing 'Open Up and Bleed: The Biography of Iggy Pop' by Paul Trynka.
The Sunday Times, Culture, March 25, 2007.