Legendary punk guitarist Ron Asheton dies
The Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton found dead at 60
DETROIT – Ron Asheton, the guitarist for the Stooges whose raw sound helped inspire the first generation of punk musicians, has died. He was 60.
Asheton was found at his Ann Arbor home early Tuesday morning by police officers after they were called by an associate who had not heard from him in several days, said city police Sgt. Brad Hill.
There were no signs of foul play, and the death appeared to be of natural causes, Hill said.
Asheton was a founding member of the Stooges, the influential protopunk band formed in Ann Arbor in 1967, along with his brother, Scott.
Lead singer Iggy Pop called Asheton “my best friend” in a statement Tuesday, and the band expressed shock at his death.</em>
“stooges”
I remember the first time I encountered the Stooges. It was on an 8 track tape collection of hard rock I got as a member of the Columbia Record Club and when the tape went KERCHUNK and “T.V Eye” blared out of my piece o’ crap Magnavox stereo, I was hooked. Iggy’s voice –she’s got her tv eye on me– coupled with the glorious screech of Ron Asheton’s guitar was- and remains- pure sonic heaven. And 30 or so years after the fact, Asheton and the Stooges original records are as vital, raw and ahead of the time as they ever were, and are the foundation to whatever came after. So drop the needle on “Funhouse” and turn it the fuck up, so Ron can hear it- wherever he’s gone.
