Sad day in the rock n roll / punk rock world as founding member Ron Asheton of The Stooges was found dead at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  He was 60 years old.  The official cause of the founding member of The Stooges has not been reported yet but initial discoveries claim it may be from a heart attack.

I had the pleasure of seeing Ron Asheton play last summer when Iggy & The Stooges took stage at the 2008 Virgin Mobile Festival.  This was my second viewing of one of the more important punk rock bands and I must say the performance was memorable.  Ron Asheton was amazing on guitar along side his pal Mike Watt (who took the place of bassist when the band reunited in 2003) while Iggy Pop went insane in front of the crowd.  I am glad I was there to witness that performance.

The Stooges were recently nominated as an inductee into the 2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum.   It’s a shame that Ron Asheton will not be there to see if The Stooges are inducted.  There is not a doubt in my mind that they will not be as their place in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Museum is well deserved.

This is a huge loss.  He will be missed.

Some videos:

Ron Asheton in The New Order (not the New Order you are thinking of…):

Iggy & The Stooges Live In Cincinnati 1970:

Iggy & The Stooges “The Passenger”:

Links from major music websites reporting on Ron Asheton’s death:

Rolling Stone
Billboard
NME