Johnny Ramone (left)
Ramones Guitarist Dead
Johnny Ramone, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal punk band The Ramones, has died at the age of 55 after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.

The band's long-time artistic director Arturo Vega said he died in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon at his Los Angeles home surrounded by friends and family.

Johnny Ramone was one of the original members of the Ramones, whose hits included I Wanna Be Sedated and Blitzkrieg Bop.
Johnny Ramone co-founded the band in 1974 in New York along with singer Joey Ramone, bassist Dee Dee 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.

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.

The band never had a Top 40 song but the Ramones influenced scores of followers.

Bruce Springsteen was so moved he wrote Hungry Heart for them.

But his manager persuaded him to keep the song for himself and it became a hit single.

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


Last Updated: 12:05 UK, Thursday September 16, 2004
[Edited 9/16/04 5:03am]

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