Posted 3:30 PM by Paul
RIP Johny Ramone

Johny Ramone died today aged 55 after a long battle against cancer. He led one of the most influential bands of the 70s and 80s. As young men in a grim town in the North of England we loved their American enthusiasm and vitality. I remember the first time I heard their debut LP back in 1976. I just wanted to cheer with joy. It was the most exciting record I had ever heard. We always preferred them to the Sex Pistols who were always beligerent, negative and bitter.

You can hear the work of the Ramones every time you turn on the radio. Bands like Green Day and Blink 103 just take what the Ramones did and give it a slight twist. As is often the case with innovators The Ramones never made big money. However, they did finally get the credit they deserved. Pearl Jam and The Red Hot Chili Peppers recognised their debt to the Boys from the Bowry in a huge tribute concert earlier this year. Members of both bands were at his bedside when he died in LA earlier today.

Yes LA. Like millions of New Yorkers Johny Ramone had moved out West. But I suppose when you have cancer the Southern California weather is much kinder than 6th Avenue in a blizzard.

So for Johny, Joey and Dee Dee wherever you are or aren't, I would like you to know that thousands of middle aged men and women across the UK salute you tonight as they out reach for their copies of Blitzkreig Bop and Sheena is Punk Rocker with a tear in the eye.

You were part of the America that we loved. But lovers are lost but love is not.

Long live the Ramones.