GOODBYE JOHNNY

Johnny Ramone, guitarist for the Ramones for their entire career as a band, passed away early Wednesday morning from prostate cancer. He was 55.

Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee and Tommy were the original Ramones releasing three of the greatest rock albums ever created. Together they launched the music that would become known as Punk. Singer Joey died in 2001 of lymphoma. Bassist Dee Dee passed away in 2002 of a drug overdose. Drummer Tommy retired from the band after the Rocket to Russia album and was replaced by another long-time Ramone, Marky.

Johnny, Marky, Joey and Dee Dee

It is an irony that could only be appreciated by Spinal Tap fans that the drummers - including the brief replacement Ritchie - have outlived the rest of the band.

Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee were the heart, mind and soul of the Ramones. Joey carried the band's pop sensibilities and contributed the softer ballads and classic pop love songs. Johnny gave the band its business sense and commitment to hard rock. He was also the part of the band's main songwriting team with Dee Dee, who wrote some of their most memorable songs and gave the band its permanent aura of adolescent paranoia.

I won't mention how much the passing of Johnny means to me. Pictures speak louder than words.

Tonight, I add another candle to the shrine beside my stereo.