Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

In Memoriam: Ron Asheton of The Stooges (1948-2009)

Contributed by miniblindbandit. Posted by aubin on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM (EST)

Ron Asheton, guitarist of influential proto-punk act The Stooges was found dead this morning at his home in Ann Arbor, MI. According to a report, police received a call asking them to check on Asheton because the caller said he had not heard from the guitarist in a few days. Police went to his home and found him deceased.

In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named Ron the 29th greatest rock guitarist of all-time. The band was also nominated for the Hall of Fame with inductees expected to be announced soon. The Stooges released The Weirdness in 2007. It was their first album since 1973's Raw Power.

Our condolences to his friends and family.

News (59 comments)

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

Report

MattRamone (January 6, 2009)

This is fucking terrible. The solo on "1969" is fucking sick.

1+ Reply

Report

skaphelion (January 6, 2009)

Agreed. Sad day for music.

Report

branden (January 6, 2009)

r.i.p. thats a huge loss for rock and roll.

Report

TheOneTrueBill (January 6, 2009)

Terrible news to wake up seeing. One of the best shows of my life was The Stooges in '07 with Shellac. I danced around like a maniac with hundreds of other people on stage with The fucking Stooges while they played "No Fun" and then when it was over, Mike Watt wrapped me up in a bear hug and lifted me a good two feet off the ground. When I was walking off the side of the stage Ron had a giant smile on his face like he'd never seen it before. Amazing moment.

Crank up Funhouse and the self titled today for some real genius.

2+ Replies

Report

Spazner (January 6, 2009)

Yeah, I saw them in '07 too, and couldn't believe how much energy they had. Just an epic show all around.

Huge bummer to lose him while the band was still going strong.

Report

misterspike (January 6, 2009)

Stooges, Shellac, and Mike Watt man-love. Good times.

R.I.P., Scotty.

Report

Dante3000 (rich) (January 6, 2009)

My god...Iggy actually will outlive everyone.
Also, that's a huge fear of mine, to have been dead for several days before I'm found. Not sure why but it's a bit depressing.
-Dante

1+ Reply

Report

eDWeiRD (January 6, 2009)

That was the thing that got me too.

Report

scientistrock (January 6, 2009)

I was just gonna submit this. Anyone who doesn't think Fun House is near perfection is deaf.

2+ Replies

Report

TheOneTrueBill (January 6, 2009)

"I was just gonna submit this. Anyone who doesn't think Fun House is perfection is deaf."

fixed that for you

Report

scientistrock (January 6, 2009)

yeah, i wanted to give some wiggle room though.

Report

TheOneTrueBill (January 6, 2009)

I like to too, but not when it comes to Funhouse.

Report

Seth_Uber_Alles (January 6, 2009)

Aw man, that's a huge bummer. The Stooges rule! RIP.

Report

crackpotdemagogue (January 6, 2009)

wow that's came as a bit of a shock. totally bummed about this.

Report

the_other_scott (January 6, 2009)

No Fun.

1+ Reply

Report

TheOneTrueBill (January 6, 2009)

"Come on Ron, well, come on Ron, tell 'em how I feel!"

Report

MN_punkmaster-skaman (January 6, 2009)

Damn damn damn..... not a great start to my morning. A true innovator. R.I.P.

Report

Ikari (January 6, 2009)

Damn, that is crazy. RIP

Report

maverick (scott) (January 6, 2009)

I wonder what did him in? My guess is he probably finally got around to listening to The Weirdness.

But all kidding aside, my condolences. Ron was an incredible guitarist. I just wish he would've played guitar instead of bass on Raw Power, so the band could've been playing those songs in concert for the past few years. Instead, Ron refused to play them live because he didn't write the guitar parts.

-Scott

6+ Replies

Report

jesuswasacommunist (January 6, 2009)

dick.

Report

badbrain (January 6, 2009)

sounds like natural causes

Report

MattRamone (January 6, 2009)

Wow, I knew you were an ass, but this is a new low. Good job, chuckles.

Report

LinoleumMagazine (January 6, 2009)

Am I the only person who'd like to see a MattRamone vs Scott Hiesel cage match?

