Ramones' Tommy Ramone Dies At 62; Fans Of New York Punk Band Mourn Drummer's Death
The music industry mourns the death of yet another talented member of the rock scene. Ramones' Tommy Ramone, 62, was the drummer of the New York punk band. He was the band's last surviving original member.
According to a report from Variety, Ramones' Tommy Ramone died last Friday in a hospice after a treatment for bile-duct cancer.
"We are saddened to announce the passing of Ramones founding drummer, Tommy," The Ramones posted on their official Twitter page. The band had all four original members adopt pseudonyms ending with same surname: Ramone.
Following the death of the band's 4 founders, The Ramones' more recent members are C.J. Ramone (bass guitar, vocals), Richie Ramone (drums, vocals), Marky Ramone (drums), Elvis Ramone (drums).
The Ramones emerged from New York's underground rock scene in 1974 to have a major impact on the global punk movement worldwide. Ramones Tommy Ramone and his bandmates where particularly keen on breaking in the United Kingdom, where the band's 1976 tour was attended by fellow rock musicians from the Sex Pistols and the Clash.
"We were the first," Tommy said in a 2005 interview with The Guardian. Born Erdelyi Tamas in Budapest, Hungary, Tommy was the Ramones' original band manager before becoming the band's drummer and producer.
He wrote the band's singles "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" and "Blitzkrieg Pop".
Tommy added: "People forgot that (we were the first) for a long time. In the 70s and 80s, they didn't know. A lot of other acts got much more publicity, more record-company support, more radio play."
The Ramones became part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Prior to Tommy's passing, Ramones' lead singer Joey Ramone died in 2001 of lymphoma at the age of 49. This was followed by the death of the band's bassist Dee Dee Ramone, whose lifeless body was found at his home in Hollywood in 2002. Their guitarist Johnny Ramone followed in 2004 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 55.
