Apparently , reports that came in today , about Tommy Ramone (nee Erdelyi.) dying from complications related to Bile Duct Cancer. By the time you read this , there should be confirmation. Sadly , I'm inclined to believe he did pass away , yesterday. The initial report was by "Rock Critic before such a title rendered you suspect " , Richard Meltzer. The report that HIS report was a hoax was housed in 70's teen exploitation mag trappings , "Is Tommy Ramone the sexiest man in Rock'n'Roll ?" , or whatever.
After playing in a Garage Rock covers band with Johnny Cummmings /Ramone , Tommy instigated the formation of The Ramones , and with his passing , all four members of the classic lineup have embodied the cliche you see on the covers of magazines at the grocery store: "Gone too soon". The Ramones began life as a five - piece with Richie Ramone I (Who would later leave the band , apparently because his being gay was an issue with his bandmates , no doubt , most specifically , Johnny.), Dee Dee , Johnny , Tommy , and Joey , who , like Iggy Pop before him , started out as a Drummer, but , proved to be a born frontman. Of course , another Richie Ramone would late rusher in a very interesting , but short lived , creative resurgence for the band. Richie I would go on to comparatively minor success with The Nuns.
As the band began to branch out a bit , musically , Tommy's steady , though limited , drum patterns, remained the same. He was not a trained musician , though he'd already worked in Engineering at The Record Plant , where he worked on Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland" and others. He did find time from his busy schedule to give Miriam Linna , about to join the mk2 Cramps lineup , her first drum lesson. Eventually , Tommy left the band , citing the stresses of touring as a deciding factor. He would , of course , turn up as Producer with The Ramones , The Continentals , The Replacements , and others.
Tommy did'nt seem to regret anything , and , he , in turn , did'nt seem to be resented for leaving the band.
In recent years , he formed a Hippie Bluegrass Duo , Uncle Monk , sang "Blitzkrieg Bop" with The Dictators at teh closing of CBGBs , and finally , got to present Joey's Brother, Mickey / Mitch , and their Mom , Charlotte , with Joey's posthumous Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame Induction Award , after they were not asked to join (Most of) the surviving ex - bandmembers at the podium.
If you guessed Johnny , you guessed correct.
More unusual , perhaps , is the fact that Tommy , an immigrant from war - ravaged Hungary , only recently announced that he was Jewish , stating that he did'nt think anyone would have cared , either way. It turned out that most of his family was killed in The Holocaust.
It's probable that he knew you - know - who would have had a field day , had he known there were TWO Jewish Brothers in the band. Anti - Semitism ran rampant in New York at the time , even The Dictators (Successfully) passed for Italians to avoid unecessary confrontation. That is , until Richard Blum , the embodiment of the "Tough Jew" , became the focal point of the band. But , Tommy did'nt seem to mind , either way , what people thought of him , or his background. And if he is , sadly , where I think he is , none of that matters anymore.
Goodbye , and thank you , Tommy , if I'm right , though , I hope I'm wrong.
