Johnny Ramone Has Cancer

[AKA]

Johnny Ramone Has Cancer

Guitarist was diagnosed four years ago

By Colin Devenish
Rolling Stone

Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone is in a Los Angeles hospital battling prostate cancer, according to his longtime bandmate, drummer Marky Ramone. "Johnny's been a champ in confronting this, but at this point I think the chances are slim," says Marky, who joined the Ramones in 1977 when Tommy Ramone left the band.

"John never smoked cigarettes, he wasn't a heavy drinker and he was always into his health," Marky continues. "It just proves when cancer seeks a body to penetrate, it doesn't matter how healthy you are or how unhealthy you are. It just seeps in and there's nothing you can do."

The fifty-five-year-old guitarist, born John Cummings, first learned of his condition four years ago and has undergone extensive chemotherapy.

"I've been getting so much email from people and from papers and magazines wanting to know what was up I had to take it upon myself to say something, because eventually John won't be in any condition to say or do anything," Marky says. "He went through many chemotherapy treatments. Some of it worked better than others. At this point [the cancer] has started to go into other areas of the body."

Widely acknowledged as the world's first punk band, the Ramones have lost two members in the last three years, with singer Joey Ramone's death in 2001 of lymphatic cancer and bassist Dee Dee Ramone's death from a drug overdose the following year.

Johnny Ramone retired from music following the Ramones' final tour in 1996, and, after more than two decades spent on the road, the Ramones leader felt little temptation to continue playing.

"I was ninety-nine percent sure I was not going to come back and play," Johnny told Rolling Stone in 2001. "I was always open, but I didn't want to go back on tour under any circumstances. If they could have come up with an offer that I couldn't refuse for one week of jobs, somewhere in the world, I would have thought about it."

Despite a poor prognosis, Johnny remains upbeat. "He seemed in good spirits the last time I saw him," says Marky. "He was talking about the positive things the Ramones accomplished: getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame [in 2002], how our music is being accepted at this point. It put a smile on his face. Knowing John, he'll fight this horrible disease to the end. Everybody is wishing the best and hoping the best. We'll stand by him."

[Dean Winchester]

this sucks, seems like the Ramones are dropping like flies now :( is this at all a reason why they broke up when they did? since it's been less than a decade since their final performance and 2 of them are dead and another is ill

[AKA]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
this sucks, seems like the Ramones are dropping like flies now :( is this at all a reason why they broke up when they did? since it's been less than a decade since their final performance and 2 of them are dead and another is ill

I think the reason they broke up when they did is because they felt 20 years was enough. Dee Dee had been out of the group since the late '80s, anyway.

[AKA]

Man, this really sucks. I've been thinking about it all day.

I hope he can beat this, but it doesn't seem likely.

[ABlairican Pie]

Why does this have to happen?? I have two supervisors at work who are huge Ramones fans.

[Janice]

I'm not all that familiar with all their music, but it's just insane and awful that a former band could be dying off like this.

I hope Johnny Ramone pulls through, but the articles states that the cancer has metasticized, and that's never a good thing. Very sad.

[AKA]

Originally posted by Janice
I'm not all that familiar with all their music, but it's just insane and awful that a former band could be dying off like this.

I hope Johnny Ramone pulls through, but the articles states that the cancer has metasticized, and that's never a good thing. Very sad.

Yeah, Janice. We've lost two Ramones in the last three years, and it looks like we're about to lose another one. :(

Here's what Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam had to say about him in an interview with Rolling Stone about a year ago (I think you might like this):

Are you surprised by the conservatism of some people in your audience, considering that historically the music represents non-Republican values – sex, drugs and mutiny?
That myth got knocked down for me when I learned that Johnny Ramone was a hard-core Republican [laughs]. God love him. He's one of my best friends.

[MaydayMalonesGirl]

Very sad news. :(

I recently started listening to The Ramones.... I'm really beginning to like them a lot. Hopefully everything will work out for the best.

[AKA]

Johnny Ramone Is Not Dying, His Doctor Says

By Kurt Loder
MTV News

Johnny Ramone is not dying, according to his doctor.

The Ramones guitarist, who has been living with prostate cancer for the past several years, was recently admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what his physician, Dr. David Agus, told MTV News was a "complication from the cancer. But he got through it, and he's now on a new, experimental therapy. He's fighting courageously, and I think he will be going home in the near term."

Johnny's admission to Cedars-Sinai set off a nationwide — maybe worldwide — media death watch. He was said to be in an intensive-care unit, and very near the end. Characteristically, the 55-year-old guitarist, a stubbornly private man, refused to issue a corrective press statement. His wife, Linda, however, was appalled by the funereal headlines, and authorized Dr. Agus to explain Johnny's condition.

"He's not dying," Linda said on Wednesday afternoon (June 16). "He was okay for years, and he's fine now. He's in the hospital, but he's not in ICU. And I think he may be leaving by tomorrow."

