Now only one remains

SykkBoy · 09-16-2004

Johnny Ramone, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal punk band "The Ramones" that influenced a generation of rockers, has died. He was 55.

Ramone, who had been fighting a five-year battle with prostate cancer, died in his sleep Wednesday afternoon at his Los Angeles home surrounded by friends and family, said the band's longtime artistic director Arturo Vega.

"He was the guy with a strategy. He was the guy who not only looked after the band's interest but he also was their defender," Vega said in a telephone interview from New York.

Ramone, whose birth name is John Cummings, had been hospitalized in June at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Johnny Ramone was one of the original members of the struggling Ramones, whose hit songs "I wanna be sedated" and "Blitzkrieg Bop," among others, earned them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Johnny Ramone co-founded "The Ramones" in 1974 in New York along with singer Joey Ramone, bassist DeeDee Ramone and drummer Tommy Ramone, who is the only surviving member of the original band. All four band members had different last names, but took the common name Ramone.

Joey Ramone, whose real name is Jeff Hyman, died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer. Dee Dee Ramone, whose real name is Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose in 2002.

Clad in leather jackets and long black mops of hair, the group started out in legendary New York clubs like CBGB and Max's Kansas City, where they blasted their rapid-fire songs.

Since its debut album in 1976, the band struggled for commercial success, but they left a formidable imprint on the rock genre. Though they never had a Top 40 song, the Ramones influenced scores of followers, including bands such as Green Day and Nirvana.

Even Bruce Springsteen was moved. After seeing the Ramones in Asbury Park, N.J., Springsteen wrote "Hungry Heart" for the band. His manager, however, swayed him to keep the song for himself and it became a hit single.

The band had encounters with other big names, including producer Phil Spector, who collaborated with the band in 1980. During the session, the late bassist Dee Dee Ramone said Spector pulled a gun on the band.

"The Ramones had it rough," said Vega, who's worked with the band for 30 years. "The band almost had to be protected from people who were taking advantage of them. There was never any money made."

Johnny Ramone changed that by demanding more money for performances, but still kept a close watch on the band's budget; Vega recalled how Johnny Ramone would insist that the band drive nonstop between Boston and New York for shows instead of spending the night in a hotel.

In addition to his financial conservatism, the guitarist was politically conservative - the late Ronald Reagan was Ramone's favorite president, Vega said.

Fans have remained loyal to the Ramones, and the Ramones over the years have been loyal to their fans. In 1979, while shooting scenes for the film "Rock 'n' Roll High School," the Ramones - ignoring the director's order - played a concert-length session for fans who had paid to be extras, Vega said.

"The Ramones never ever lost their image, their aura of being the ultimate underdog, the voice of the angry young man," Vega said.

A tribute concert and cancer research fund-raiser was held Sunday in Los Angeles to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary. It featured performances from Los Angeles punk band X, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Henry Rollins and others.

Along with his wife, Linda Cummings, Johnny Ramone was surrounded at his death by friends, including Pearl Jam rocker Eddie Vedder, singer Rob Zombie and others. Other friends who gathered at his Los Angeles home included Lisa Marie Presley, Pete Yorn, Vincent Gallo and Talia Shire.

He is survived by his wife and his mother, Estelle Cummings. He will be cremated during a private ceremony.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20040916/...G=home&SEC=news

RIP Johnny Ramone

quiet · 09-16-2004

RIP

Vick · 09-16-2004

Please join me in a moment of silence

Got my Martens on with steely toes
Spike my hair and pierce my nose
I’m goin’ up to Punk Rock Heaven

Hippie Hell awaits you, Jack
Unless you take that tie-dye off your back
And jump the track to Punk Rock Heaven

The smack up there is pearly white
There’s always time to pick a fight
The leather pants are nice and tight
The Ramones play there every night

Got my guitar and my drum
Hey Johnny Ramone — here I come!
Comin’ up to Punk Rock Heaven

Vick · 09-16-2004

You've got to pick up the pieces
c'mon, sort your trash
You better pull yourself back together
maybe you've got too much cash

Better call, call the law
when you gonna turn yourself in
You're a politician
don't become one of hitler's children

Bonzo goes to bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on tv somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces

My brain is hanging upside down I need something to slow me down

If there's one thing that makes me sick
it's when someone tries to hide behind politics
I wish that time could go by fast
somehow they manage to make it last

SykkBoy · 09-16-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Vick@Sep 16 2004, 01:35 PM
You've got to pick up the pieces
c'mon, sort your trash
You better pull yourself back together
maybe you've got too much cash

Better call, call the law
when you gonna turn yourself in
You're a politician
don't become one of hitler's children

Bonzo goes to bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea
As I watched it on tv somehow it really bothered me
Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy
Pick up the pieces

My brain is hanging upside down I need something to slow me down

If there's one thing that makes me sick
it's when someone tries to hide behind politics
I wish that time could go by fast
somehow they manage to make it last

Odd thing about that song
it was making fun of Ronald Reagan yet Johnny Ramone's favorite president was Ronald Reagan

that song was also used in the movie "School Of Rock" and became instantly recognizeable to my kids when I gave them the Ramones Chapter in their rock music appreciation lessons ;-)

Vick · 09-16-2004

What's even more strange is parts could fit GW

Fuck
I got the black arm band on

I see kids wearing Ramones shirts and think they don't even get it
What the Ramones meant

Robert · 09-16-2004

SykkBoy · 09-16-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Vick@Sep 16 2004, 01:59 PM
What's even more strange is parts could fit GW

Fuck
I got the black arm band on

I see kids wearing Ramones shirts and think they don't even get it
What the Ramones meant

