HENRY ROLLINS, JAMES WILLIAMSON Remember THE STOOGES Drummer SCOTT ASHETON One Year After His Death – "His Presence Alone Certainly Impacted The Music"

Henry Rollins, Stooges guitarist James Williamson and NYC punk legend Sonny Vincent are among those who pay tribute to late Stooges drummer Scott Asheton in a new feature by music writer Joel Gausten. Asheton died one year ago today (March 15th) at the age of 64.

“I think America’s single greatest rock album is Raw Power by the Stooges,” offers Rollins. “It wouldn’t be a fraction of what it is if any member was changed. That being said, without Scott, there would be nothing for Iggy, James and Ron to stand on. Like a lot of people, I have deconstructed that album more than once. It’s Scott’s record.”

“Scott was the anchor for the Stooges,” adds Williamson. “He’s the guy that would sit in the back of the pocket and hold everything down with his understated yet powerful – almost tribal – rhythms. While Scott didn’t do any of the songwriting on Raw Power, he was nonetheless such an essential part of the group that his presence alone certainly impacted the music. Without him, it would have been a different recording for sure.”

The complete feature is available at this location.

Asheton passed away on March 15th, 2014 at the age of 64. The Stooges frontman Iggy Pop issued the following statement: 

“My dear friend Scott Asheton passed away last night. 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 Asheton’s 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.” 

According to Wikipedia, Asheton co-formed the Stooges in 1967 along with his older brother Ron, Pop, and Dave Alexander. The original incarnation released two LPs on Elektra Records before moving through several lineup changes, releasing a third LP on Columbia Records in 1973 and disbanding the following year.