[Janice]

Originally posted by AKA
Yeah, Janice. We've lost two Ramones in the last three years, and it looks like we're about to lose another one. :(

Here's what Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam had to say about him in an interview with Rolling Stone about a year ago (I think you might like this):

Are you surprised by the conservatism of some people in your audience, considering that historically the music represents non-Republican values – sex, drugs and mutiny?
That myth got knocked down for me when I learned that Johnny Ramone was a hard-core Republican [laughs]. God love him. He's one of my best friends.
Now I know he'll pull through, lol.

Would I know any mainstream Ramone's hits?

[AKA]

Originally posted by Janice
Now I know he'll pull through, lol.

Would I know any mainstream Ramone's hits?

They had a few. "Rock And Roll High School," "Blitzkrieg Bop," (used in an AT&T commercial last year) "I Wanna Be Sedated," "Beat On The Brat," Judy Is A Punk" (used in The Royal Tenenbaums), "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker," "Pet Semetary" and "Pinhead" to name a few.

[Skywalker]

I saw the Ramones in concert back in 1995. They were great! Most of their songs never went longer than 2 minutes. Does anyone have their final album Adios Amigos? Good cd.

[AKA]

Johnny Ramone Hospitalized With Infection

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Johnny Ramone, guitarist for the legendary punk band The Ramones, was hospitalized with an infection related to prostate cancer, his publicist said Thursday.

"He is receiving the medication he needs and will be leaving the hospital next week to continue his recovery," spokesman Paul Bloch said.

Ramone, 55, whose birth name is John Cummings, was at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

He and his wife, Linda, released the statement in response to recent, conflicting reports about his health, Bloch said.

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, drummer Marky Ramone said the guitarist's health was declining.

"He went through many chemotherapy treatments," Marky Ramone told the magazine. "Some of it worked better than others. At this point (the cancer) has started to go into other areas of the body."

Bloch said he was unaware of the Rolling Stone report.

"If someone says anything contrary, I don't know anything about that," Bloch said. "I got a call from Linda and Johnny last night and they asked me to put out the statement."

Johnny Ramone was one of the original four members of the Ramones, whose memorable three-chord anthems like "I Wanna Be Sedated" and "Blitzkrieg Bop" landed them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

The band formed in Queens in the mid-1970s, eventually becoming mainstays of the Bowery nightclub CBGB's where Blondie and the Talking Heads both emerged.

The band's singer, Joey Ramone, whose real name is Jeff Hyman, died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer. Bassist Dee Dee Ramone, whose real name was Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose in 2002.

[Dean Winchester]

hate to say it, but I doubt this article is true.

Does anyone remember in summer 2001 when George Harrison was on deathwatch and then he himself said that it's being blown out of proportion? Yet barely 3 months later, he passed on.

Originally posted by AKA
Johnny Ramone Is Not Dying, His Doctor Says

By Kurt Loder
MTV News

Johnny Ramone is not dying, according to his doctor.

The Ramones guitarist, who has been living with prostate cancer for the past several years, was recently admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what his physician, Dr. David Agus, told MTV News was a "complication from the cancer. But he got through it, and he's now on a new, experimental therapy. He's fighting courageously, and I think he will be going home in the near term."

Johnny's admission to Cedars-Sinai set off a nationwide — maybe worldwide — media death watch. He was said to be in an intensive-care unit, and very near the end. Characteristically, the 55-year-old guitarist, a stubbornly private man, refused to issue a corrective press statement. His wife, Linda, however, was appalled by the funereal headlines, and authorized Dr. Agus to explain Johnny's condition.

"He's not dying," Linda said on Wednesday afternoon (June 16). "He was okay for years, and he's fine now. He's in the hospital, but he's not in ICU. And I think he may be leaving by tomorrow."

[Janice]

Originally posted by AKA
They had a few. "Rock And Roll High School," "Blitzkrieg Bop," (used in an AT&T commercial last year) "I Wanna Be Sedated," "Beat On The Brat," Judy Is A Punk" (used in The Royal Tenenbaums), "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker," "Pet Semetary" and "Pinhead" to name a few.
I'm sure I would recognize most of these songs if I heard them, but none sound familiar to me.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by Janice
I'm sure I would recognize most of these songs if I heard them, but none sound familiar to me.

The Ramones have never really had any major radio hits (their biggest single, Rockaway Beach, peaked at #68 in 1977), but quite a few of their songs have wound up well-known thanks to commercials and just for the fact their stuff doesn't age. Blitzkrieg Bop is famous for the "Hey... Ho... Let's Go!!!" chant. I Wanna Be Sedated is a certified karaoke classic, almost as cliche as Copacabana is

It is a real shame how they seem to be dropping off like flies, and even sadder media isn't giving them the tributes they deserve (I also feel that Joe Strummer of The Clash didn't get his deserved tribute when he died as well) yet a bunch of pop and r&b singers who had a couple big hits, but not really anything to change the landscape in music are treated like Elvis.

[Janice]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
Blitzkrieg Bop is famous for the "Hey... Ho... Let's Go!!!" chant.
That clue you provided jogged my memory, and I recall the song now. Thanks. :wave: