The Ann Arbor News reports that Stooges' guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead in his home this morning.
This is sad news for anyone who gives a shit about real, American punk rock: Asheton pretty much invented it on The Stooges and Fun House. If you don't know those two albums, then you do not care about music. I love the New York Dolls and the MC5 as much as the next guy, but those bands just look like Rolling Stones wannabes compared to the Neanderthal stomp of Asheton's work with the Stooges. The Stooges invented punk rock.
I'm glad I got the chance to see Asheton in action a couple years ago at Lollapalooza. Back then I said the show "proved once and for all that punk would have been equally important and influential had it never crossed the Atlantic Ocean." It's still true.
Photo by Alan M. Paterson for Glorious Noise.
Via Rolling Stone.
MP3: The Stooges - "My Idea of Fun" from The Weirdness, recorded in Chicago with Steve Albini.
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Fuck. That really sucks. I had the pleasure of meeting (and having a cigarette with) him outside an art opening in Detroit. On top of creating that brutal, fuck-you guitar sound, he was a really nice guy. And I'm sorry I never got to see him play.
He also played guitar for a more-or-less forgotten band, Destroy All Monsters. Sure, they were a total Stooges rip off, but isn't that ok if Ron's playing guitar? I don't think they ever released an official album, but I love their singles.
Godspeed, Ron!
Fuck Jann Wenner for not getting the Stooges on the ballot for the Rock Hall while Ron was alive.
An unsung hero. Sounded amazing at SXSW in 2007. Everyone, go listen to "TV Eye" right now!
This gets even more depressing. People, including his assistant, have been looting his home for guitars. What a bunch of assholes.
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/01/ron_ashetons_family_hire_priv.html
Adam, they added a correction to that article:
There are some interesting comments, too, including some from the assistant and one from Danny Fields, the guy who signed the Stooges to Elektra.
Wow. When I posted the link there wasn't a single comment yet. Incredible. I'm sorry for spreading misinformation.
That comment from Danny "the coolest guy in the room" (according to the dedication in Please Kill Me) Fields is great.
Whatever the truth is here, someone should make sure those cats are taken care of!
"His body was found in a bedroom. The house contained World War II memorabilia and multiple firearms, Stanford said."
What a strange detail to include in the article. I would imagine 90% of the homes in Michigan could be described that way.
Mike Watt's remembrance of his close friend and colleague.
I love this part:
Watt is so cool. Has there ever been a humbler, more earnest guy in the history of rock and roll?
I also had privilege and honour to met or to talk to Ron Asheton,Iggy and Scott-The Stooges,i was always a big fan.Asheton personality was very opposite than Iggy,s,he was very wild lika an animal and Asheton was a calm held back person.They also influenced our band Menendes Brothers(you can see it on you tube).That is so pathetic.