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Scott Asheton obituary Scott Asheton obituary
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The drummer Scott Asheton, who has died aged 64, was an original member of the Stooges, one of the most anarchic and influential rock acts of the past half-century. With his guitarist brother Ron Asheton, Scott was a mainstay of the Michigan-based band during its early years in the late 1960s and early 70s. When their vocalist, Iggy Pop, reformed the band in 2003 after a three-decade hiatus, Scott and his brother were present and correct in the lineup. Scott's nickname, "Rock Action", was a handy summary of his role in the operation.The drummer Scott Asheton, who has died aged 64, was an original member of the Stooges, one of the most anarchic and influential rock acts of the past half-century. With his guitarist brother Ron Asheton, Scott was a mainstay of the Michigan-based band during its early years in the late 1960s and early 70s. When their vocalist, Iggy Pop, reformed the band in 2003 after a three-decade hiatus, Scott and his brother were present and correct in the lineup. Scott's nickname, "Rock Action", was a handy summary of his role in the operation.
The Stooges' reputation will always rest on the trio of albums they released in their first and most dynamic period. They'd been signed to Elektra Records in 1968, after Danny Fields, the label's A&R man, spotted them at an afternoon gig at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Fields had come with the intention of checking out another local band, the MC5, and ended up signing both acts.The Stooges' reputation will always rest on the trio of albums they released in their first and most dynamic period. They'd been signed to Elektra Records in 1968, after Danny Fields, the label's A&R man, spotted them at an afternoon gig at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Fields had come with the intention of checking out another local band, the MC5, and ended up signing both acts.
The early Stooges were more avant-garde than they would later become, modifying their sound with home-made instruments and household objects such as a vacuum cleaner and a blender, while creating a devastating tornado of audio feedback. Scott sometimes played a 50-gallon oil drum, which he pummelled with mallets. However, they were stronger on semi-improvised instrumentals than actual songs, and had to hack out a batch of new material before recording their debut album. Scott recalled that "a lot of that first album was written at the Chelsea hotel in New York City over two days immediately before we went in the studio".The early Stooges were more avant-garde than they would later become, modifying their sound with home-made instruments and household objects such as a vacuum cleaner and a blender, while creating a devastating tornado of audio feedback. Scott sometimes played a 50-gallon oil drum, which he pummelled with mallets. However, they were stronger on semi-improvised instrumentals than actual songs, and had to hack out a batch of new material before recording their debut album. Scott recalled that "a lot of that first album was written at the Chelsea hotel in New York City over two days immediately before we went in the studio".
The album, called The Stooges and produced by the Velvet Underground's John Cale, appeared in 1969 and was neither a critical nor commercial success. However, featuring such notable tracks as I Wanna Be Your Dog and 1969, it proved to be a quietly seminal work, seeping into the consciousness of artists such as David Bowie and The Ramones and often being cited as one of the catalysts for punk rock.The album, called The Stooges and produced by the Velvet Underground's John Cale, appeared in 1969 and was neither a critical nor commercial success. However, featuring such notable tracks as I Wanna Be Your Dog and 1969, it proved to be a quietly seminal work, seeping into the consciousness of artists such as David Bowie and The Ramones and often being cited as one of the catalysts for punk rock.
The band's follow-up, Fun House (1970), is now routinely referred to as a masterpiece, one of the most aggressive and euphoric hard rock records of the epoch. Almost all its songs were covered by other artists, especially TV Eye, Dirt, and Loose, while the title track showcased the full tumultuous scope of Scott's drumming. Yet once again commercial success was unforthcoming, and their lack of progress soon left the band penniless and homeless. Iggy Pop's dependency on heroin further exacerbated the situation.The band's follow-up, Fun House (1970), is now routinely referred to as a masterpiece, one of the most aggressive and euphoric hard rock records of the epoch. Almost all its songs were covered by other artists, especially TV Eye, Dirt, and Loose, while the title track showcased the full tumultuous scope of Scott's drumming. Yet once again commercial success was unforthcoming, and their lack of progress soon left the band penniless and homeless. Iggy Pop's dependency on heroin further exacerbated the situation.
It was only the patronage of Bowie in 1972 that enabled them to make another album, Raw Power, though by now Iggy had formed a close partnership with the guitarist James Williamson and the Asheton brothers were only belatedly brought into the project, with Ron assigned to bass instead of lead guitar. "We were told they couldn't find anybody else," Scott said later. "We were going to be put in a sideman position in our own band." The band (now billed as Iggy & the Stooges) created another high-octane triumph but despite Bowie's support it still failed to earn a living for its creators. After a final gig at Detroit's Michigan Palace in February 1974, the Stooges were no more.It was only the patronage of Bowie in 1972 that enabled them to make another album, Raw Power, though by now Iggy had formed a close partnership with the guitarist James Williamson and the Asheton brothers were only belatedly brought into the project, with Ron assigned to bass instead of lead guitar. "We were told they couldn't find anybody else," Scott said later. "We were going to be put in a sideman position in our own band." The band (now billed as Iggy & the Stooges) created another high-octane triumph but despite Bowie's support it still failed to earn a living for its creators. After a final gig at Detroit's Michigan Palace in February 1974, the Stooges were no more.
