Update on Johnny Ramone statue revealing
This is an update on the post about revealing of Johnny Ramone’s statue, an article from Rolling Stone where John is mentioned.
Several of Johnny Ramone’s friends — including Eddie Vedder, Rob Zombie, Pete Yorn, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Nicolas Cage — gathered at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday, January 14th, to unveil a four-feet tall bronze statue of the guitarist, who according to Cage’s speech, “willed the Ramones to happen.”
About a thousand fans gathered for the mid-afternoon ceremony, to hear speeches by many of those closest to Johnny Ramone (whose real name was John Cummings), and to see the $100,000 statue, which Ramone bought himself. “He saw it as something for the fans to come see,” former Ramones’ drummer Tommy Ramone said in the makeshift backstage area of the cemetery just behind a cathedral.
Though it’s been about four months since Johnny Ramone passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer, the day stirred a lot of emotion in his friends, starting with former bandmate C.J. Ramone, who broke down several times as he recalled the influence Johnny had on his life.
Frusciante was also visibly shaken as he recalled his friendship with the guitarist. “Johnny Ramone had an immense heart and was as sweet and kind as can be,” the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist said from the podium. “No one has ever been consistently kinder to me. The music he made, as well as his thoughts about music will always have a powerful effect on any music I will make.”
You can read the whole article on rollingstone.com.