Report

MattRamone (January 6, 2009)

He's got like 100 pounds on me. In order to make things fair, you'd have to give him one and a half beers before his pansy liver would have him giggling like a school girl on a blustery day.

Report

jacknife737 (January 6, 2009)

I second that motion.....with a Vengeance!

Report

MattRamone (January 6, 2009)

I'll fight for my friends and don't afraid of anything.

Report

joemomma420666 (January 6, 2009)

I decided to remake the movie Pi but turn it into a british slapstick comedy called Mathterpiece Theater

Report

MattRamone (January 6, 2009)

8/10

Report

MattRamone (January 6, 2009)

Also, I only ever feel like fighting when I'm tripping balls on stimulants and OTC meds.

Report

TheOneTrueBill (January 6, 2009)

MattRamone vs Scoott vs. Colin.

Report

Dante3000 (rich) (January 6, 2009)

Vs. love?
Tonight on Oxygen.
-Dante

Report

MattRamone (January 6, 2009)

Colin's skinny and a photgrapher. He'll fold like a card table.

Report

TheOneTrueBill (January 6, 2009)

He's fucking tall and has wirey strength.

Report

skaphelion (January 6, 2009)

I'd fight Lincoln. Skinny guys fight to the death.

Report

David5345 (January 6, 2009)

LOL made me laugh. RIP Ron.

Report

1234go (January 6, 2009)

I will never understand why they did that. All James did was rip off Ron's style on that album. It's a great record but such a step backward from Fun House.

Report

NobodysHero1313 (January 6, 2009)

Yeah, Yeah.
A huge loss to see a member of the stooges go.
Coming from Michigan it's an honor to have these guys call it (michigan) their home state. Surely will be missed.

RIP

Report

TheOneTrueBill (January 6, 2009)

Stooges Bootlegs galore, ranging from old original era up to the 2007 tour (The Chicago date I described above is posted!) - http://punknotprofit.blogspot.com/search?q=stooges

Top five Ron Asheton riffs

1. Down on the Street
2. TV Eye
3. I Wanna Be Your Dog
4. Not Right
5. Loose (even though it's totally stolen from "Kick Out The Jams"

1+ Reply

Report

misterspike (January 6, 2009)

Wow, thanks for posting this!

Report

Mammoth (January 6, 2009)

we're dying off.
boo.

Report

Gritty (January 6, 2009)

Terrible news. Was psyched to have the chance to see em in Boston '07. Never thought I'd see thr Stooges live. RIP Ron.

Not to be totally insensitive but, and its a bit early...but maybe an opening for Williamson to return? Would like to see it. Very underrated.

2+ Replies

Report

TheOneTrueBill (January 6, 2009)

There was an interview with him in The Big Takeover about six or seven years ago where it looked like he had given up on performing for good. It's been awhile since I read it but that's what I remember.

Report

Gritty (January 6, 2009)

Yeah I thought I read he had become an electrician or something like that, just left music behind altogether, I forget where. It's a shame he didnt do more because he had his own style, and his work on Raw Power and some on Kill City was amazing. I'd like to hear Raw Power live, and he's the man for the job if he's up for it.

Report

listofdemands (January 6, 2009)

that fucking sucks. rest in peace.
-nic

Report

SickTeen (January 6, 2009)

RIP

Ron Asheton is a total hero of mine. Would of loved to have been able to hang out with him, and drink a beer. Very fortunately I got to see him on tour with Mike Watt about 10 years ago. However I didn't catch the Stooges this time around. Another giant missed opportunity for a music lifer like myself.

a fan forever!
SickTeen

Report

1234go (January 6, 2009)

His work on Fun House makes me want to break through a wall like the fucking kool aide man. I feel bad for making fun of his hair peice a few days ago. Dude still shreded.

Report

psychosis_cheer (January 6, 2009)

ah man thats fucking horrible

Report

LushJ (January 6, 2009)

Arg, total bummer. Frickin' a, what a racket he & the band made!

Report

14theroad (January 6, 2009)

He had a good run for hanging out with Iggy.

