Johnny Ramone, of 'The Ramones,' Dies at 55

[LTR]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040916/ap_en_mu/obit_ramone_5

LOS ANGELES - Johnny Ramone, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal punk band "The Ramones," has died. He was 55.

Ramone died in his sleep Wednesday afternoon at his Los Angeles home surrounded by friends and family, his publicist said. He had battled prostate cancer for five years, and was hospitalized in June at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Ramone, born John Cummings, was one of the original members of the Ramones, whose hit songs "I Wanna be sedated" and "Blitzkrieg Bop," among others, earned the band induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

The band's singer, Joey Ramone, whose real name was Jeff Hyman, died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer. Bassist Dee Dee Ramone, who was born Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose in 2002.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. Johnny was my least favorite Ramone but my GOD

they all died so YOUNG!

:cry:

RIP-condolences to family!

[GreenArrow]

7. One of my favorite guitar players

even if he was a right winger. And Tommy is still left!

RIP, Johnny Ramone.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Played those three chords better'n anybody!

Concert note: 2nd only to Motorhead in loudness.

[Javaman]

16. Had a chance to meet him years ago...

When I was a young punk, a buddy of mine was friends with Johnny. I had a chance to go back stage and meet them after a peppermint lounge show.
Out of all of the Ramones, Johnny seemed like the only guy that had his act together.
He was a giant baseball fan and had a huge baseball card collection. That evening, all we talked about was baseball cards and how he was looking for a 1972 Rod Carew action shot card.
He was a decent guy with a good sense of humor.
I grew up on their music. Much like the passing of John Lennon was for an older generation. The passing of each Ramone, hits me deep.
It was their music that taught me to rebel and not take the status quo. It was their music that told me to speak up and not just sit there and be a good robot.
Although he was a republican, he was an American in the truest sence of the word. He inspired, fought and spoke out against the ills of our world through the music of the Ramones.
He will be deeply missed.
Hey Ho Let's Go!!!!!

[Catch22Dem]

2. RIP (n/t)

[mark414]

3. big loss

for the music world

they lived fast and died young

[PartyPooper]

4. This is very saddening. My condolences to his family and friends.

:-(

[MGKrebs]

5. Jeezus! Where were those guys from? New Jersey?

Somebody check the damn water. That's ridiculous.

::Big sigh::

Y'all changed the world a little bit. Thanks for that. Say hi to Jimi for me.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. They were from Forest Hills, Queens

they were my favorite band when I was in middle school.

[MGKrebs]

8. I'm sorry Rose. These moments are tough.

Stevie Ray Vaughn was tough for me. I am a Ramone's fan too. They gave us a lot in the time that they had.

At times like this, it's OK to want to be sedated.

Bad joke? :-)

[susanna]

14. OT: My sis was a hospitality manager for a concert venue, and

Weird story follows: I met Stevie Ray Vaughan two days before he died. He played a "surprise" set with Eric Clapton at my sis' venue. There was this roadie (not sure if he was Vaughan or Clapton's). He was this really nice, laid-back guy. This particular roadie was on the helicopter that crashed, and he died along with Stevie Ray. I just remember him vividly, for some reason (maybe cause we played poker for a few hours during the EC/SRV concert, dunno).

I still feel weird about having hung out with them a couple nights before... :-(

[vajraroshana]

9. Very sad

It's hard to take all of them dying so close together. End of an era for sure. Sure Johnny's politics sucked but who could care; he was one of a kind and will be sorely missed.

[Book Lover]

10. Exactly - his last name was Ramone

and that's what matters right now


ps, yes, I know it's a stage name!

[vajraroshana]

23. Yes, true

when I read some interview he gave in LA Times (?pretty sure) a short while back and heard how right-wing he was, at first I was a bit shocked, but really it didn't bother me much. And didn't change the way I heard him. He was such a first-rate original.

[HootieMcBoob]

11. Oh man.

I can't believe that these three guys have all died so young! What a shame. I saw the Ramones play a few times back in the 80's. They were so much fun. Then later I loved to listen to Joey when he was on Vin Scelsa's show "idiot's delight". Joey was full of interesting stuff about music. RIPO8)

[mitchum]

12. At least he won't be voting, but this is still sad

[GingerSnaps]

15. What the hell?

Three of them are dead at an early age and they all die from some type of cancer what's up with that?

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. No, Dee Dee OD'd

But Joey did die of lymphoma. He was only 49.

[goodhue]

17. very sad

Joey, Dee Dee, and now Johnny.

[not systems]

18. sad day

They have gone so quick.

Even if he was a Nixon man I will always love his sound.

[Bat Boy]

19. Shit...

Shit, shit, shit...

[milkyway]

20. The first show I ever saw in NYC was The Ramones at CBGB's. I was going

to college in Westchester. Everybody else was listening to either soft rock or disco.

What an amazing experience it was to see them. I haven't wanted to leave NYC since then. I'll never forget seeing Johnny playing for the first time. I couldn't believe a human being could move his hand that fast.

Just this summer the corner of the Bowery by CBGB's was renamed Joey Ramone Place. There were thousands of people at the dedication. My two sons, 14 and 11, got to go hang out inside CB's while they were having some of the ceremony. It was a bit strange for me seeing them in there because I had been there so often myself when I was younger.

[Javaman]

21. I bet I was there at that same show...

That's a step into the way back machine

[Kathy in Cambridge]

26. I saw the Ramones tons in the late 70s and early 80s

they were so much fun...

[wicket]

24. I'm so glad I got a chance to meet them all

So sad to see them dying so young...

[livinginphotographs]

25. My condolences.

First Joe Strummer, then Johnny Cash, now the Ramones have only one left.

Somebody else revolutionary better come out soon, or the world will be left with nothing but Britney Spears types.