Stooges Play Tribute To Ron Asheton

Billboard reports that the concert in Asheton's hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan was organised by Ron's sister Kathy. It was a two and a half hour show for 1700 fans at the Michigan Theater which mixed words and music.

After a performance from a local band called Space Age Toasties Iggy Pop introduced an orchestral performance of some Stooges classics before Henry Rollins performed 'I Got A Right'.

Iggy Pop then took to the stage with Stooges co-founder and drummer Scott "Rock Action" Asheton, "Raw Power" guitarist James Williamson, longtime saxophonist Steve Mackay and Mike Watt, the group's bassist since 2003 for a full Stooges set.

Scott Asheton thanked Pop for helping his brother "make his rock 'n' roll dreams come true -- and that goes for the drummer, too." Rollins delivered a dissertation explaining both the Stooges' impact and Ron Asheton's importance as "just a magnificent musician, period." The founding group members received keys to the city, and before the song "Ron's Tune" Pop spoke warmly about his absent friend, noting that, "He had a gift, a sort of charm. His compositions were simple but very memorable," and recalling that, "when I wanted to start a band, Ron was the first guy who would get behind me."

The concert was a lunch of sorts for the Ron Asheton Foundation formed by his sister to help raise money for charitable causes, particularly music and animal rights and care organizations. Information can be found at www.ronashetonfoundation.org.

Here's the set from the night:

Overture
I Got a Right (with Henry Rollins)
Raw Power
Search and Destroy
Gimme Danger
Shake Appeal
1970
L.A. Blues
Beyond the Law
Fun House
Open Up and Bleed
Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell
I Wanna Be Your Dog (with orchestra)
T.V. Eye (with Deniz Tek and orchestra)
Loose (with Tek and orchestra)
Dirt (with Tek and orchestra)
Real Cool Time (with Tek and Orchestra)
Ron's Tune (Iggy Pop and James Williamson acoustic)
No Fun (with Tek, orchestra and Space Age Toasties)

(Billboard)