Stooges Guitarist Found Dead In Ann Arbor Home

Guitarist Ron Asheton of The Stooges was found dead in his home in Ann Arbor, MI on the morning of Tuesday January 6, 2009. He was 60 years old.

The cause of death is currently unknown but Detective Sgt. Jim Stephenson tells the local newspaper that they have ruled out the possibility of foul play. Asheton was found dead on his living room sofa after police were contacted by Asheton’s personal assistant claiming they hadn’t been able to reach him for days. He appeared to have been dead for several days and initial examinations suggest that he may have died from a heart attack.

Ron Asheton founded The Stooges with his brother Scott Asheton on drums as well as with bassist Dave Alexander and singer Iggy Pop. The band released three albums before dismantling in the 1974. They reformed in 2003 with new bassist Mike Watt replacing Dave Alexander, who died in 1975. The band released their fourth album, “The Weirdness”, in 2007 and is currently nominated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Asheton was recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as number 29 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. They also listed the first three Stooges albums in the top 200 of their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. He truly was one of rock music’s greatest and he will be sorely missed.

Following the news of his death, the remaining members of The Stooges left this message on the band’s website:

Ronald Frank Asheton July 17, 1948 - January 6, 2009

We are shocked and shaken by the news of Ron’s death. He was a great friend, brother, musician, trooper. Irreplaceable. He will be missed.

For all that knew him behind the façade of Mr Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not.

As a musician Ron was The Guitar God, idol to follow and inspire others. That is how he will be remembered by people who had a great pleasure to work with him, learn from him and share good and bad times with him.

Iggy, Scott, Steve, Mike and Crew

Iggy Pop also added his own personal message:

I am in shock. He was my best friend.

Iggy Pop

Report by David Lowe-Bianco.

Comments

[Mootallica]

My god, this is sad news

RIP

[Kiffa]

Holy shit, RIP Ron

[Josh Shiells]

Oh, fuck, I never do this, but R.I.P.

[Whats the story]

what a shame, r.i.p

[thorne400]

r.i.p

[TheStruction]

Hm, this sucks... =/

[thycrusader]

Damn...it seems like every other week, another rock legend dies. This is definitely sad.

R.I.P.

[aaron addicott]

aww

[pawnshopguitars]

This sucks. He seemed like such a a nice guy. R.I.P

[Fejez]

RIP Ron

[Johnny Quest]

i just saw him on tv, now he's gone, such a shame

[cuscus97]

tragic, a real guitar idol who genuinely inspired a generation. we would have no new york dolls, sex pistols, ramones, guns n' roses and countless other bands but for this mans revolutionary guitar style.

[J.Priest]

A damn shame. He was great beyond belief.

[Robert I.]

WAAAAAHH! rest in peace :-(

[hippieboy444]

Dude I just bought their first album! NOOOOO!!!!!
R.I.P brother. Great guitarist...

[tom1thomas1]

Josh Shiells wrote:

Oh, ****, I never do this, but R.I.P.

same here, RIP. that wasnt the news i was expecting to see just then. ill listen to search and destroy for him.

[RHCPROCK!]

RIP

[Cookiestar]

Raw Power = Greatest album of all time
Legend
=(
x

[grunger]

rip man

[CyanideChris]

RIP man..

[ModestMelon]

Saw the stooges live in '07 and it was easily one of the best gigs I've ever been to.

Ron was awe-inspiring
R.I.P

[evilbeavil]

damn man, this sucks..

RIP

[Bilawal]

Damn, RIP...

[Key Master]

damn...rip

[Xeus]

im in shock too...RIP Ron

[jmetalf]

hearing this news is definitely a depressing way to start off the day. RIP.

[liam177lewis]

the bbc reported that he was iggy pop's brother... that confused me sh*tless.

[dannydesktop]

this is a tough one, RIP

[kitty_teh_fish]

jmetalf wrote:

hearing this news is definitely a depressing way to start off the day. RIP.

It is. RIP.

[Burney123456789]

R.I.P Ron

[Neer]

R.I.P

[fender456]

i dont really know him, but sorry dude...

