Godfather of punk Iggy Pop [ tickets ] starts a two-month tour today (10/18), staying mainly below the Mason-Dixon line for the month of October and heading north in November.

The 54-year-old alumnus of the Stooges, born James Newell Osterberg, is touring in support of his recent album, "Beat 'Em Up" (Virgin), released in July. Pop co-wrote the album's 15 songs with guitarist Whitey Kirst; some songs have input from other members of Pop's band. The album is dedicated to its bassist, Lloyd "Mooseman" Roberts, a onetime member of Ice-T's band Body Count, who was killed in a drive-by shooting after the album was recorded.

The official "Beat 'Em Up" website features an audio stream of the album's first track, "Mask."