Copyright: Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021...
INDEX OF THIS PAGE:
1) BASIC INFORMATION.
2) WHAT IS BILE DUCT CANCER?
3) TOMMY RAMONE IS BURIED AT THE NEW MONTEFIORE CEMETERY.
4) EARLY DAYS OF THE RAMONES.
5) ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME.
6) TOMMY RAMONE'S AND CLAUDIA TIENAN'S UNCLE MONK.
7) TOMMY TOLD TO ME OF HIS PLANS OF SOLO SHOWS / HIS FINAL PERFORMANCE.
8) CBGB FESTIVAL'S A 40TH REMEMBRANCE & SALUTE TO RAMONE EVENT IN AUGUST 16, 2014.
9) TOMMY RAMONE MEMORIAL PLAQUE-RELIEF IN BUDAPEST,HUNGARY.
10) TOMMY RAMONE AND SHOW AT THE HUNGARIAN EMBASSY IN 2004.
11) TOMMY RAMONE' TRIBUTE TEXT BY RAMONES' ROAD MANAGER MONTE A. MELNICK.
12) TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE TEXT BY BLONDIE'S DEBBIE HARRY AND CHRIS STEIN.
13) TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE TEXT BY CHRIS FRANTZ OF THE TALKING HEADS.
14) TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE TEXT BY LAMB OF GOD'S RANDY BLYTHE.
15) SHORT COMMENTS OF TOMMY RAMONE BY OTHER PEOPLE / ARTISTS.
16) TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE BY BBC 6 MUSIC.
17) TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE SONG WRITTEN BY J. KARJALAINEN
BASIC INFORMATION:In July 12, 2014, at 2AM (New York time) I (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) personally got confirmation from one of Ramones' managers, we really lost last founding member of the Ramones, dear Tommy Ramone passed away in his home in July 11, 2014. Tommy died because of bile duct cancer, which is also called cholangiocarcinoma. Bile duct cancer is rare and for example in the USA with less than 3000 new cases are diagnosed in each year.
Tommy Ramone is buried at the New Montefiore Cemetery. New Montefiore Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located in West Babylon, Suffolk County, New York, USA. Distance between cemetery and Bowery (Manhattan, NYC, USA) is around 37 miles / 60 kilometers.
Address: Address: 1180 Wellwood Ave., West Babylon, NY 11704.
Gates of cemetery are open: Sunday - Friday: 8:30AM-4:30PM. Gates are closed on Saturdays and selected Jewish holidays.
Tommy (Tamas/ Thomas Erdelyi, he referred Thomas) was drummer in the Ramones from 1974 to 1978.
So now all four founding members are angels. Singer Joey Ramone passed away in 2001, bassist Dee Dee Ramone in 2002 and guitarist Johnny Ramone in 2004. Surviving Ramones members are bassist CJ Ramone (1989-1996) and drummers Richie Ramone (1983-1987) and Marky Ramone (1978-1983, 1987-1996). When Tommy still lived, Marky Ramone often claimed on interviews he and Tommy were only surviving Ramones members. So also surviving are Richie and CJ.
Tommy's parents were both professional photographers. They had survived the holocaust by being hidden by neighbours. Tommy, his older brother and parents left Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and moved to the USA. Earlier was told that they immigrated to the United States already in 1953 but that is not true.
I spoke with Tommy in 2004, if he had visited Hungary often. He wasn't until they left in 1956. But later he traveled to Hungary in 2008.
I was afraid when Tommy's passing happens... I became pretty good friends with Tommy Ramone and I was one of those he trusted. First time he told me in 2013 his health has got worse. Last E-mail Tommy personally sent me was in May, 2014 and then health situation wasn't good. There were not too many of us he had told he was ill and luckily we who knew respected his privacy, expect in June, 2014 Marky Ramone told in radio interview Tommy not feeling well. I heard that interview on-line and I informed Tommy what Marky had said. It was sad move from Marky.
Finnish Broadcast company Yleisradio wanted to make an interview with me of Tommy and our friendship, you can read interview here (only in Finnish).
WHAT IS BILE DUCT CANCER?:
Tommy died because of bile duct cancer, which is also called cholangiocarcinoma. Bile duct cancer is rare and for example in the USA with less than 3,000 new cases are diagnosed in each year.
