The original proto-punks, now comfortably middle-aged but not yet ready to relinquish the stage, returned to performing a few years ago, scraping together three-quarters of the band's original lineup in Iggy Pop and Ron and Scott Asheton, supplemented by ex-Minutemen Mike Watt on bass. The question was not would they rock, but could they still rock? The answer, discovered by hundreds of thousands of delirious old and new fans across the globe: yes. The Stooges [ tickets ] return March 20 with "The Weirdness," their first new album in more than 35 years. --Tjames Madison

Performing Saturday, March 17 at 12:30 a.m. at Stubb's (801 Red River St.).

website: http://www.iggypop.com/