The underappreciated genius of Ron Asheton
A nod to the Stooge with the raw heart and the sonic moves
Ron Asheton was a guitarist. He was a Stooge. He was a devout music maker. He was an unlikely sonic innovator.
He was one of Ann Arbor's creative sons—a subversive poet with a six-stringed sonic gun.
A laugh-maker and comedy appreciator, Asheton valued performance art. This guy was always going to make a little noise (and a scene) for public audiences, never wavering or flinching, despite the jeers and the blank faces.
This rare footage of The Psychedelic Stooges (the original incarnation of The Stooges) shows the band making offkey, semi-audible ripples (big ones) using amps alongside household objects. Ron was known for dropping noise-making things on the floor and using his six-string in the most weird and wonderful (to the ears of some) ways.
Some swayed to the sound of the hypnotic noise (drawn in by Iggy’s massive stage presence and iron gaze) while others looked on with faces like they were sucking lemons. Still, Asheton weaved the rag tag bunch together with his erratic barrage of notes.
Throughout The Stooges’ journey, Ron Asheton’s simplistic yet head-bashing guitar style defined their direction. Even when he was placed on the bass for the band’s third (and final) ‘Raw Power’ album, Asheton’s sense of groove, feel, and charisma shone through.
His untrained and “I’m being myself no matter fucking what” take on the guitar is as essential as Iggy’s chants, tones, and stage moves. It’s the very canvas that gave birth to it all.
Even when the band came tumbling down in epic ramshackle style, Asheton never gave up the guitar ghost. He kept on writing; he kept on playing.
Ron bobbed and weaved, founding or joining bands that may not have broken through the commercially-viable corporate ceiling — but inspired droves of rock & rollers. The money and attention didn’t always roll in (and often, it should have), but he never stopped picking up that axe and playing new riffs.
He never turned his back on the music — his music. And, before he passed, the overlooked sonic giant got to play with The Stooges again — sharing his legendary tones to new audiences. A hint of rock & roll justice.
This whole piece comes across like biased fan ramblings. It is. In summary, here’s why the mighty Ron Asheton is an appreciated genius:
He was in it for all the right reasons.
He never compromised on his sound or his values.
He was great to work and tour with, according to many sources.
He did it his own way and helped to spark one of the world’s most subversive musical movements.
He was authentic (and didn’t try to sound like some sort of cheap Stevie Ray Vaughn rip-off).
He was simplistic in his playing, but raw, original, and almost impossible to imitate (properly).
He had vision and groove. He always played for the songs and the music. Not purely because of ego.
He was responsible for helping to write and create the sonic canvas for the LPs, ‘The Stooges’ and ‘Fun House’. Enough said.
Thank you for the music, Ronnie. For more on tunes and that, read all about these five original takes on common songwriting themes.
