The Stooges Guitarist Ron Asheton Found Dead
The founder member of rock legends The Stooges has been found dead at his home, aged 60…
Legendary Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton has been found dead in his Ann Arbor home. He was 60. Local police were called to his home after not he hadn't been spotted by neighbours for several days. A cause of death has yet to be officially announced, but police say that they suspect a heart attack.
Along with his brother Scott "Rock Action" Asheton (drummer), Dave Alexander (bass) and frontman Iggy Pop, The Stooges formed in 1967 as the "little brother band" of Detroit political rock heroes The MC5. Asheton's distinctive playing can be heard on the proto-punk classics ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’, 'No Fun', '1969', and ‘Down On The Street’. When The Stooges reconvened in 1973 to record the 'Raw Power' album, Asheton was demoted to bass.
In a statement, the rest of the Stooges said, "Ron was 'The Guitar God', [an] idol to follow and inspire others. That is how we will be remembered by people who had a great pleasure to work with him, learn from him and shared good and bad times with him." Iggy also added, "I am in shock. He was my best friend."
The original line-up of the band reunited in 2003 on Pop's 'Skull Ring' album and a reunion proper followed, including a show at London's Hammersmith Apollo featuring the seminal 'Fun House' album in its entirety. The band also played a memorable performance at Glastonbury 2007, which featured a typically chaotic stage invasion during 'No Fun' and released an album of new material, ‘The Weirdness’ the same year.
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Tagged as Stooges, The, Tributes
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