I’ve been a Iggy Pop & the Stooges fan for at least 35 years. This is indeed a sad day. R.I.P. Ron & I send my deepest & sincerest condolences to Iggy & the Stooges & most of all to Ron’s family.

Classic band, amazing sound. Thanks Ron. You’ll never be forgotten.

To the thieves that stole all of The Stooges gear in Canada, It may be the right time to return it. Hope that weighs in on your conscious.

RIP RON.

tonights a night of Funhouse and going completely mad.

Shaken over ice we ordered you a drink
News too hard
Vodka soda, CC, ice and milk
Hard goblets in our hand

Young again in white jeans and sunglasses you
A relaxed and still command
We summoned up your stories, Stooges fan club president and smuggler to Larry Fine, Film buddy to Robert Mitchum and so much else
The thing we felt the most was the hole you left behind
With you gone the aching thoughts
So deeply, hugely present
Now you have left the room
A gentleman, rock and roll soldier, vanished way too soon

We pray you’re drinking Ronny
With the friends you loved so much
And so we hold up our glasses and salute you high above
Iridescent images in our heart of hearts
We wait till we meet up with you again and this time never part

It was 1973. As a 15 year old boy living in Tokyo, I discovered the Stooges “Raw Power” and it became the soundtrack to my life with that lovely “thin” razor sound as produced by Bowie. Although Ron didn’t (But should have) taken the helm as guitarist for this album. His influnce shone through. Later, in Virginia, while in high school, I discovered “Fun House” and the Stooges first album. Ron was at their wonderful core. I met Iggy in Mexico in 1979, and hung out with him for a day. He was a fine person, and a soul mate of Rons. Their chemistry was magic. In April 2007, I attended Iggy’s 60th birthday concert at the Warfield in SF, during the Stooges world tour. I recall Ron playing “Happy Birthday” on the guitar with a smile on his face, as the balloons dropped from the ceiling onto the stage, much to Iggy’s suprise. It was a moment to remember. I’m happy Ron was able to tour one last time and only wish he could see his band enter the hall of fame. From somewhere he will. Rock on Ron, and tell ‘em we need Iggy to stick around for a while. God Bless you and God Bless the Stooges.

The Stooges were the first band i was truly obsessed with. Funhouse & Raw Power are probably the first real hard rock records i ever owned. Ron Asheton leaves a huge legacy not only as one of the great primordial riff masters of all time, but also as a kind hearted, genuinely sweet person who will be missed by those who knew him and his music. At least The Stooges got to tour the world and receive the kudos that they so rightfully deserved. Go, now, and listen to Funhouse at full volume and remember him for the righteous soul he was.

Rock on dude! We miss you!

Warm Elektra Hiss?

I listen to
The first two Stooges albums
More than I listen to Raw Power.

Warm Elektra Hiss?

I listen to
The first two Stooges albums
More than I listen to Raw Power.

Another of the greats is gone. God bless Ron Asheton and The Stooges.

great loss… we love you ron… we salute you ron… we will always remember you… i’ m so sad today…

He was a ridiculously underrated guitar player, invented tons of classic, instantly recognizable riffs, and only came close to getting the recognition he deserved near the end of his life with the Stooges reunion. Ron Asheton left us far too soon, and with him goes one of the greatest rock bands there will ever be.
RIP Ron.

Ron Asheton a true revolutionary!! A god father of punk rock!! The Stooges may never have found commercial success but the millions of people worldwide Ron inspired to pick up and axe is the real success!! Vale Ron!!

Asheton didn’t play guitar on Raw Power but he played monster live bass right after it was made. Have you heard the Revenge recordings, Head On–?

without Ron, industrial whammy guitar, there might not have been an Iggy.
no denyin’ we heard your voice and our trip got better for it

It was a great to see The Stooges get back together and finally play to the huge, sold-out audiences who finally caught up with their sound. It was like watching The Velvet Underground playing to the audiences they never had in the Sixties. It was terrific.

For me, I never get tired of The Stooges first three albums—”The Stooges”, “Fun House” and “Raw Power”. Whether he was a lead guitarist or a bass guitarist, Ron Asheton could play his ass off. He loved the music, so much so that he never worked a regular day job like many musicians. He continued to play in bands after The Stooges broke up. Thank God he got the chance to play with them again late in life. Thank God people got the chance to see it happen.

Most rock deaths have no effect on me – didn’t know ‘em aint gonna grieve now” thang. This one, though, really hit me.

I’ve been a Stooges fan since 1978 when I bough their first album. I liked it well enough, though it didn’t pack the punch that Never Mind The Bollocks had, Then I was given Funhouse to listen to. “The heaviest record ever made” was his estimation. By the end of the solo of the third number -T.V.Eye – he had my total agreement. This record was a monster of heavy dread so thick you could choke. Is there a moment on any record as downright meat-chompingly heavy as TV Eye? Who on earth could write sucha’ piece of music in 1970? The Man could. Ron Asheton could. He stood right up to your face and dared you to diss his playing as primitive, repetitive, tribal and deranged. He took everything that should by all rights have been drawbacks in guitar styling and made his own inimitable style from them.

I met Ron when he toured Australia with his band Dark Carnival. For me this was like meeting Hendrix – Ron’s guitar work, particularly on Funhouse has been the primary influence on my guitar playing and remains a landmark of total take it to the edge and right on over rifferama heaven.

In person he was a soft-spoken and totally lacking in any rock star pretensions. He talked to all and any and was as funny as all shit remembering how Bowie grabbed his arse one day at the studio and how all-American straight guy Ron’s reaction of “gotta keep it cool but what the f%$^$%” look of horror!

Getting to see the Stooges perform Funhouse was one of the highlights of a very long gig-going life. It was also great to see the Asheton Bros getting some payback for the huge influence they had on so many players.

It took history to catch up with Ron’s playing, not the other way round. He finally got his dues and was able to lap up the applause and the well-earned dollars. God bless him for the endless hours of enjoyment he brought into my life.

Thanks Ron, the world caught up in the end

Andy

My love for Iggy and the Stooges will be with me until my days are down to zero.

The Stooges never ever sold out ever ! Try finding that amoungst the gargage out there today. They are a cleansing force behind all the BS music prevailing today. They were tough, real and completely original. Most of all they had no barriers between themselves and their fans in a way that is 100% human.

I am very sad today. There will never be another Stooges.

My condolences to Jim and Scott.

God Bless the Stooges !

-Simon

Hanggin with Brother Ron in
Detroit the Bad Ass “HEMI” of
a Motor City! The Ashtons are
the WAY COOLEST of MC ROCKERS.
Always the HIPPEST to see and
talk to! This is some of the
saddest News to come out of
Ann Arbor to HIT DETROIT!
R.I.P. Brother Ron.
Say “HI” to Brother Rob Tyner
For Us.
J.M.C.

I totalled my volkswagon while listening to “real cool time”. Thank you Ron.Your the best.
Chordially, Phil.

Oh fuck. Just gutted.

I recently learned that, due to an eviction, Ron Asheton’s pet cats have ended up at the Huron Valley Humane Society at 3100 Cherry Hill Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 734-662-5585.

If you love the Stooges, love cats as much as Ron did, and live in the greater Ann Arbor area, please consider adopting one of the cats he left behind.