Ron Asheton (1948 - 2009)

This blog has been quiet for quite some time, for which I apologise. The longer it's been left the harder it has been to return. That said, the news I spotted today compelled me to shake the dust off and say a few words regarding the sad news of the death of Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, one of my personal musical heroes.

I have loved the sound of his guitar, the simplicity, the energy and sheer power of his playing since I first heard Be Your Dog back at the end of the 80s (a good 20 years after their birth). I'd go as far as to say his playing has always inspired me and made be believe that maybe I could do some stuff with the guitar that didn't revolve around playing lots of notes meticulously and without soul. Those original Stooges records have not aged a jot and sound as fresh and relevant today as ever, and most of it is down to Ron's unique style. If you've never checked out his work in the 70s with Destroy All Monsters, then that is pretty exemplary as well, definitely worth seeking out.

I was really saddened to hear of his death today, and even more saddened that I didn't take the opportunity to see the reformed Stooges the last couple of years. I love the music and watched them online, but I missed the chance to see them do it for real which would have been superb. Life and lack of time caught up with me, but that said, Ron's work has been listened to lots in those intervening years.

I rate Ron as one of the best guitarists ever and whilst the critics would go for people like Hendrix, Clapton and other unarguable great players, none of them ever ever made so little sound like so much, and to this day I still want to make music and listen to music that has a direct lineage to Ron's sound and influence. It's a real loss, but what's been done already will live on in the ears and hearts of right thinking music fans forever. RIP.

Photo by Dena Flows.

Posted by Dio Bach at 2:44 PM