Ramones Founding Member, Tommy Ramone, Passes

R.I.P.

The remaining founding member of the band the RAMONES has died.  TOMMY RAMONE passed away SATURDAY (7/12) at his home in RIDGEWOOD, QUEENS, NEW YORK at age 65. The manager-turned-drummer, and then producer of the band, was born ERDELYI TAMAS in BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.  He had been in hospice care for bile duct cancer, according to his brother.  

Formed in 1974, the RAMONES were the first band from NEW YORK's underground punk scene to make an album.  Their self-titled 1976 debut was said to have been recorded in six days and cost $6,400 to make.  Despite selling poorly in the U.S., it had a major impact on the burgeoning punk movement in the U.K. where the band toured in 1976, influencing musicians such as JOE STRUMMER of the CLASH, JOHNNY LYDON of the SEX PISTOLS and CAPTAIN SENSIBLE of the DAMNED.  

TOMMY left the RAMONES following the tour for 1978's ROCKET TO RUSSIA but remained close with the band, co-producing further albums, before starting an acoustic bluegrass band called UNCLE MONK with his partner CLAUDIA TIENAN. The band continued with different lineups and released their 14th and final album, "ADIOS AMIGOS," in 1996. Their classics include "I Wanna Be Sedated," "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Rockaway Beach" and "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker."

Of the other three founding members, JOEY died of lymphoma in 2001; DEE DEE was killed by a heroin overdose in 2002; and JOHNNY died from prostate cancer in 2004. The band was inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME in 2002.

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