Scott Asheton of The Stooges Has Died

The legendary Scott Asheton, known best as the drummer for hugely influential proto-punk heroes The Stooges, has passed away at the age of 64.

Asheton, often known by his nickname “Rock Action”, was a founding member of The Stooges with his brother, Ron, on guitar and frontman Iggy Pop. Starting in Detroit in 1967, the band have remained one of the most influential punk rock and rock'n'roll bands in history.

Iggy Pop announced the news on his Facebook page this morning, expressing his sadness and highlighting what an important figure in the development of punk rock he was.

“My dear friend Scott Asheton passed away last night,” he 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 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.”

A severe stroke after a show in France back in 2011 forced Asheton to step away from live duties with the band for the most part, though he did drum on the Ready To Die album released last year.

Ron Asheton passed away at the beginning of 2009.