Why the Stooges performed for Madonna
Dont be too worried, Stooges fans: They havent sold out to the other side.
So proclaims guitarist Ron Asheton, who Monday night joined band mates Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton and Steve MacKay as the Stooges to play a pair of Madonna songs Ray of Light and Burning Up during the latters induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Asheton was reacting to online reports that have described the bands scheduled performance as a tribute to the dance-pop star, whose music is a far cry from the Stooges own gritty, primal Detroit rock.
The Stooges represent everything thats against what she is, Asheton told the Free Press from his New York hotel Monday afternoon before the show. I dont wish her ill. I dont hate her or anything. But Id never even heard of these songs until I had to listen to a tape and figure out whats going on with them.
In reality, Asheton said, Madonna asked the Stooges to perform as an act of protest: The group, widely considered a linchpin of early punk, has yet to be inducted by the rock hall, despite six appearances on the nomination ballot. By inviting the group on stage, she sent a message, said Asheton.
Last years rock hall ceremony featured a similar demonstration, when the nights inductees performed the Stooges I Wanna Be Your Dog during a jam session finale.
Basically she was upset that weve been nominated so many times and never made it, so she asked us to play in protest. And it was under those auspices that I thought we were doing it, Asheton said. At first I went, Whaaat? Then Iggy said, Why dont you think about it?
It came together quickly: Madonna reached out to Iggy Pop just two weeks ago, Asheton said. The band, which had not performed together since closing out its latest tour in December, worked on the songs long-distance, with the Ashetons in Ann Arbor and Iggy home in Florida.
Iggy said, Were gonna rock them up just play em like Stooges songs, Asheton recounted. They actually sound pretty cool. We just rock em out. You wouldnt even recognize them as Madonna songs. I never thought Id say this, but Ive actually enjoyed playing them.
On Monday afternoon Asheton had yet to meet Madonna, who was an elementary school student in Rochester Hills when the Stooges started shaking up the Detroit rock scene in the late 1960s. He said if he encounters her during the rock halls afterparty action, hed be sure to be polite.
But he cant help feeling a little cynicism about the whole ordeal: He probably wouldnt be in the Stooges without it. With Madonnas entry into the hall of fame drawing criticism from some diehard rock corners and with the stars new album due in April he figures she may have more than one motivation for handpicking his band.
I thought that right off the top that, gee, I just heard shes got a record coming out, and shes trying to get a little Stooge shine. Shes a savvy businesswoman, he said. I think she actually does like the band. She wouldnt have asked for us if she didnt. But shes also using us for business purposes.
Source: www.freep.com
Thanks to Vincy