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Ramones Guitarist Dies of Cancer in Los Angeles
09/15/2004 11:29 PM, 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 , 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.
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