RIP Tommy Ramone… written for www.7bitarcade.com
When I awoke that Friday morning the first piece of news to reach me was that of Tommy Ramone (the last original member of a band that had been regularly played on my stereo for as long as I can remember) had passed away at the age of 65.
I may not have been born until 1977, but this was in the height of punk rock, by this point the Ramones had already released their self-titled debut album and helped change the face of music as people knew it.
They were the start of a movement and without Thomas Erdelyi would not have been half as influential, for it was Erdelyi (better known as the late great Tommy Ramone) that helped build the band persuading Jeffery Ross Hyman, aka Joey Ramone, to step away from the drum kit and take up lead vocals whilst Tommy would pick up the sticks himself.
It was then that four mop-haired guys from New York intentionally or not made their mark on the world, clad in leather jackets and denim jeans, the Ramones don’t look like your stereotypical punk band – in fact if you look at all the original punk rockers both in the UK and the other side of the Atlantic, there aren’t many that do… but the Ramones, they were most definitely punk in all the essence of the word.
My earliest memories of discovering their music is in fact after Tommy had left the band, it was upon seeing the video for “I Wanna be Sedated” from the fourth album “Road to Ruin” but even here Erdelyi had been a major player, not on drums but as the producer.
It wasn’t long until I would have discovered “Blietzkreig Bop” and from there I was hooked, the first track on the debut album and one that defines the band making them instantly recognisable. Whilst Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny would make a noise up front it was Tommy that helped write this punk rock classic, whilst pulling it altogether with his pulsating drum beats.
With the classic line-up the Ramones would go on to release “Leave Home” and “Rocket to Russia”, the latter to include the dance floor hit “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” – lyrical content would often be un-complicated and catchy, whilst strokes of genius in covering the Bobby Freeman track “Do You Wanna Dance” along with The Trashman’s “Surfin Bird” would help set the benchmark for numerous punk rock covers to follow.
It was at this point that Tommy decided to call it a day, he continued to produce albums for his former comrades but it was the end of an era in terms of the original line-up, whilst creating the start of a new chapter.
Marky Ramone was brought in on drums, who would later be replaced by Richie Ramone and CJ Ramone would eventually take over bas duties from Dee Dee, and although the likes of “Road to Ruin“ and “Too Tough to Die” may not have had the same impact as those first three albums, there were still many a good tune.
The newer members just helped inject a new lease of life into the group, whereby the original Ramones extended the family whilst staying true to their punk rock roots – yes there may have been a string section on the wonderful ballad “Baby I Love You” but each song continued to be a short burst of energy and even on the live recordings rarely would a track make it past the two and half minute mark.
I personally never had the pleasure of seeing the Ramones live, yet a staggering 2,263 concerts later they finally hung up their leather jackets and waved adios to their fans in a show that would feature contributions from Rancid, Lemmy and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder.
Whilst Tommy wasn’t on drums that night he had of course been an integral part of the journey and also continued to perform in Uncle Monk – a band formed with his wife Claudia who had also been by Tommy’s side ever since those first three albums back in ‘76/’77 and now some 38 years on, it is here that the life and times of the Ramones slowly comes to an end.
The four originals may no longer be with us but their music will live on forever, RIP Tommy – we won’t forget you:
Jon Lamb – Music Promoter (Portsmouth, England)
“I can’t believe that all the original Ramones have left us, from the first time I heard them till now they have been there in the backdrop of my music life. We could get hold of the early albums before the British bands released anything and they even made a difference by playing the Roundhouse to the UK punk scene as all the bands were there – it would have been different without them… at the end of the day, the Ramones logo is tattooed on me for a reason.”
Margy Ramona – Drummer, The Ramonas (UK all girl Ramones tribute band)
“Words cannot describe how gutted and cut up I am to hear about Tommy Ramone this morning, as a drummer, this man inspired me to be better and faster whilst staying true to the sound of punk…such great songs and recordings…rest in peace brother.”
Steve Courtnell – Southsea’s Pie and Vinyl (Record Café, England)
”Tommy Ramone, the last of the original Ramones…and because he was the last it feels like the Ramones have physically died. As we all know because of the music that feeling is just temporary. Four men that changed the musical landscape, by giving a voice to the freaks, the waifs and the strays – and changed the musical landscape by pressing the reset button.”
Richie Murphy – Vocalist, Second Hand Citizens (UK Punk Band)
“Ramones for me show how anyone can form or join a punk band and that music can be simple and fun but yet so powerful, meaningful and memorable for decades and generations to come – RIP Tommy.”
Flo Hayler – Ramones Museum (Berlin, Germany)
“The impact of Tommy Ramone on the Ramones was huge. I mean, he was the one to bring the band together as he was the one convincing Johnny Ramone to form a band with Dee Dee and Joey. He wrote the original version of Blitzkrieg Bop, he developed a drum style that defined not only the Ramones, but transformed 60’s rock, surf and beat music into punk.”
So that concludes my little tribute to Tommy Erdelyi and the one and only Ramones, so altogether now 1234… Hey Ho, Let’s Go…
RIP TOMMY, thanks for everything.
Keith
