Tribute to Ron Asheton

(MVD Visual)

April 19, 2011: Friends and fans of Stooges guitarist/bassist Ron Asheton gather at Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater to pay tribute to the late punk pioneer and benefit his recently founded foundation working with animals. Besides the reunited Raw Power-era Stooges lineup, which dragged guitarist James Williamson out of the corporate world to resume his Les Paul duties, also on hand are emcee Henry Rollins, who delivers a spirited spoken-word tribute then fronts the Stooges on “I Got a Right,” Ann Arbor-cum-Australian guitar hero Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman, who ably plays Asheton’s Stooges parts, and a full orchestra. And yet the core to this lovingly shot and edited DVD is the best filmed evidence of the continuing live power of Iggy Pop and his Stooges. The results crank primal and joyous, capped with an emotional “Ron’s Tune” from Iggy and Williamson.

This article appears in December 13 • 2013.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Tim Stegall contributed to The Austin Chronicle 1991-1995, and was a staff writer 1995-1997. He returned as a contributor in 2013. He has also freelanced for publications ranging from Flipside to Alternative Press to Guitar World. He plays punk rock guitar and sings in the Hormones.