The last surviving Ramone dies: Tommy Ramone dead at 62
Drummer and co-founder of the American punk band, the Ramones, Tommy Ramone, has died according to a posting on the officials Ramones Facebook page. He was 62.
Tommy Ramone, born Thomas Erdelyi, died July 11. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
The announcement on the Facebook page, which has been shared more than 27,000 times since it was posted seven hours ago, said:
We are saddened to announce the passing of Tommy Ramone (nee Erdelyi), the original drummer for the Ramones, earlier today, 11 July 2014.
“It wasn’t just music in The Ramones: it was an idea. It was bringing back a whole feel that was missing in rock music – it was a whole push outwards to say something new and different. Originally it was just an artistic type of thing; finally I felt it was something that was good enough for everybody.” – Tommy Ramone, 1978
RIP Tommy.
Tommy was the last of the leather-jacketed, mop-top punkers still alive–Guitarist Johnny Ramone, born John Cummings, died of prostate cancer in 2004. Singer Joey Ramone, born Jeff Hyman, died of lymphoma in 2001. Bassist Dee Dee Ramone, born Douglas Colvin, died the following year of a heroin overdose.