Ron Asheton

Early life Ronald Franklin Asheton was born July 17, 1948, in Washington, D.C. 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. Asheton's final song "3 Stooges" appeared during the credits of the 2012 comedy film The Three Stooges.

Asheton also acted, appearing with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre star Gunnar Hansen in Mosquito, which was released 1995. He also appeared in two other films: Frostbiter: Wrath of the Wendigo and Legion of the Night.

Following the band's 1974 breakup, Ron Asheton returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan and spent most of the rest of his life living with his mother in her large house. He was an avid collector of horror movies, military history books and Nazi memorabilia and regalia, which included uniforms, medals, pins and a Nazi flag.

Death

During the early hours of January 6, 2009, police were summoned to Asheton's home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by his personal assistant, who had been unable to reach him for several days. Asheton was found dead in his bed, apparently having died of a heart attack. Sonic Youth's album The Eternal is dedicated to him.

His brother Scott died on March 15, 2014, also from a heart attack.

On July 17, 2018, for what would have been Asheton's 70th birthday, a tribute concert was held in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan, featuring Mike Watt; Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis; Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Free Kitten; Mark Arm of Mudhoney; Jennifer Herrema of Royal Trux; Mario Rubalcaba of Hot Snakes; and Don Fleming of Gumball.

Discography With the Stooges The Stooges (1969) Fun House (1970) Raw Power (1973) The Weirdness (2007)

With The New Order New Order (1977) Victim of Circumstance (1989) Declaration of War (1990)

With Destroy All Monsters November 22, 1963 (1989) Bored (1999) – recorded in 1978

With New Race The First and the Last (1982) The First To Pay (1989) The Second Wave (1990)

With Dark Carnival Live - Welcome to Show Business (1990) Greatest Show in Detroit (1991) Last Great Ride (1996) HOTBOX Greatest Hits 6 Disc set (2006)

With The Empty Set Thin Slim & None/Flunkie (1996)

With Powertrane Ann Arbor Revival Meeting (2003)

Other contributions Asheton played the double tracked guitar solo (referred to as a "guitar duet" in the liner notes) on Ragnar Kvaran's 1981 recording, Wrecked on Love. He is credited for helping to write the song "Hit Them Again" on the album Radios Appear (1977) by Radio Birdman, as well as one track that can be heard at the end of the movie Mosquito. Some other tracks Asheton wrote had been recorded by the group "Wylde Ratttz", for the original score of the 1998 movie Velvet Goldmine, but only one song was featured on the soundtrack. He contributed another song to Beyond Cyberpunk, a 2001 compilation assembled and produced by Wayne Kramer of MC5.