L'INTERVIEW DE JACQUES BALL : DENIZ TEK RACONTE RON ASHETON

« Les Monstres Sacrés n’ont jamais connu un début de saison aussi difficile. Jacques Ball nous a quittés. Quel article publier après une telle perte ? S’il devait y en avoir un, il faudrait que c'en soit un que Jacques aurait adoré lire... Avant son départ, il avait transmis quelques questions à Bernard, qui souhaitait interviewer Deniz Tek. Voici les réponses. Merci à Deniz, à Bernard… et à Jacques, qui nous manque. »

Ron Asheton avec Destroy All Monsters

Deniz Tek raconte Ron Asheton

Destroy All Monsters + Deniz Tek, Detroit, 1980
(Photo Niagara)

Interview Deniz Tek (Jacques Ball, 25/08/2024) :

What was the first notable impact Ron Asheton had on you as a guitar player ? As for those wah wah guitar licks in 1969 on the first Stooges album were like magic.

Deniz Tek :

- "Those first chords of 1969 are a massive hook ! I first saw them when they were The Psychedelic Stooges, and they didn't really have any songs. The music was essentially free jamming, with found sounds and implements like blenders, vacuum cleaners and 44 galons oil drums hit with pipes. They had an electrified ukulele. It was crushingly loud, sort of like a combination of performance art and kind of a primitive, live version of musique concrete. I didn't find anything I could relate to in the guitar playing at that stage. My musical tastes was more aligned with traditional rock and roll and blues, although I found what they were doing fascinating and cool. After they signed to Electra Records and made there first album, they started playing actual songs. And the first song of theirs that I heard on the radio in 1969 was... 1969 ! I was stunned by the guitar and I've adored his playing ever since that day. Like Hendrix, he started with electric blues and then took it to another level. This playing is utterly original, and I learned much from him".

You have met and know most of the musiciens who were important to you during your youth. You know all your heroes. How was Ron A. as a human being ? I mean intellectually was as gifted as he was as a musicien ?

Deniz Tek :

- "I love this question !

Ron was a truly wonderful human being. It is true that heroes are often disappointing to meet. Ron was exceptional in that regard, in that he far exceeded expectations. As a result, we become close friends. Ron was always really optimistic, even whenthings were difficult. He was friendly to everyone he met, and he was always happy to share a story. He has zero "star complex" - no ego trips. He had a great sense of humor and he loved to laugh. He was generous. He would use his last $5 to buy you a drink.Ron loved animals. He adopted many stray dogs, cats, raccoons, everything. His house was like a little animal shelter !

Ron was highly intelligent. He never finished high school, but he loved books and was an avid reader. He was interested in many things, but his life passions were military history, and cinema; Ron wrote several screenplays, and acted in a couple of films. He was also an expert on the presidency of JFK, and the assassination. Of course, he loved the Three Stooges, were the band got their name.

Ron prenant soin d'un de ses héros !

Ron befriended Larry Fine in his last years and he would visit Larry in the nursing home, bring him cigars and whiskey, and helping answer his fan mail.

Funny to think today what could have been the interference between Ron Asheton and John Cale producing the first album. It seems weird, though the band frontman was definitely Iggy.

Deniz Tek :

- "On that first album they were writing it as they went, in the Chelsea Hotel between sessions.They borrowed riffs from Detroit-based jazz albums by Yusef Lateef, Pharaoh Sanders, etc; and built the songs around those riffs. In the studio , my understanding is that Ron and Iggy co-produced the album artistically, while John Cale provided the essential technical Knowledge and experience that they needed".

The first Stooges LP as well as Funhouse are some sort of Ron Asheton masterpieces. Today how would you rate these albums comparing them to Raw Power and Kill City which shine with James Williamson contributions ?

Deniz Tek :

- "These albums are all greats, but in different ways. The Stooges, Funhouse and Raw Power are evolutionary-each represent a new stage in the band's development, each one traverses new territory, and each is utterly essential. Kill City is great too, but it's James and Iggy-not a Stooges album.

Could The Stooges have existed without the Asheton's brothers ? In other words is Raw Power really a Stooges album ?

Deniz Tek :

- "The Stooges could not have existed without Ron and Scott. When Dave Alexander was replaced by Zeke Zettner and they added a second guitarist Bill Cheatham and then James Williamson replaced Cheatham, it was still The Stooges. And then a couple of years later Iggy and James went to London and tried to play with others, but it didn't work. It wasn't The Stooges. So they called Ron and Scott to come to the UK and re-formed the band. Ron played bass, not guitar, on Raw Power but it is absolutely a Stooges album".

After Ron died, it was still "Iggy & The Stooges" but there was a huge gap that could never be filled. I support Iggy's decision to carry on with James ans do the Raw Power tours without Ron... I believe that Mike Watt was perfect for the band on bass. After Scotty left the band, The Stooges were finished.

Deniz, are you some musician as you must be the only one to have played with members of The Stooges as well as of the MC5. Therefore to Destroy All Monsters Project. Could you elaborate on this experience ?

Ron et Deniz au Warsaw Club, Brooklyn, NYC, 19/04/2002

Warsaw Club (Brooklyn, New York City) 19 Avril 2002, avec Scott Morgan et Powertrane... le concert était avec Mooney Suzuki, aussi.

Destroy All Monsters, 1978
(Photo Sue Rynski)

Deniz Tek :

- "Destroy All Monsters was an Ann Arbor Band that was originally founded by Carey Loren and Lynn Rovner ("Niagara"). Ron was in a relationship with Niagara, and this led to him joining the band and replacing Carey Loren. Ron brought in Michael Davis from the MC5 on bass. Other members were Rob King and the Miller's Twins (Larry and Ben Miller) who were the brothers of Roger Miller. (Roger was in my class in school in Ann Arbor. We were in early bands together and he later went to Boston and founded Mission Of Burma). I would often play guitar with DAM as a guest, if they happened to have a concert when I was in town. They were a great band powered by the sixties-style drumming of Rob King. Niagara was the front person. She sort of looked like Nancy Sinatra. They even did a version of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'".

DESTROY ALL MONSTERS THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING (Nancy Sinatra cover

She had a monotone vocal style that was appealing once you got used to it. Of course it was always great to hang out and play with Ron and Michael.

Deniz Tek Michael Davis, Ron Asheton.
(Photo Niagara)

Aside from concerts we would often get together at DAM's little house which was called "The Cube" and jam for fun, hang out, and have a few laugths.

Destroy All Monsters

My musical projects with members of The Stooges and The MC5 are too numerous to list.

New Race : Deniz Tek, Rob Younger, Ron Asheton

Ron Asheton, Dennis Thompson : New Race Tour

They include a tour and album with Ron and Dennis Thompson in the band New Race, a studio album and gigs with Wayne Kramer in Dodge Main, a tour with DKT-MC5, a Sonic's Rendezvous tribute with the original surviving members