Stooges drummer Scott Asheton dies at 64

Scott Asheton, centre, has died at the age of 64.

Scott Asheton, the drummer for the iconic punk band The Stooges, has died at the age of 64.

Iggy Pop announced the Asheton's death in a statement.

"My dear friend Scott Asheton passed away last night," he wrote.

"Scott was a great artist, I have never heard anyone play the drums with more meaning than Scott Asheton. He was like my brother.

"He and Ron have left a huge legacy to the world. The Asheton's have always been and continue to be a second family to me.

"My thoughts are with his sister Kathy, his wife Liz and his daughter Leanna, who was the light of his life.''

The cause of Asheton's death is not known.

Asheton co-founded The Stooges with his brother Ron and Iggy Pop in Detroit in 1967. The band released two albums,that are now considered classics, The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970).

The original Stooges then split but came back as Iggy & The Stooges in 1973 for the Raw Power album.

James Williamson replaced original member Dave Alexander on bass. Alexander died in 1975 and Ron Ashteton died in 2009.

In 2013, The Stooges - with Williamson back in the band - released the now eerily titled Ready To Die.

- Noise11