Johnny Ramone is Dead at 55

[D. Scarlatti]

From the NYT obituary (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/16/arts/music/16CND-RAMO.html?hp):

The Ramones were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. When the band received its honor, Mr. Ramone, a staunch Republican, declared, "God bless President Bush, and God bless America."

I met "Mr. Ramone" outside the El Mocambo in Toronto in the early 80s. I'd been standing right in front of him at the gig (which me and some friends snuck into), and had tried to steal one of the guitar picks taped to his mic stand when he wasn't watching, but he caught me and gave me a dirty look. A bit later in the show he tapped me on the shoulder and gave me one. Afterwards we were chatting with the band as they were getting into their van on Spadina Ave.

I apologized to Johnny for trying to steal one of his picks, and thanked him for the one he gave me. "Yeah man," he said in this heavy Bronx accent, "I need all those picks because my fingers get greasy, especially when I been eatin' Kentucky Fried Chicken." I still have the pick, a heavy white triangle with "RAMONES" stamped on it.

[freemonkey]

That's a cool story, D.

Very sad about Johnny's death. :( No doubt there will be a musical tribute in our house some time today.

[livius drusus]

Republican Ramone... Weird... I'm afraid I really don't know much of anything about their music beyond the usual suspects, but 55 is way, way too young. :(

[viscousmemories]

One of 'em used to come in to eat at Amer's in Ann Arbor when I worked there. I think it was Dee Dee though. Anyway I love the Ramones, sorry to hear about this. Cool story, D.

[Petra]

Republican Ramone... Weird... I'm afraid I really don't know much of anything about their music beyond the usual suspects, but 55 is way, way too young. :(

Yeah, Republican Ramone is the most weird thought I've had since crawling out of bed a few minutes ago.

I saw the Ramones play at CBGB's, late in 1977. Agh. Suddenly I feel old. And hungover an' shit.

Johnny and Joey (?) both died of cancer. I think it was Dee Dee that died of a drug overdose. There's 1 Ramone left.

Very cool story, Scarlatti. :)

If I had a working stereo (even the onboard sound on my pc isn;'t working), I'd play some old Ramones stuff - but I've forced into silence the last couple of weeks. :(


ouch...slinks back into bed...

[lisarea]

I've been feeling like a big dick because I never really liked Johnny at all, mostly because of the Republican thing, I think. I guess can maybe like him a little better in retrospect because he gave you a guitar pick, Scarlatti.

Regardless, it's still way too young to die, though.

All of those guys.

(But still especially Joey. I had a crush on Joey.)