Dave Alexander (musician)

David Michael Alexander (June 3, 1947 – February 10, 1975) was an American musician, best known as the original bassist for influential protopunk band The Stooges.

Dave Alexander
Alexander in 1969
Background information
Birth nameDavid Michael Alexander
Born(1947-06-03)June 3, 1947
Whitmore Lake, Michigan, U.S.
DiedFebruary 10, 1975(1975-02-10) (aged 27)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
GenresHard rock, protopunk
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrumentsbass
Years active1967–1970
LabelsElektra Records
Associated actsThe Stooges

Biography

After his family relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan from Whitmore Lake, Michigan, Alexander attended Pioneer High School[1] in Ann Arbor, where he met brothers Ron and Scott Asheton. "Zander" (as Alexander was known) dropped out after forty-five minutes on the first day of his senior year in 1965 to win a bet. Later in 1965, Ron sold his motorcycle[2] and they went to England to see The Who and to "try and find The Beatles".

Alexander and the Asheton brothers soon met Iggy Pop and formed The Stooges in 1967. Although Alexander was a total novice on his instrument, he was a quick learner and subsequently had a hand in arranging, composing and performing all of the songs that appeared on the band's first two albums, The Stooges and Fun House. He is often credited by Pop and was credited by the late Ron Asheton in interviews with being the primary composer of the music for the Stooges songs "We Will Fall",[3] "Little Doll" (both on The Stooges), "Dirt" and "1970" (both on Fun House).

Alexander was fired from the band in August 1970 after showing up at the Goose Lake International Music Festival too drunk to play.[3]

Death

Alexander died of pulmonary edema in 1975,[4] at the age of 27 in Ann Arbor, after being admitted to a hospital for pancreatitis, which was linked to his alcoholism.[5]

References in songs

Mike Watt mentions Alexander by name in his song "The Angel's Gate," on his 2004 album The Secondman's Middle Stand,[6] by which time Watt had replaced Alexander in the reformed Stooges. At Watt's first performance with the Stooges at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in May 2003, he wore a Dave Alexander t-shirt as a tribute.[7]

Iggy Pop namechecks Alexander in the spoken intro to "Dum Dum Boys" on his album The Idiot:

How about Dave?
OD'd on alcohol

See also

References
  1. Calwood, Brett (2011). The Stooges: Head On. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 9780814337103.
  2. McNeil, Legs; McCain, Gillian (1997). Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk. Penguin Books. p. 34. ISBN 0-14-026690-9.
  3. Cameron, Keith (April 2007). "Return to the Fun House". Mojo (161).
  4. Gries, Scott. "Stooges bassist Dave Alexander died of pulmonary edema in 1975 at the age of 27". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  5. Open Up and Bleed, Paul Trynka (Little Brown 2007)
  6. Gregory, Jason (May 26, 2011). "Music Stars Who Died Aged 27". Gigwise. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  7. Sutherland, Sam (March 24, 2007). "Mike Watt on What's Watt". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
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