Bile duct cancer arises from the cells that line the drainage system for bile from the liver and gallbladder into the small intestine. The bile in the intestine helps with food digestion. It can happen in the part of the bile duct that is outside or inside the liver. Most bile duct cancers are not found until patients go to a doctor because they have symptoms.
TOMMY RAMONE IS BURIED AT THE NEW
MONTEFIORE CEMETERY.I ALSO EXPLAIN OF SOME JEWISH TRADITIONS:
Tommy Ramone (real name Tamas/ Thomas Erdelyi, he referred Thomas) is buried at the New Montefiore Cemetery. Photos in right are taken there by great Brazilian Ramones' fan Marcus Padula. Padula is visited in Tommy's grave in 2015 and 2018.
You can see Padula in one photo. His friend Regis Ribeiro has put next to grave Brazilian flag and flag of his hometown Santo Andre.
The New Montefiore Cemetery serves as one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in New York, originally established in 1928. Cemetery site says that burial of persons not of the Jewish faith is strictly prohibited there.
Cemetery is located in West Babylon, Suffolk County, New York, USA. Distance between cemetery and Bowery (Manhattan, NYC, USA) is around 37 miles / 60 kilometers.
Gates of cemetery are open: Sunday - Friday: 8:30AM-4:30PM. Gates are closed on Saturdays and selected Jewish holidays.
How to get there by train?
Address: 1180 Wellwood Ave., West Babylon, NY 11704.
The New Montefiore Cemetery is located at the Pinelawn Station stop.
Take the Long Island Railroad, Ronkonkoma Line
from Manhattan - Penn Station at 33rd Street & 7th Avenue
OR from Brooklyn - The Flatbush Avenue Station at Atlantic Avenue
OR from Queens - Jamaica Station.
First a small plaque, later the tombstone.
Tommy passed away in his home in July 11, 2014. In the Jewish faith, people don't get a tombstone until they are buried one year. Before the tombstone, there is usually just a small plaque. You can see in right one photo where is only a small plaque with two Jewish stars (Star of David), name and text:
"Thomas Erdelyi
1949-2014
Schwartz Bothers - Jeffer Memorial Chapels"
Of course last line should be "Schwartz Brothers - Jeffer Memorial Chapels", not bothers... Funeral home had written its name incorrectly.
Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapels is among the larger Jewish-specialty funeral home in Queens. Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapels specializes in the traditions of Jewish families. Funeral home is located in New York City on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, near Flushing Meadows Corona Park and several cemeteries.
So it is customary to hold the unveiling of tombstone within the first year after death. Jewish tombstones usually have inscriptions in Hebrew and the regional language. So is also in Tommy's tombstone. It have inscriptions in Hebrew and then in English:
"Thomas Erdelyi
Jan 29, 1949
July 11, 2014"
Also it has Jewish marks: Jewish star (Star of David), Menorah (candlestick symbol) and some tombstone symbol.
Small stones but no flowers?
You can see stones in front of small plaque (uppermost small photo) and in a top of tombstone. Why? Explanation: One of the most common Jewish cemetery tradition is to leave a small stone at the grave of a loved one after saying Kaddish or visiting. Its origins are rooted in ancient times and throughout the centuries the tradition of leaving a visitation stone has become part of the act of remembrance.
To me (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) it look strange that there are no flowers at the New Montefiore Cemetery. Also Joey Ramone was Jewish and in his grave are flowers at the Hillside Cemetery in New Jersey.
Flowers are not forbidded at the New Montefiore Cemetery as in the homepage of cemetery reads following: "Plot owners may adorn their lots with flowers or shrubs, subject to approval of the Board of Directors."
Here is interesting article of that subject: "Is it permissible to put flowers on a grave in a Jewish cemetery?"
INTERVIEW COMMENTS OF FIRST PRACTISES AND
WHY TOMMY QUIT IN 1977:I (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) do live in Finland. I run this the biggest and most updated Ramones page since 1995 and I am written three Ramones books (details).
