The Stooges – Skin Back Alley

Scott Asheton, drummer with the Stooges, has died at the age of 64.

According to a news story published by Rolling Stone, Asheton died on Saturday 15th March from an as yet unspecified illness.

The story was later confirmed by Iggy Pop via a statement that was published on his Facebook page.

“My dear friend Scott Asheton passed away last night,” Pop wrote. “Scott was a great artist. I have never heard anyone play the drums with more meaning than Scott Asheton. He was like my brother. He and Ron have left a huge legacy to the world. The Ashetons have always been and continue to be a second family to me. My thoughts are with his sister Kathy, his wife Liz and his daughter Leanna, who was the light of his life.”

Scott Asheton had played with the Stooges from their earliest incarnations in 1967 all the way through to their 2013 album, Ready To Die. His brother and Stooges bassist, Ron, died in 2009.

The Stooges have confirmed that they are recording an album without Iggy Pop.

James Williamson, Mike Watt, Steve Mackay and Toby Dammit are working on the LP, titled Re-Licked, with a series of guest vocalists including Mark Lanegan and Jello Biafra.

The album is said to consist of previously unreleased songs that were written around the time of the Raw Power album in 1973. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Williamson has said: “Iggy gave me his blessing and wished me success with the album. But it’s a hard pill to swallow when someone is doing all your songs with your band and you’re not on it.”

Iggy Pop has said in separate statement: “I don’t have a problem with anything. This statement about ‘hard pill’ sounds kind of passive aggressive to me… These guys are my friends and we’ve all worked together many years. They’re working musicians and they need to play.”

Since reforming in 2003, the band have released two albums with Iggy. The Weirdness was released in 2007 and Ready To Die in 2013.

Tag: The Stooges

Stooges drummer Scott Asheton dies

The Stooges record album without Iggy Pop