R.I.P.: Stooges Guitarist Ron Asheton

Ann Arborites don't claim their own with quite the same verve and gusto that other cities seem to. At least when it comes to native musicians, residents of the quaint but famous little Michigan college town tend to think of their high-profile homegrowns with fond, if distant, respect. As a fellow Ann Arbor-to-Seattle transplant put it, "We think of them more like extended family, with a pride that's less zealous than Seattleites feel with regard to grunge or Quincy Jones, for eaxmaple. For us, the success of our own doesn't necessarily reflect on us, as music fans. It's not a notch in our own belts."

Nevertheless, news of the death of legendary Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton in his Ann Arbor home this week hits where it hurts. According to Ann Arbor Detective Sgt. Jim Stephenson, the cause of death is as yet undetermined, but regardless of the final autopsy results, Asheton (60) was too young to go. (A quick shout-out to the local police here. Ann Arbor is the only place I've ever been, let alone lived, where the cops are almost universally respected, appreciated, and trusted.)

Thought Iggy and the Stooges 2007 reunion album, The Weirdness, met with a lukewarm reception, the band's return to touring was hailed with well deserved gusto. In the years between Iggy Pop's original departure from the band and the eventual reunion, Asheton had played with a number of notable Michigan rock acts, including New Race (with members of MC5).

As usual, the CBC's As It Happens treated the news with among the best coverage available. For a limited time, you can read or listen to the story here. There's also an interesting, if still developing, story about the raiding of Asheton's house for memorabilia here.

Meanwhile, Asheton lived with an inarguable lust for life. Let's remember him the same way.

     --Jason Kirk