I've spent the better part of today (after school) with my kids listening to a couple Ramones albums....
right now during dinner, we're listening to "Brain Drain" (very underrated album, IMHO)

09-16-2004	#1
SykkBoy Polishing the Chrome on Bishops Motorcycle $100 for every ImLive sign-up Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hell: Bowels : Level 9 Posts: 4,153	Johnny Ramone, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal punk band "The Ramones" that influenced a generation of rockers, has died. He was 55. Ramone, who had been fighting a five-year battle with prostate cancer, died in his sleep Wednesday afternoon at his Los Angeles home surrounded by friends and family, said the band's longtime artistic director Arturo Vega. "He was the guy with a strategy. He was the guy who not only looked after the band's interest but he also was their defender," Vega said in a telephone interview from New York. Ramone, whose birth name is John Cummings, had been hospitalized in June at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Johnny Ramone was one of the original members of the struggling Ramones, whose hit songs "I wanna be sedated" and "Blitzkrieg Bop," among others, earned them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Johnny Ramone co-founded "The Ramones" in 1974 in New York along with singer Joey Ramone, bassist DeeDee Ramone and drummer Tommy Ramone, who is the only surviving member of the original band. All four band members had different last names, but took the common name Ramone. Joey Ramone, whose real name is Jeff Hyman, died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer. Dee Dee Ramone, whose real name is Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose in 2002. Clad in leather jackets and long black mops of hair, the group started out in legendary New York clubs like CBGB and Max's Kansas City, where they blasted their rapid-fire songs. Since its debut album in 1976, the band struggled for commercial success, but they left a formidable imprint on the rock genre. Though they never had a Top 40 song, the Ramones influenced scores of followers, including bands such as Green Day and Nirvana. Even Bruce Springsteen was moved. After seeing the Ramones in Asbury Park, N.J., Springsteen wrote "Hungry Heart" for the band. His manager, however, swayed him to keep the song for himself and it became a hit single. The band had encounters with other big names, including producer Phil Spector, who collaborated with the band in 1980. During the session, the late bassist Dee Dee Ramone said Spector pulled a gun on the band. "The Ramones had it rough," said Vega, who's worked with the band for 30 years. "The band almost had to be protected from people who were taking advantage of them. There was never any money made." Johnny Ramone changed that by demanding more money for performances, but still kept a close watch on the band's budget; Vega recalled how Johnny Ramone would insist that the band drive nonstop between Boston and New York for shows instead of spending the night in a hotel. In addition to his financial conservatism, the guitarist was politically conservative - the late Ronald Reagan was Ramone's favorite president, Vega said. Fans have remained loyal to the Ramones, and the Ramones over the years have been loyal to their fans. In 1979, while shooting scenes for the film "Rock 'n' Roll High School," the Ramones - ignoring the director's order - played a concert-length session for fans who had paid to be extras, Vega said. "The Ramones never ever lost their image, their aura of being the ultimate underdog, the voice of the angry young man," Vega said. A tribute concert and cancer research fund-raiser was held Sunday in Los Angeles to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary. It featured performances from Los Angeles punk band X, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Henry Rollins and others. Along with his wife, Linda Cummings, Johnny Ramone was surrounded at his death by friends, including Pearl Jam rocker Eddie Vedder, singer Rob Zombie and others. Other friends who gathered at his Los Angeles home included Lisa Marie Presley, Pete Yorn, Vincent Gallo and Talia Shire. He is survived by his wife and his mother, Estelle Cummings. He will be cremated during a private ceremony. http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20040916/...G=home&SEC=news RIP Johnny Ramone __________________ ADULT PAYMASTER - All Site Access - Paying $70 October 5th! "Love your enemies...just in case your friends turn out to be bastards." - unknown

09-16-2004	#3
Vick Celebrating Company's Success with A Beer From Mini Bar Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Little South of Sanity Posts: 6,551	Please join me in a moment of silence Got my Martens on with steely toes Spike my hair and pierce my nose I’m goin’ up to Punk Rock Heaven Hippie Hell awaits you, Jack Unless you take that tie-dye off your back And jump the track to Punk Rock Heaven The smack up there is pearly white There’s always time to pick a fight The leather pants are nice and tight The Ramones play there every night Got my guitar and my drum Hey Johnny Ramone — here I come! Comin’ up to Punk Rock Heaven __________________ Pssst Click the Button Above I once wanted to be a Gynecologist But I couldn't find an opening

09-16-2004	#4
Vick Celebrating Company's Success with A Beer From Mini Bar Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Little South of Sanity Posts: 6,551	You've got to pick up the pieces c'mon, sort your trash You better pull yourself back together maybe you've got too much cash Better call, call the law when you gonna turn yourself in You're a politician don't become one of hitler's children Bonzo goes to bitburg then goes out for a cup of tea As I watched it on tv somehow it really bothered me Drank in all the bars in town for an extended foreign policy Pick up the pieces My brain is hanging upside down I need something to slow me down If there's one thing that makes me sick it's when someone tries to hide behind politics I wish that time could go by fast somehow they manage to make it last __________________ Pssst Click the Button Above I once wanted to be a Gynecologist But I couldn't find an opening

09-16-2004	#6
Vick Celebrating Company's Success with A Beer From Mini Bar Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Little South of Sanity Posts: 6,551	What's even more strange is parts could fit GW Fuck I got the black arm band on I see kids wearing Ramones shirts and think they don't even get it What the Ramones meant __________________ Pssst Click the Button Above I once wanted to be a Gynecologist But I couldn't find an opening

09-16-2004	#2
quiet Members Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Banff, Canada Posts: 213	RIP

09-16-2004	#7
Robert Following the Get Rich Slow method. Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 316