Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton found dead

by Daniel Brown

Article published on the 2009-01-08 Latest update 2009-01-08 17:23 TU

Ron Asheton (left) and Iggy Pop.
(Photo: Wikipedia)

Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 29th in their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. But 60-year-old Ron Asheton was best-known for his long-term collaboration with Iggy Pop in the rock band The Stooges. The guitarist and co-songwriter was found dead in his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan on 6 January 2009. He had been dead for several days after suffering a heart attack. RFI's Daniel Brown met him after a concert in 2007.

Backstage, the easy-going American was a far cry from the intense rock guitarist who accompanied Iggy Pop for a storming concert in Blois, France, in September 2007.

Ever since being re-united with The Iguana, as Iggy is known, Asheton enjoyed a new lease of life. He collaborated with the iconic singer in The Stooges between 1967 and 1974.

After the split-up, Asheton played in other bands such as New Race, The New Order and Destroy All Monsters.

"I don't feel my age," he said in Blois offstage. "Time does pass, but you always feel the same ... it's the same ideas, only you get smarter and more intense."

Ron Asheton and Iggy Pop were re-united in 2003 after a recording session.

The two co-wrote several songs for their 2007 album The Weirdness and he insisted there was more to come.

"My philosophy is that you are only as good as your next song, your next album. I'm raring to go. We're a living band, we don't play the old stuff. I can just keep on writing tunes."

Iggy Pop made a statement saying he was devastated and considered the guitarist as his closest friend.