Johnny Ramone American guitarist and co-founder of the punk rock band The Ramones Date of Birth: 08.10.1948 Country: USA

Biography of Johnny Ramone

Johnny Ramone, whose real name was John William Cummings, was born on October 8, 1948, in Forest Hills, Queens. He grew up in Forest Hills, where he developed a passion for rock music. As a teenager, he played in a band called the Tangerine Puppets alongside future Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone.

In his youth, Johnny was known as a troublemaker and described himself as a fan of the rock band Stooges. He also had a strong love for the New York Yankees baseball team and even worked as a plumber before the formation of The Ramones. Reflecting on his troubled past, he admitted to engaging in bad behavior such as fighting, stealing money from children, and stealing wallets from anyone. However, around the age of 20, he quit drinking and doing drugs, found a job, and tried to turn his life around.

Johnny met future band member Douglas Colvin, later known as Dee Dee Ramone, in the early 1970s. Over lunch, they discovered their mutual love for bands like the Stooges and MC5. Johnny bought a blue Mosrite Ventures II guitar for $54, while Colvin purchased a Danelectro bass guitar. Together with Jeffrey Hyman, later known as Joey Ramone, and Jeffrey's friend, they formed The Ramones. After a few rehearsals, little-known Richie Stern left the band.

Johnny was the first to cause a rift within the group when he began dating Hyman's ex-girlfriend, whom he later married. This led to a prolonged internal war between Jeffrey and Johnny, and they hardly spoke to each other. Years later, when Hyman was dying of cancer in the hospital, Johnny didn't even call him. In the documentary film "End of the Century: The Story of The Ramones," he stated that attempting a reunion before Hyman's death would have been futile. However, he also admitted to feeling depressed for a week after Hyman's passing.

In addition to his musical career, Johnny appeared in over 10 films, including the musical comedy "Rock 'n' Roll High School" and the crime drama "Cop Land." He also appeared in several documentaries. On September 15, 2004, Johnny Ramone passed away at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 55, after a five-year battle with prostate cancer. Many of his friends came to pay their respects. His remains were cremated, and a cenotaph was placed at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery next to the grave of former bandmate Dee Dee Ramone. The 2006 horror film "The Wicker Man" was dedicated to his memory as he was a close friend of the film's producer and star, Nicolas Cage. Johnny's girlfriend, Lisa Marie Presley, recorded a cover version of his song "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" for her 2005 album "Now What." The lyrics of Pearl Jam's single "Life Wasted," written by Eddie Vedder, were inspired by Cummings' funeral.