Zetterberg is God 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Johnny Ramone, the lead guitarist with influential U.S. punk rock band the Ramones, died on Wednesday after a five-year battle with prostate cancer, a long-time associate told Reuters. Ramone, 55, who was born John Cummings, died in his sleep at his Los Angeles home about 3 p.m. EDT, said Arturo Vega, the Ramones' creative director. At his bedside were his wife, Linda, as well as rock stars such as Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder (news), Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante and hard-rocker Rob Zombie, Vega said. They had participated in a Los Angeles concert last weekend celebrating the Ramones' 30th anniversary. Ramone was too sick to attend, and instead spoke to the fans by phone. Ramone will be cremated in a private ceremony on Thursday, and plans are being made for a public memorial, including the unveiling of a statue, at some stage, Vega said. The Ramones, famed for playing their high-energy, unpolished songs at breakneck speed, rose to fame in New York City in the early 1970s, paving the way for such British punk rock icons the Sex Pistols and the Clash. The band made its mark with nihilistic tunes like "Blitzkrieg Bop," "I Wanna Be Sedated" and "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue," but it never achieved the commercial success of groups that followed in its wake. Ramones singer Joey Ramone -- born Douglas Hyman -- died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer, while bassist Dee Dee Ramone, who was born Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose the following year Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1234-5678 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 God bless him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArkhamGlobe 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 That's sad to hear. RIP Johnny. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Fuck. I found out yesterday that my one kitty is anemic and now this. This week has sucked... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Mandarin 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 I actually believed that he was going to be okay (after the report came out that he denied being on his "deathbed"). RIP. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 that sucks, RIP Johnny. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BrokenWings Report post Posted September 16, 2004 T'is a sad day for music... RIP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JangoFett4Hire 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 wow, 3 of the founding members gone, all within a few short years of each other. Sad, sad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special K 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 RIP, and thanks for the music. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 I heard about Johnny this morning. It's a real shame...three members of my favorite group of all time are gone now. I only discovered the Ramones in college...this was back around 1998, more than two years after their last show. They quickly became my favorite group, and got me into punk rock for the first time. I had heard of punk, but didn't know what it was until I bought Ramonesmania on a whim. I became totally obsessed with the Ramones, and a lot of it had to do with Johnny's catchy riffs. I still own and wear my black leather motorcycle jacket I bought, secretly wanting to look a little bit like my heroes. He influenced so many musicians after him, too. Adios Amigo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Last Free Voice Report post Posted September 16, 2004 THis sucks. I'm just getting into Punk music, and I really like what ramones stuf I've heard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 It'll always be there to listen to and enjoy. RIP Johnny. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Johnny will be sorely missed. Thanks for everything! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eiker_ir 0 Report post Posted September 17, 2004 yeah this sucks, they're going too fast. One of my favorite bands ever. RIP man Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted September 17, 2004 THis sucks. I'm just getting into Punk music, and I really like what ramones stuf I've heard. What have you been listening to?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AboveAverage484 0 Report post Posted September 17, 2004 This could be the first "big" rock band to die out completely. And the sad thing is they aren't even that old of a band. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
5_moves_of_doom 0 Report post Posted September 17, 2004 Wow. I definitely saw it coming, but I just was listening to the Ramones the other day for the first time in like a year, and was remembering just how loveable they were. RIP Joey, Johnny, and DeeDee. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted September 22, 2004 I thought I saw this running across the screen on my TV, yet I wasn't sure.... Damn this sucks..... RIP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Last Free Voice Report post Posted September 22, 2004 THis sucks. I'm just getting into Punk music, and I really like what ramones stuf I've heard. What have you been listening to?... I had been listening to various songs I downloaded, but this past weekend I bought their "toughest hits" album, which hasn't left my CD Player. Great stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
