In Memoriam
Ron Asheton
July 17, 1948 – January 6, 2009 (found dead)
Protopunk · Hard Rock · Garage Rock
Ronald Frank Asheton was the distortion-drenched sonic architect behind The Stooges, providing the visceral, primal guitar riffs that essentially birthed punk rock. Born in 1948, Asheton teamed up with Iggy Pop in the late 1960s to form a band that completely rejected the peace-and-love ethos of the hippie era. Armed with a fuzz pedal and a fierce, minimalist approach, Asheton crafted some of the most menacing and iconic riffs in rock history, including 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' and 'No Fun.' His raw, aggressive guitar tone laid the blueprint for everything from the Sex Pistols to Nirvana. Despite The Stooges' initial commercial failure, their influence became legendary, eventually leading to a triumphant reunion in the early 2000s. Asheton was found dead of a heart attack in his Michigan home on January 6, 2009, at the age of 60. He remains the unsung hero of heavy, feedback-laden garage rock.
Milestones
I Wanna Be Your Dog, No Fun, Raw Power
Also remembered in 2009
- Koko Taylor (1928–2009)
- Les Paul (1915–2009)
- Mary Travers (1936–2009)
- Michael Jackson (1958–2009)