[BornToRun]

damn.... R.I.P

[podT]

RIP

[The_String_Man]

RIP, surely they are all jamming up there in the gig in the sky.

[Kartman]

"I am Dirt."

R.I.P., Ron Asheton.

[cliff_em_all]

this is awful, such an amazing guitarist for such an amazing band.

R.I.P

[SLASH.94]

RIP man.

[NiCKLESS]

It's damn screwed up that we've reached the period where classic rock legends die almost every damn week.

RIP Ron.

[Simsimius]

Quite a shock...!

[theboss]

thats way sad well... now hes up there in rock heaven jammin with the best R.I.P we will miss you but never for get you.

[RedDevil07]

R.I.P. Ron

[atthedrive-thru]

Cookiestar wrote:

Raw Power = Greatest album of all time
Legend
=(
x

yeah except that he played bass on that album. that is terrible he was one of my biggest influences, i love the stooges first album

[ChucklesMginty]

I heard about this yesterday, I'm sick of everyone dying, I'm still in shock about Mitch Mitchell.

[synth002]

Man lived an amazing life & was great at what he did. rock on man, rock on

[DrShreddington]

Wow, first xmas vaca ends and then yet another great guitarist dies. 2009 is not looking like a great year...

[manmanster]

[thrashnmosh782]

thats depressing.....RIP

[dysons sux0rz]

shame...

[git-airman]

goddammit! this is ****ing shit!

[Deek_13]

Fuck... This one was really unexpected.
R.I.P.

[89cruefan]

dear god this isnt good

what is it with rock legends dieing recently.

will be missed

[OffspringPhreak]

Damn, R.I.P.

[Fuzzbox91]

NOOOOO!!!!! (thats actually what i said when i read this) this makes my snow day not so good. :sad: :cry

[metalbaswee]

R.I.P

[Powerhouse]

What a lousy way to start of 2009.

I saw The Stooges this summer. Great show. He will be missed.

R.I.P.

[madman1347]

R.I.P
(Rock In Peace)
\m/

[777Corey]

He is the reason I picked up the guitar. Glad I got to witness him live at least once - he was amazing, and will be missed.
RIP Ron
RIP Dave

[heavenbesideyou]

Never really heard of the guy, but still sad none the less.
R.I.P.

[IYanoplathizoI]

rock in peace

[Voodoo Chile]

Man that sucks, The Stooges are one of my favourite bands, and Ron was a fantastic player. Some of my earliest memories are my Dad playing Stooges records. Very sad day for me.

[Jezza40]

Damn, I never heard that much of what The Stooges did but I knew he was a legend.

R.I.P.

[Dragon Master]

Dude, the Stooges rock, man. Ron was a great guitarist.

[ZeppNTool]

Stupid. It's getting old now. All these amazing musicians are dying off. You will be missed Ron.

[hendriko]

holy crap, this is sad news...seems like the great musicians are dying out

R.I.P.

[This1GoesTo11]

This man may have single handedly saved Rock n' Roll. Others may have used 5th chords before Ron, but thanks to him they became "Power Chords". He has directly affected every guitar player reading this.

One of my favorite guitar players. I would have loved to see the Stooges. RIP

Checked.

[hugh20]

****, i started loving hhis playing after i heard iggy and the stooges, awesome guitarist. I love his solos.

[ewall09]

rest in peace with the other guitar gods dude

[Dempsey68]

JESUS CHRIST!!!! that's bad....

RIP!

[hugh20]

i actually choked when reading the headline.

[DimebagJosho]

What a shit way to kick off 2009.
RIP

[Sean Duffy]

And he was only 60 =[
R.I.P, he will be missed...

[the_hoodster]

i just saw him on tv, now he's gone, such a shame

RIP

[CaTeArS]

R.I.P.

[lastlife43]

Rest in peace Ron. You were a true inspiration.

[mr kipling]

That came out of nowhere, he looked really healthy. Shocking indeed. R.I.P

[RU Experienced?]

RIP Dimebag.

You will be missed.

