Jan 07 2009
Stooges, Stills and “Unfinished Business”
(Sigh …) Gotta go through some sad news first this time, folks:
Ron Asheton, guitarist and founding member of (Iggy Pop and) the Stooges, was found dead in his home earlier today (January 6). He was 60 years old. Police think he suffered a heart attack a few days earlier, but haven’t released anything definite, of course, pending autopsy.
Iggy and the band released this statement upon hearing the news:
“We are shocked and shaken by the news of Ron’s death. He was a great friend, brother, musician, trooper. Irreplaceable. He will be missed. For all that knew him behind the facade of Mr Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not.
“As a musician Ron was The Guitar God, idol to follow and inspire others,” the statement continues. “That is how he will be remembered by people who had a great pleasure to work with him, learn from him and share good and bad times with him.
“Iggy, Scott, Steve, Mike and Crew.”
On a brighter note: The MBE (Member of the British Empire) medal awarded to John Lennon in 1965 (the other Beatles were also awarded, natch) but returned by him in 1969 has been discovered in the Queen’s royal vault. Now there are calls in the UK for it to be put on display in a museum. When The Fab Four received the medals, some of the previous honorees returned theirs in protest, but John returned his own , saying, “Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against ‘Cold Turkey’ slipping down the charts.”
BY (SECOND) REQUEST (this one, on 3 January)
Awhile back — on the original Relic blog — I was asked by a young reader how Simon (drummer of The Fore) did those triple-kick fills on their hit, Someone New.
Well, Simon — a fantastic talent who always tries to accommodate his fans — actually made a video to explain it!
Then, this past Saturday, I had another request (from a reader on this site) asking: “Could u (sic) find that video again for the song someone new? I am learning drums and want to learn how to play that like the fores drummer.”
So, here’s how we’re gonna do it:
First, I’ll plug ya into the song, done live, then follow it with Si’s video, okay? Here goes:
Now … for Simon’s “lesson”:
While The Fore are continuing their climb up the charts and into fans’ hearts, they’re also lookin’ to become #1 on the Unsigned Charts Show again (if you remember, their hit, You’ll Be Mine, made it!). This time, it’s their dark, plaintive rocker, Emma, that’s up for the nod! So cast your vote now … and you can do it by clickin’ on this link!
Okay … that’s it for this edition, but stay tuned … I’m gonna catch my nightly 360 minutes’ worth of zzzzz’s and then give ya more in less than 24! So, until then …
see ya on the flip side!