Scott was born in Washington, then moved with his family to Ann Arbor when he was 14. Soon afterwards he began playing music with Ron, who was a year older, and their friend Dave Alexander, who would become the Stooges' original bass player. They had no prospects of a career in music until they hooked up with their outrageous lead singer, a man not afraid to roll in broken glass or plaster his bare chest with peanut butter while on stage. "We looked like we were in a band and we'd all hang out together," Scott said. "But it wasn't until Iggy got involved that we actually became a real band."Scott was born in Washington, then moved with his family to Ann Arbor when he was 14. Soon afterwards he began playing music with Ron, who was a year older, and their friend Dave Alexander, who would become the Stooges' original bass player. They had no prospects of a career in music until they hooked up with their outrageous lead singer, a man not afraid to roll in broken glass or plaster his bare chest with peanut butter while on stage. "We looked like we were in a band and we'd all hang out together," Scott said. "But it wasn't until Iggy got involved that we actually became a real band."
The 1974 dissolution of the Stooges hit both Asheton brothers hard. While Ron spent 25 years eking out a living in bands such as Destroy All Monsters and Dark Carnival, Scott, who had become a heroin addict, was reduced to living on the streets in Los Angeles. He eventually resorted to selling his drum kit to buy a ticket back to Detroit, and survived on hand-to-mouth work as a carpenter and bricklayer. Then he was recruited as drummer for Sonic's Rendezvous Band, a collection of Detroit veterans including the MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith and vocalist Scott Morgan. They managed to release only a solitary single in six years, although Asheton enjoyed a brief reunion with Iggy Pop when the Rendezvous Band backed him in 1978. He played on four albums by Sonny Vincent, toured Europe and the US with Vincent and Steve Baise of the Devil Dogs, and formed his own band, Rock Action.The 1974 dissolution of the Stooges hit both Asheton brothers hard. While Ron spent 25 years eking out a living in bands such as Destroy All Monsters and Dark Carnival, Scott, who had become a heroin addict, was reduced to living on the streets in Los Angeles. He eventually resorted to selling his drum kit to buy a ticket back to Detroit, and survived on hand-to-mouth work as a carpenter and bricklayer. Then he was recruited as drummer for Sonic's Rendezvous Band, a collection of Detroit veterans including the MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith and vocalist Scott Morgan. They managed to release only a solitary single in six years, although Asheton enjoyed a brief reunion with Iggy Pop when the Rendezvous Band backed him in 1978. He played on four albums by Sonny Vincent, toured Europe and the US with Vincent and Steve Baise of the Devil Dogs, and formed his own band, Rock Action.
Scott kept in touch with Iggy Pop to see if a reunion might be on the cards and after several false starts a Stooges revival finally came about in 2003, the lineup comprising Iggy Pop, the Asheton brothers, bassist Mike Watt and saxophonist Steve Mackay. The group began touring regularly in 2004, and in 2007 they released a new album, The Weirdness. They also performed at the Glastonbury festival and in 2010 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The accolade came too late for Ron, who had died from a heart attack the previous year.Scott kept in touch with Iggy Pop to see if a reunion might be on the cards and after several false starts a Stooges revival finally came about in 2003, the lineup comprising Iggy Pop, the Asheton brothers, bassist Mike Watt and saxophonist Steve Mackay. The group began touring regularly in 2004, and in 2007 they released a new album, The Weirdness. They also performed at the Glastonbury festival and in 2010 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The accolade came too late for Ron, who had died from a heart attack the previous year.
Scott's playing career was severely curtailed when he suffered a stroke after the Stooges performed at the Hellfest festival in France in June 2011. He returned for a gig at the Austin City Limits festival in 2012 and played on the Iggy & the Stooges album Ready To Die in 2013, but was unable to cope with full-scale touring.Scott's playing career was severely curtailed when he suffered a stroke after the Stooges performed at the Hellfest festival in France in June 2011. He returned for a gig at the Austin City Limits festival in 2012 and played on the Iggy & the Stooges album Ready To Die in 2013, but was unable to cope with full-scale touring.
He is survived by his wife Kathy, daughter Leanna and sister Liz. He is survived by his wife Liz, daughter Leanna and sister Kathy.
• Scott Asheton, rock musician, born 16 August 1949; died 15 March 2014• Scott Asheton, rock musician, born 16 August 1949; died 15 March 2014
• This article was amended on Tuesday 18 March 2014. Scott Asheton's survivors were described as his wife Kathy, daughter Leanna and sister Liz. This has been corrected.