[caught22]

R.I.P

[AerialOverdrive]

R.I.P. Ron
Keep rockin'

[Skirvy]

RIP Ron, you had that Raw Power many others didn't.

[jcthomasva]

Sofas are probably the #1 cause of death for rock stars. I can't count all the rockers who have been found dead on their sofa. Think about it next time you sit down on the couch.

[padgea7x]

im gona listen to their music and if i like it which hopefully i will( if i dont i'll makemyself like it) in honor of this man!!!!!
R.I.P

[Xhale1]

jesus christ...this sucks sooo bad..Rest IN Power Ron...

[chewychuckels]

damn. RIP

[thedarkblues06]

jcthomasva wrote:

Sofas are probably the #1 cause of death for rock stars. I can't count all the rockers who have been found dead on their sofa. Think about it next time you sit down on the couch.

Now is NOT the time for sarcasm. I'm going to sit on my couch and listen to Ray of Light.

RIP Ron.

[RizzoWashburn]

[70'sdude]

They're all gettin old man, all the greats are gonna be dead within the next twenty years...it horrible RIP

thycrusader wrote:

Damn...it seems like every other week, another rock legend dies. This is definitely sad.

R.I.P.

[metalminded07]

Johnny Quest wrote:

i just saw him on tv, now he's gone, such a shame

dont watch tv anymore.

[m0o]

thycrusader wrote:

Damn...it seems like every other week, another rock legend dies. This is definitely sad.

R.I.P.

rock is LITERALLY dying.

[menobot669]

m0o wrote:

thycrusader wrote:

Damn...it seems like every other week, another rock legend dies. This is definitely sad.

R.I.P.

rock is LITERALLY dying.

very true. R.I.P Ron.

[DeadDerykk88]

its a conspiracy

[CrowLord]

rest in peace man, legend

[Branflakes]

R.I.P Ron

We will not forget the rad music you created.

[Snake™]

This sucks. RIP Ron.

[Saint Valentine]

m0o wrote:

thycrusader wrote:

Damn...it seems like every other week, another rock legend dies. This is definitely sad.

R.I.P.

rock is LITERALLY dying.

Rock will never die... it's founders, it's legends and the great musicians that witnessed and were part of it's birth may die, but thier spirits will carry on as long as we keep them in our hearts. This is the job of our generation. We listen to the music that these legends produce and we become influenced and learn from them. We keep rock alive by carrying it on our own shoulders for the next generation to enjoy. Rock on everybody... rock on.

R.I.P Ron.

[skeletonowl]

R.I.P.

[recliner33]

I was so sad yesterday when I heard about this. Ron was definately one of my biggest guitar influences and the stooges are one of my favourite bands. I'm just kicking myself now though for not seeing the stooges when they reunited. And I would like to thank UG for making this headline news. There's been a lot of rock legends who have died in the past few years who didn't even make it on the front page of UG, but I'm glad they got it right this time. Hopefully the rock and roll hall of fame will finally induct the stooges now.

[HEXAGRAM66]

Hopefully they'll get the hall of fame over metallica, their new album sucked, Ron Asheton rip

[DrShreddington]

HEXAGRAM66 wrote:

Hopefully they'll get the hall of fame over metallica, their new album sucked, Ron Asheton rip

tbh hopefully they dont. the hall of fame is a joke, putting the stooges there would be more an insult than anything, its exactly the kind of place where joke bands like Metallica belong.

[highwaysalmon]

RIP man

[serj_segov]

RIP....RON...shame another leyend left this world.....

[DrunknMunky2000]

tragic.....he will be missed

[ordinary_story]

RU Experienced? wrote:

RIP Dimebag.

You will be missed.

Sounds like a cool guy and a great guitarist....R.I.P man..

[dinosaur sr]

oh sh1t this sucks

[edbert]

damn a bad loss, never knew he lived in A2 though

R.I.P.

[alphablade7]

R.I.P. Ron

[Azwethinkwedo]

Sucks that he's dead, he friends say he never did a days work in his life, never had a job or anything. did things his own way, i respect the lazy sod.

[~Shred Hero~]

60 is too young =(

R.I.P.

