In Memoriam
Tommy Ramone
January 29, 1949 – July 11, 2014 · aged 65
Punk Rock
Born Tamás Erdélyi in Budapest, Hungary, to Jewish parents who survived the Holocaust, Tommy Ramone was the quiet, structural genius behind the Ramones. While Joey, Johnny, and Dee Dee provided the face, the aggression, and the chaotic energy of the band, Tommy was their original manager, co-producer, and original drummer. When the band couldn't find a drummer capable of playing the relentlessly fast, stripped-down style they envisioned, Tommy simply sat behind the kit and invented it himself. His hyperkinetic, eighth-note hi-hat playing style became the absolute blueprint for punk rock drumming. He played on the band's first three legendary albums, which effectively birthed the punk movement, before stepping back to focus purely on studio production for the band and others like The Replacements. On July 11, 2014, Tommy passed away from bile duct cancer at the age of 65. He was the last surviving original member of the Ramones, marking the definitive end of an era.
Milestones
Blitzkrieg Bop, I Wanna Be Sedated, Ramones (Debut Album)
Also remembered in 2014
- Frankie Knuckles (1955–2014)
- Joe Cocker (1944–2014)
- Paco de Lucía (1947–2014)
- Pete Seeger (1919–2014)