The Stooges Pay Tribute To 'Irreplaceable' Ron Asheton

The Stooges have paid tribute to their guitarist, Ron Asheton, who has died suddenly at the age of 60.

In a joint statement, frontman Iggy Pop, drummer and Asheton’s brother, Scott, and bassist Mike Watt said their guitarist was “irreplaceable”.

They said: "We are shocked and shaken by the news of Ron's death. He was a great friend, brother, musician, trooper. Irreplaceable. He will be missed.

"For all that knew him behind the facade of Mr Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not.”

As previously reported on Gigwise, Asheton’s body was found by police at his home in Michigan this morning (January 6th).

It is thought he had suffered a heart attack, although the official cause of death has yet to been confirmed.

The guitarist was one of the group's founding members and was responsible for some of The Stooges' most infamous guitarist riffs.

In a separate statement, Pop described Asheton as his “best friend”.

The Stooges toured extensively throughout 2007 and 2008, playing a number of high profile festival slots around the world.

CLICK HERE to read Gigwise's Ron Asheton obituary.

Ron Asheton - A Tribute