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Ramones guitarist dies of cancer in LA

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Johnny Ramone, the lead guitarist with influential U.S. punk rock band the Ramones, died on Wednesday after a five-year battle with prostate cancer, a long-time associate told Reuters.
Ramone, 55, who was born John Cummings, died in his sleep at his Los Angeles home about 3 p.m. EDT, said Arturo Vega, the Ramones’ creative director.

At his bedside were his wife, Linda, as well as rock stars such as Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante and hard-rocker Rob Zombie, Vega said. They had participated in a Los Angeles concert last weekend celebrating the Ramones’ 30th anniversary. Ramone was too sick to attend, and instead spoke to the fans by phone.

Ramone will be cremated in a private ceremony on Thursday, and plans are being made for a public memorial, including the unveiling of a statue, at some stage, Vega said.

The Ramones, famed for playing their high-energy, unpolished songs at breakneck speed, rose to fame in New York City in the early 1970s, paving the way for such British punk rock icons the Sex Pistols and the Clash.

The band made its mark with nihilistic tunes like “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue,” but it never achieved the commercial success of groups that followed in its wake.

Ramones singer Joey Ramone — born Douglas Hyman — died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer, while bassist Dee Dee Ramone, who was born Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose the following year.

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