I’m sad to report that Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton has died:

Asheton was found at his home in Ann Arbor this morning, according to police.

A cause of death is yet to be confirmed, although initial reports suggest that Asheton died of a heart attack.

Update: Jan. 7, 2009

Ugh. How can people be so sleazy?

The sister of Ron Asheton, the late guitar player for legendary rock band Iggy and the Stooges, has changed the locks on the doors of his home and hired a private security firm to watch the house after Asheton’s personal assistant was discovered trying to remove guitars and other memorabilia from the residence, police said.

Asheton’s sister called police after she arrived at her deceased brother’s home about 3:30 p.m. and discovered several people, including Asheton’s former assistant, loading his belongings into a van, Ann Arbor Police Lt. AngellaAbrams said.