[de-fexxx666]

Really shocking, never saw this one coming. He's a very underrated guitarist and will be missed immensely.

[snoogins17]

RIP ron, you were truly a legend

[Thefallofman]

Definitely more influential than most people realize.

RIP.

[Woogles]

Just saw him last summer with iggy
R.I.P. Ron

[punk_mike_88]

R.I.P. Ron, you're forever a legend.

[bah humbug]

RIP, great guitarist

[toha33]

Fuck... You were an amazing guitarist, I wish I got the chance to see you live, this is painfully shocking.

[ozoneslayer]

R.I.P

[lorrythebassguy]

bugger, that sucks

RIP mate

[PAsistem]

The 4th paragraph says "the first three stooges albums"...three stooges. Lol

RIP

[TremontiIsAGod]

Thats some shitty news, man. R.I.P.

[xxxFMDxxx]

RIP man

[Powerhouse]

RU Experienced? wrote:

RIP Dimebag.

You will be missed.

Wow...you're really REALLY late.

[tonkpilsmaggot6]

I used to talk to him every once in a while. guy had MAD guitar skills. RIP

~maggot

RIP.

Checked.

[dcdossett65]

oh my god..

[famefornothing]

MY Mom told me today in the car ride back from school. It's a loss to our instrument, and all of our music...

[jmetalf]

Powerhouse wrote:

RU Experienced? wrote:

RIP Dimebag.

You will be missed.

Wow...you're really REALLY late.

You were really hoping to get a quote chain going weren't you. Bam. You're welcome.

[-NNC-]

R.I.P., rock in heaven...

[radioplay]

DimebagJosho wrote:

What a shit way to kick off 2009.
RIP

agreed

R.I.P. to one of the most important guitarists of all time

[Austiman]

That is such a damn drag dude. I never listened to his music, but I definitely knew the band. Not so much the people influenced by them.

Such a shame knowing of his greatness now. Wish I could heard his stuff before he died.

[rancidryan]

hell be considerd greater now though

R.I.P

[ShadesOfNight]

shit man....RIP
that really sucks

[GuitarAustin95]

Stop dieing amazing musicians!! please! for the love of music! RIP Ron

[Hops44]

I heard this on the radio yesterday
R.I.P.

[TheIceCreamMan]

Oh man. I was hoping to see them live too.

[daz93]

RIP

[BlackMist]

This sucks, R.I.P. buddy!

[billiejoetim]

i was shocked when i found out yesterday R.I.P.

[Grungy2425]

RIP Man! Well miss you

[hwd7777]

omg i live 20 min from ann arbor. noo!

[markdirt]

Rest in peace Ron, you were the greatest.

[patrickdenneyto]

wow, is all i can say

[lurch_276]

RIP and thanks

[rancidrocker]

This sucks so much.
R.I.P

[locomotive4]

dude everyones dyin.

rip

[David_Bowie=GOD]

i was shocked yesterday when i heard about this, and i still am.

RIP

[pureebil333]

=( RIP

[iamjosh]

not often you see a guitarist with both the talent and the innovation of this man. best wishes mr. a

[Jools88]

Such bad news. One of my favourites, and inspired so many more of my favourites! ROCK ON RON

[shadow__666]

Damn. I've been a Stooges fan for years, this really sucks arse. RIP Ron, and surely the wankers at the Rock and Roll hall Of Fame will have to induct the Stooges now.

[icantbuyafender]

huge loss... damn

[Flying Afros]

m0o wrote:

thycrusader wrote:

Damn...it seems like every other week, another rock legend dies. This is definitely sad.

R.I.P.

rock is LITERALLY dying.

It may seem that way, doesn't it? But all the young guys like us have to carry it on. Look at music today. Sure the mainstream stuff isn't the greatest, but there are so many newer bands that are making great music, as well as still a large number of older bands. Reading this gets me pretty bummed actually, but loud, obnoxious rock n roll will always live on as long as there is a guitar and something to smash.
RIP Ron, you will be missed. Thanks for everything you did for music.

