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The Stooges (Guitarist Ron Asheton left)

Stooges guitarist dies

Founding guitarist Ron Asheton is discovered dead at his home

06 January 2008 - It’s been reported that The Stooges guitarist and bassist has passed away aged 60, due to a heart attack.

He was found at his home in Michigan today (Tuesday 6 January) and is believed to have been there for several days, according to Detective Sgt Jim Stephenson who's quoted in Ann Arbor News, Asheton's local paper.

However, the cause of death has not yet been disclosed from the autopsy and toxicology results.

Ron Asheton founded the group along with his brother and Stooges drummer Scott Asheton, the late bassist Dave Alexander and frontman Iggy Pop.

Hits featuring Asheton’s riffing include I Wanna Be Your Dog, No Fun and Down On The Street.

He took up bassist duties on their third record Raw Power in 1973, which was not a commercial success, before leaving the band and joining The New Order and Destroy All Monsters, New Race and the Wylde Ratttz, which was a supergroup with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Mark Arm from Mudhoney, Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis and The Minutemen’s Mike Watt.

Ron Asheton, his brother Scott and Mike Watt began playing together back in 2000, and a show viewed by Iggy Pop prompted the band’s official reformation in 2003.

They released their latest album The Weirdness in 2007 and graced the festival circuit in 2007 with performances at Lollapalooza, Glastonbury and a headline slot at Get Loaded in the summer of 2008.

Georgie Rogers

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Comments so far

Mark Zoltak, Hoboken, NJ
A very hip and influential teacher of mine handed me the first Stooges album in 1975. I was 17 years old. When I put it on the turntable it changed everything. It introduced me to a world that I hadn't considered. It was darker and wilder than anything I had previously heard. Ron Asheton embodied those qualities with his playing. I don't think there could have been the Iggy that we have come to know without the sound forms that Ron threw around his voice. I am gutted but I am so glad that in the end with the reunited Stooges he got to do what he loved most with the people that he loved most. Kudos to Iggy for agreeing to make it happen. My condolences to Rock Action for the loss of his big brother. To Mike Watt: from the day I saw you at Irving Plaza in NYC with the Minutemen (I was the DJ) to the present, you are a champ and this fan thanks you for fitting in so well with the Stooges journey.

SEAN - Bri
RIP- another hero/legend is with us no more. Your music will never die. Thankyouverymuch. Amen.

Richard Ashton, Guildford
I still remember the first time I heard the Stooges - it was like getting an electric shock and it just floored me. I knew that nothing would be the same again and indeed, it never has been. To this day Ron is probably the greatest single influence on me when I play the guitar. If you're reading this article you're probably well acquainted with the Stooges but on the off chance you're not, do yourself a huge favour and seek their music out...

Sandeep - Leicester
The sounds that came from him were unique and am sorry to hear of the news. REST IN PEACE.

Ian C, Nottingham
A very sad loss, Ron Ashton shares responsability for 3 of my top 10 albums -The Stooges, Fun House and Raw Power. As good as Iggy is he was never better than when he played with Ron and The stooges. One of rocks unsung heros deserves our respect and wider recognition