Ron Asheton, the influential guitarist responsible for many of The Stooges groundbreaking guitar riffs, was found dead Tuesday morning at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Asheton's death is being attributed to natural causes, likely a heart attack. Though Asheton’s passing will surely be noticed in the press, the mainstream media will likely not grasp the significance of Asheton’s significant achievements and lasting effect on the history of rock and roll.

The Midwest’s counterpart to the Velvet Underground, The Stooges cast the same glowering sneer on the Flower Power generation and both bands’ influence over the next four decades is exponentially inverse to their popularity in their prime. Overshadowed by Iggy Pop’s charisma and over-the-top stage antics, Ron Asheton’s legacy is not the most apparent to the casual listener. On The Stooges’ early albums, you can hear the origins of punk rock in Asheton’s powerful and unapologetic guitar, you can also hear the genesis of grunge, make out the origins of shoegazing and just about feel the Earth slightly quiver.