http://www.planbmag.com/content/view/515/42/
Ron Asheton Words: Thurston Moore
As you join us, it’s Halloween night and Thurston and Ron are discussing the new Stooges album, which has just been recorded with Steve Albini…
Thurston: What’s going on? It’s like mischief night.
Ron: “How appropriate that we’re done on devil’s night! We did two songs a day. It was the best fucking time.”
Albini was cool?
“Albini was super-cool. The studio was super-cool. It’s homely. Steve’s way into really good coffee. These special Albini fluffy coffees at the end of the day.”
Yeah, he’s into coffee, and good cigarettes, and billiards.
“It was set up well. I was up north a year ago, at my house on the lake. There was an eclipse of the moon, but all that night it was cloudy and obscured. And it was set up for Steve Albini to call me. After I talked to him, all the clouds parted and I saw the full eclipse. And I’m going, ‘This is the sign’. I’m serious.”
He’s probably the most non-bullshit guy you could work with.
“I said to Jim [Iggy >, ‘When I go in the studio, I want it to be fun. I want some laughs.’ And the vibe was awesome. It’s the most time I’ve spent with Jim since back in 1974.”
That’s so cool, because I remember when we were working together all those years ago, it really seemed like this wasn’t ever going to happen.
“The genesis was the Wild Rats thing. We went out with J Mascis, my brother [Scott > and Mike Watt, and did a Stooges set in Europe. That’s why [Jim > asked me to do that project,
Skull Ring [Iggy Pop’s 2003 album, to which Ron and Scott contributed >. He was nervous, I was nervous: how was all this time in between? Were there animosities? But when he showed up, all those years melted away. “ I wrote 42 songs, and he [Jim > chose the songs that he wanted to put on this thing. Once we put all the sequences together, it was like,
‘Wow’. Steve put together the CD for us to listen to in whatever order we wanted. He was so methodical. I called him and Jim Captain Kirk and Mister Spock. Steve goes, ‘Is it because of my big nose and my big ears?’ No. It was simply an awesome anatomy of two guys working together.”
How long were you guys working?
“Three weeks. We rehearsed the first week of August. My brother, crew dudes and Mike Watt drove to Chicago, off-loaded the stuff at Albini’s. Jim and I flew in on the seventh, and we did a song, did the whole thing. I put solos on it so we could just get our teeth in. Then, every day, two songs. I think everyone’s going to really like it. It’s everything that you would want from The Stooges. Jim’s lyrics are even
more provocative and timely. I’m talking like I just won the World Series! It was really that good.”
You’ve got to go and play live too.
“We’re going to Macedonia and Latvia. Just to warm up. Then we’re coming to see you guys [at Nightmare Before Christmas > and we’ll play some of the new songs. Coming to
your show, dude!”
Yup. That show’s going to be crazy. There’s a whole ‘Michigan meltdown’ going on one day.
“MC5/DTK? Jim and I both agreed: ‘Let’s just be the baby band, and let them do the headline, like it used to be’. I think that because we got back together, and got some success, it’s stimulated others to try. I love it, man. I think it’s so fucking good. MC5 was one of my most favourite bands in the whole world, and I wish them the very best. “Also, Steve Albini can’t say enough about that particular festival [ATP >. He said it’s the best thing, everyone has apartments…”
Yeah, and it’s England in December so it’s not exactly like you’re in Palm Beach or something, but you get to have your own little motels.
“That’s why he liked it so much. If you stayed up ‘til six in the morning you can sleep ‘til 11.00, and get up and see your band. Six in the morning, a band might set up and play right outside!”