Q UICK RIFFS
Asheton’s style (post-rock, post-punk, math rock, etc.), no
one really discussed the band; even today, after a successful
reunion, another studio album (2007’s The Weirdness) and a
world tour, the cultural disrespect continues. If that sounds
paranoid, the proof lies in Cleveland. While the Stooges have
been nominated for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame’s Class of 2009, exactly 40 years after the release of
The Stooges, it marks their seventh attempt to break into the
Hall—even after performing two of Madonna’s songs, at her
request, for her induction in 2008. Asheton admitted that he
liked the idea of getting into the club, but approached it with
the same cynical sense of humor that he maintained about
everything in life.
“We’re still the Stooges, man. Some people still hate our
new record. There are some journalists and record industry
people who still hate us enough not to allow us in the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame,” Asheton told the Chicago Tribune
in 2007. “Isn’t the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame supposed to
be about people who were innovators in music, who actually
helped create music, not just followers or good singers or
people who sold a lot?”
Reverend’s Joe Naylor on Asheton
We were able to talk briefly with Joe Naylor, owner and founder of
Reverend Guitars, following Ron Asheton’s passing. Asheton was a
longtime Reverend endorser and collaborated with Naylor to create
the Ron Asheton Signature Guitar in 2008.
“I grew up in Ann Arbor, and the Stooges were big hometown heroes. Ron already endorsed Naylor amps before I started Reverend,
and he was endorsing Reverend guitars before the signature model.
When they started to make their comeback a few years ago, a signature model made perfect sense to both of us. Ron was incredibly
gracious, considerate and humble. Here's a guy who changed rock
and has played in front of 100,000 people, but had no rockstar ego
or attitude. He was just a straight up, cool guy.
To me, on a musical level he represented simplicity and efficiency—
he made his point with a hard attack, brutal tone and a few well-placed barre chords. All of us at Reverend appreciated where Ron
was coming from: he was established in the underground scene but
had yet to gain mainstream recognition... a lot like Reverend.”
