January 7, 2009 12:53

Mogwai pay tribute to The Stooges' Ron Asheton

Stuart Braithwaite calls the guitarist's work 'amazing'

Mogwai frontman Stuart Braithwaite has paid tribute to Ron Asheton – The Stooges guitarist who was found dead at his home yesterday (January 6).

Braithwaite has joined stars including Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie and his bandmate Iggy Pop in speaking about Asheton's influence on music.

"I think the way he played guitar and the way The Stooges played as a band took rock music back to the primeval basics," Braithwaite told NME.COM.

He added: "He seemed to play really instinctively, really raw, he had amazing guitar playing. Songs like 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' were really simple but with the kind of riff that you can't believe no-one had thought of before. That was just absolutely amazing."

Asheton, who died aged 60, was found dead in his home after a suspected heart attack. Police reported that his body may have been there for several days.

NME have chosen Asheton's five greatest riffs in our NME Office Blog.