Music
Ron Asheton
1948–2009 · guitarist, bassist, songwriter
Guitarist and co-founder of the Stooges, the Ann Arbor proto-punk band that served as a house band at Detroit's Grande Ballroom.
- Born
Washington, D.C.- Died
Ann Arbor, Michigan
aged 60- Birth name
- Ronald Franklin Asheton
- Detroit years
- 1961–2009
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Ron Asheton moved with his family to Ann Arbor in 1961, when he was 13, and grew up in the college town's garage-band scene. In 1967 he formed the Stooges with singer Iggy Pop, his younger brother Scott Asheton on drums and bassist Dave Alexander. Alongside the MC5, the Stooges became one of the house bands of the Grande Ballroom on Detroit's Grand River Avenue, where their raw, repetitive riffs and Iggy's wild stage act drew a devoted following. Asheton's guitar drove The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970), later cited as foundations of punk; on Raw Power (1973) he switched to bass. After the band split in 1974 he returned to Ann Arbor, where he lived for most of the rest of his life and played in bands such as Destroy All Monsters. The Stooges reunited in 2003, and he toured with them until he died of a heart attack at his Ann Arbor home in January 2009.
Highlights
- Co-founded the Stooges in Ann Arbor in 1967
- The Stooges were a Grande Ballroom house band
- Guitar on The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970)
- Rolling Stone ranked him among the 100 greatest guitarists
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Stooges, 2010
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Performed here · 1967–1971
Grande Ballroom
Closed · 1928–1972
Russ Gibb's rock ballroom, where the Stooges, the MC5 and the Thyme served as house bands. Closed as a venue in 1972; the building stands vacant.