Ron Asheton

Ronald Franklin Asheton (July 17, 1948 – c. January 6, 2009) was an American musician, best known as the guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter for the rock band the Stooges. He formed the band along with Iggy Pop and his brother, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander in 1967. The band is regarded as the seminal proto-punk band and a major influence on the punk rock genre with the albums The Stooges (1969), Fun House (1970) and Raw Power (1973). Following break-ups in 1971 and 1974, the Stooges reformed in 2003 and Asheton remained with the band until his death from a heart attack on January 6, 2009. Asheton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the Stooges, and ranked as number 29 and 60 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2010 and 2015 respectively.

Ronald Franklin Asheton was born July 17, 1948, in Washington, D.C. He described his family as his first big musical influence. His first instrument was a violin which was given to him by his mother. He was then gifted an accordion at age 5, which he practiced more seriously. At the age of 10 he took up both the guitar and the bass which ultimately took up the majority of his practice time and interest.

He described himself as a child who was different when compared to other kids his age, as the majority of the kids that lived in his area were more interested in sports and physical activities, while he spent his time listening to music and practicing his guitar and bass. When he was 13, the family relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan. He and his brother, Scott, attended Pioneer High School.

He played with some local bands including the Prime Movers and The Chosen Few (briefly overlapping with James Williamson, later of the Stooges). He met Iggy Pop soon after and they formed the hard rock band the Stooges. Like his father who was a Marine, Ron had a strong interest in military history, including a controversial, albeit apolitical, obsession with collecting Nazi memorabilia.

By 1967, Asheton was jamming with his brother Scott and friend Dave Alexander. They were soon joined by James "Iggy" Osterberg who remembered Asheton from the Chosen Few. The "Psychedelic Stooges" played their first show Halloween 1967. In 1968, they were signed to Elektra Records along with MC5 by Danny Fields. He played guitar on and wrote most of the music for their first two albums, debut album The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970). Shortly after recording Fun House, a second guitarist was added to the band, initially former roadie Bill Cheatham, who was shortly thereafter replaced by James Williamson. Infighting between Asheton and Williamson, whom he saw as usurping his role as songwriter and lead guitarist, as well as the toll of extensive drug use, caused the band to break up in 1971.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.