The drummer Scott Asheton, who has died aged 64, was an original member of the Stooges, one of the most anarchic and influential rock acts of the past half-century. With his guitarist brother Ron Asheton, Scott was a mainstay of the Michigan-based band during its early years in the late 1960s and early 70s. When their vocalist, Iggy Pop, reformed the band in 2003 after a three-decade hiatus, Scott and his brother were present and correct in the lineup. Scott's nickname, "Rock Action", was a handy summary of his role in the operation.
The Stooges' reputation will always rest on the trio of albums they released in their first and most dynamic period. They'd been signed to Elektra Records in 1968, after Danny Fields, the label's A&R man, spotted them at an afternoon gig at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Fields had come with the intention of checking out another local band, the MC5, and ended up signing both acts.