RIP Ron Asheton (Iggy and the Stooges)
"Famed rock-and-roll guitarist and longtime Ann Arbor resident Ronald "Ron" Asheton was found dead in his home on the city's west side this morning, police said.

Asheton, 60, was an original member of The Stooges, a garage-rock band headlined by Iggy Pop and formed in Ann Arbor in 1967.

Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead early today in his Ann Arbor home.

His personal assistant contacted police late Monday night after being unable to reach Asheton for days, Detective Bill Stanford said.

Officers went to the home on Highlake Avenue at around midnight and discovered Asheton's body on a living-room couch. He appeared to have been dead for at least several days, Stanford said" Link


ADDED: Via NME.com "A statement issued by Iggy Pop, Stooges drummer (and Asheton's brother) Scott Asheton, saxophonist Steve Mackay, bassist Mike Watt and The Stooges' management and crew reads:

"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', [an] idol to follow and inspire others. 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 Pop added a further personal statement, simply declaring: "I am in shock. He was my best friend."

PLUS 2007 interview with Ron Asheton.

Lafayette Afro Rock Band reissued
"A conglomerate of US musicians based in France between 1971 and 1979, the Lafayette Afro Rock Band was originally formed as the Bobby Boyd Congress in 1970 before escaping the crowded US funk scene to relocate to France a year later. Their limited output has endured as underground favourites for vinyl collectors and as a significant source for samples. Everyone from Jay-Z and Janet Jackson to Public Enemy, LL Cool J and Wreckx ‘N’ Effect have plundered the Lafayettes in recent times.

DARKEST LIGHT: THE BEST OF THE LAFAYETTE AFRO ROCK BAND was originally released on Strut in 1999 and tells the story of the band from their early days as Ice including the key tracks from their two landmark albums ‘Malik’ and ‘Soul Makossa / Voodounon’. The album also features tracks recorded under one-off pseudonyms for the Japanese market, Crispy & Co. and Captain Dax.

This updated edition of the compilation features two tracks previously unavailable on CD, including an epic early Ice cut, ‘There’s Time To Change’. The CD package features a 12-page booklet including the original compilation sleeve notes by James Maycock along with rare photos of the band at Parisound studios."

Check the audio over here, plus free MP3 bizniz.http://www.lafayetteafrorockband.com
Out Feb 3 on Strut.

RIP Byron Lee
This one slid by me, but worth paying tribute to this reggae great. More at Soulsides.

Ring The Alarm playlist, BaseFM, Jan 3
Theme of today's show was Jazzy And Playful. Watch out!

Marlena Shaw - Woman of the ghetto
Freddie Hubbard - Red clay
Thelonius Monk - In walked Bud
Lonnie Smith - Straight to the point
Mario's tuna - Waste of money (Resense 006)
Sunset Serenaders Steel band - Summertime
Grace Jones - Pull up to the bumper
Troublefunk - Pump me up
Gwen McCrae -Funky sensation
Timmy Thomas - Why can't we live together? (Shoes dub edit)
Prof Oz - Waves and skank (Grant Phabao remix)
Pitch black - 1000 mile drift (International observer remix)
Cleo Laine - Come back to me
Ramsey Lewis - The in crowd
Eartha Kitt - I want to be evil
Theo Buckford and Raymond Harper -Ska-ta-brain
Kyenie - Lambs bread (Prison oval rock riddim)
Joey Fever - Nuh follo (Prison oval rock riddim)
The Game - Hate it or love it inst
Mayer Hawthorne - Just aint gonna work out
Commodores - Rapid fire
James Brown - There was a time (Kenny Dope remix)
Wrexx'n'effect - Wreckxshop (Jamaican mic)
Benga - B4 the dual
Kolab - Sideways (Dub asylum remix)