[(sic)kid]

Rest in peace man

[shoka1234]

89cruefan wrote:

dear god this isnt good

what is it with rock legends dieing recently.

will be missed

Its because Rock legends usually smoke, drink and party a lot but he really was a great guitarist

[Levi79]

oh shit, R.I.P. Man The stooges ****ing rocked!

Checked

[BonezShaker]

nooo !!! bad way to start off 09..... when is bad music's turn to die ?

[RinestoneCowboy]

Rest in peace to a truly great musician, artist, and human being.

[Archaea_246]

I've never listened to this band, but rest in peace, Ron.

[Rtard_GWARRIOR]

Shit. I've always loved the Stooges. This is just. Wow. I am at a loss for words. R.I.P Ron

[jimithrash]

now i wannna be your doggg
rest in peace

[slash=king]

R.I.P

[frusciante_funk]

o.. m.. g..
so sad... R.I.P, Ron.

[Chad48309]

This is terrible news. The rock world has lost one of its greatest.

I haven't been this upset since I heard of Brad Delp's suicide.

[SirShredfast]

Rock in peace!

[hb15577]

man that sucks the stooges rock

[GoldSoundzUKNZ]

this is so sad, he was a big influence on my friend and i, we love the stooges, and he was an amazing guitarist. rest in peace ron, and thank you!

[The_Teleblaster]

RIP Ron

[noobiepro1996]

as hurting as dimebag.

[PedophilePriest]

Never heard of him... don't care.

[Guitar1039]

R.I.P.

[flaphead325]

PedophilePriest wrote:

Never heard of him... don't care.

Don't comment.

[guitarfreak222]

I only just got into their music...This is ****ing sad...
RIP Ron...the man I hardly got to know.

[Dudley Bradley]

truly one of the legends. RIP.

[tom1thomas1]

ChucklesMginty wrote:

I heard about this yesterday, I'm sick of everyone dying, I'm still in shock about Mitch Mitchell.

same here. I'm barely over Hendrix or Noel Redding all the good guys are going now, noone good takes their place though

[tom1thomas1]

PedophilePriest wrote:

Never heard of him... don't care.

if someone you didnt know died you wouldnt go to their funeral so why comment on it online?

[Felty666]

BonezShaker wrote:

nooo !!! bad way to start off 09..... when is bad music's turn to die ?

Well, no one in the crappy music world has died since Casey Calvert from Hawthorne Heights.

[<Paper Cuts>]

Very sad loss...same with Casey Calvert; no one should be mean to people who have passed away.

[Tumble-weed]

Holy shit. Bad way to start 09. I regret not seeing em this summer
RIP.

[boyan89]

RIP

[deluded_reality]

This sucks. Every time I come here someone has died. I never knew much about The Stooges but had heard their name quite a few times to know how good they were. RIP man.

[SugarRush66]

God, sad stuff

And by coincidence I just got Iggy's biography for Christmas, made me wanna get into the Stooges more.

And then this ...

[Saint Valentine]

Flying Afros wrote:

m0o wrote:

thycrusader wrote:

Damn...it seems like every other week, another rock legend dies. This is definitely sad.

R.I.P.

rock is LITERALLY dying.

It may seem that way, doesn't it? But all the young guys like us have to carry it on. Look at music today. Sure the mainstream stuff isn't the greatest, but there are so many newer bands that are making great music, as well as still a large number of older bands. Reading this gets me pretty bummed actually, but loud, obnoxious rock n roll will always live on as long as there is a guitar and something to smash.
RIP Ron, you will be missed. Thanks for everything you did for music.

Great minds do think alike don't they?

[Saint Valentine]

tom1thomas1 wrote:

PedophilePriest wrote:

Never heard of him... don't care.

if someone you didnt know died you wouldnt go to their funeral so why comment on it online?

Yeah, no shit... priest must have no respect for the dead.

[deadlyMETAL]

R.I.P., fellow guitarist.

[baki]

R.I.P. my brother...

[Loudspeaker003]

dude, not ron. man, no wonder jack postted a pic of him on the white stripes site.
rock in peace my brother.