RIP.

1+ Reply

Report

TraumaSponge (January 6, 2009)

I'm pretty sure that Iggy is invulnerable by now.

Report

edgelife (January 6, 2009)

Awesome player, great band. We lost a good one, R.I.P

Report

DrGunn (January 6, 2009)

i felt like i'd been punched in the gut when i read that. RIP.

Report

badbrain (January 6, 2009)

In related news, Alfred Shaheen, the inventor of the hawaiian shirt, also passed away today. R.I.P. Alfred

Report

jesuswasacommunist (January 6, 2009)

I haven't heard The Weirdness yet, is it worth downloading?

1+ Reply

Report

Gritty (January 6, 2009)

I would say no

Report

ashtraymonument (January 6, 2009)

damn

RIP

Report

joeg (January 6, 2009)

ugh. not a good way to end my day. i feel very fortunate to have seen the stooges last year. that show will likely go down in my top 10 greatest ever. rest in peace mr. asheton.

Report

DrunkPunk711 (January 6, 2009)

Wow very shocked and very sad to hear this. I feel fortunate to have seen them 2 years ago. He was innovative in the world of punk.

Report

Mogane (March 15, 2009)

Dear Ron,
I want to reminisce about the day we met.
When I took off from Paris in 1970 to settle down in the USA, I had two ideas in mind: to meet Bob Dylan & The Stooges.
My wishes went beyond my dreams and it's with great bliss I met you and the gang.
At the time, right after an ill fated "Raw Power" session, I found 2 clans in the pink building on Sunset Blvd. You all were barely speaking to each other but I still believe my trimester camping in front of the building wings did bring some truce to your fraternal split.
Before all, I was very lucky, like the child of divorced parents, to have met a whole bunch of talented guys.
Ron Asheton, Dennis Thompson, Jim Recca, Jeff Spry, Ray Gunn, Dave Gilbert leaving in on the left staircase. James Williamson, with who I later started Siamese Dogs Records, and Iggy on the right.

show rest of commentDear Ron,
I want to reminisce about the day we met.
When I took off from Paris in 1970 to settle down in the USA, I had two ideas in mind: to meet Bob Dylan & The Stooges.
My wishes went beyond my dreams and it's with great bliss I met you and the gang.
At the time, right after an ill fated "Raw Power" session, I found 2 clans in the pink building on Sunset Blvd. You all were barely speaking to each other but I still believe my trimester camping in front of the building wings did bring some truce to your fraternal split.
Before all, I was very lucky, like the child of divorced parents, to have met a whole bunch of talented guys.
Ron Asheton, Dennis Thompson, Jim Recca, Jeff Spry, Ray Gunn, Dave Gilbert leaving in on the left staircase. James Williamson, with who I later started Siamese Dogs Records, and Iggy on the right.
Scott Thurston being in the middle :-) :-)
Those days remain the best in my Beatnik Rock 'n Roll voyage.
Having to wait on Jim's "awakening", I decided to set up my office in the top floor's swimming pool in the next door hotel. Hardly a worse place to wait on Jim, especially for I used the space to shoot those "classic Iggy Pop" photos (few know how they were done.)
It gave us the opportunity to see and talk to one another. Most of the time at Denny’s around some good piles of food.
Thanks to Doug who, patiently and skillfully, was driving us to; as well as rehearsals where Vincent ("Alice Cooper") showed up one evening. Felt like part of the Detroit scene was hitting town to make it roll and rock.
And this is how I want to remember you, Ron, and the whole gang.
My failing health and my tremendous work prevented me from seeing you last year as I wanted to talk to you about digging out all “the New Order memorabilia” I gathered back in those good ole times.
Now that I won't be able to meet you for awhile, I will have to do it on my own.
Thanks to the Internet, I will ask our acolytes, fans and friends to dig out their photos of you. Some of your most faithful ones such as Ann’ arbor and Annamaryse responded right away. Both with different views and souvenirs.
It will be a way of keeping your work and your immense stature alive
Long Live Rock 'n Roll!!! Forever Stooges!!!
Philippe Mogane
Siamese Dogs Records.