Tommy's first band was founded in 1965 and the second band Tangerine Puppets, in 1966. Tangerine Puppets had besides Tommy, John Cummings (Johnny Ramone), Richard Adler, Bob Rowland, and Scott Roberts. You can find Tommy's comments of those days from my books. Here I will copy few quotes Tommy told me in interviews. In all Tommy has replied to me probably close to 100 questions.
Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone: Would you like to tell some memories of your first practises as a Ramones drummer?
Tommy Ramone (tells in Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone): It was strange, because as soon as I started playing drums things seemed to click. It was as if it locked into place. Right away we had what became the Ramones sound. I guess it was the missing ingredient. Before I started playing the sound was choppy and with me playing it became smooth and driving, Tommy told me in 2003.
Tommy recounted to me many times a situation how he was the drummer, spokesman and first manager of the Ramones. Tommy Ramone started as manager and Joey Ramone as a drummer, but Tommy become a drummer and let Joey sing.
Jari-Pekka: How it also felt when Joey sang then first time?
Tommy Ramone (Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone): Joey was much more natural as a singer than as a drummer. He had a great voice and, I felt, a unique and strong presence as a vocalist. Things worked out perfect once he became the lead singer.
Jari-Pekka: Can you explain again those reasons why you decided to leave the Ramones?
Tommy Ramone (tells in Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives): What made the Ramones great was that they were all unique and crazy personalities; which also made it hard to be with them all the time, 24 hours a day. What made them so good, were their crazy personalities. But what made them good also, made them impossible to be with. It was like being in some kind of bizarre cult.
They had their own world view. I was kind of losing my sense of reality. I was the coordinator and idea man. After four years, they were driving me crazy and for the sake of my sanity and for the sake of the band, I decided to bring Marky Ramone to the band. That was a bright idea, bring in a drummer, then you kept writings songs with them and produced the records. Someone else would go on the road with them. In the recording studio I was free, I was creative and in control. On the road, I was a confused and abused passenger. It felt as if I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown...., Tommy Ramone told me.
Tommy was the producer on six Ramones albums: Ramones (1976), Leave Home (1977), Rocket To Russia (1977), Road To Ruin (1978), It's Alive (1979), and Too Tough To Die (1984). Related to recording and producing, he worked mostly with Tony Bongiovi and Ed Stasium on early Ramones albums.
Jari-Pekka: You helped to get the Ramones back to their roots with the album, Too Tough To Die (1984) didn't you?
Tommy Ramone: (tells in Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives): They brought me back for Too Tough To Die. That time, they wanted to do that and I was very happy when they called me up and asked me to be the producer. Too Tough To Die was a great opportunity for us to get together again. Too bad that record did not sell a million copies, I might have had a chance to do more albums with them, which I would have loved to have done.
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME:Photo in right is taken at Arturo Vega's house and Arturo is holding official Ramones Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame canvas I had just bought from him. I wanted to get dedicated autographs from Tommy Ramone and Arturo to it, even it already had Tommy's autograph. It was autographed also by Dee Dee Ramone, Johnny Ramone and Marky Ramone. They signed it after the Ramones was inducted to Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
That canvas and one similar were stolen from me at JFK airport, NYC, USA, in early June, 2012. If you see someone selling this or another dedicated to Timo, please E-mail me. I promise 300 US$ reward.
2002 was for the Ramones first year of eligibility to get to Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (Read more here.). The 17th annual Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on March 18, 2002.
Eddie Vedder of the Pearl Jam inducted the Ramones into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Eddie made a 20-minute induction speech. You can find a big part of Eddie Vedder's speech and Tommy Ramone's speech from my book Heaven Needed A Lead Singer: Fans Remember Joey Ramone.
Jari-Pekka: What are your feelings about being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? What was it like to appear at the induction ceremony?
Tommy Ramone: (tells in Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone) It was a great honor. It meant that we were recognized as an innovative and important band. This was very important to us. Usually the artists that are inducted sell millions of records. For us to be chosen meant that they recognized what an important contribution the Ramones made. The ceremony was like being in a dream. Here we were being inducted with some of our idols like Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney, Isaac Hayes - it seemed unreal. It was an unusual and unique experience for us, Tommy Ramone told me.
TOMMY RAMONE'S AND CLAUDIA
TIENAN'S UNCLE MONK:Tommy Ramone and his longtime partner Claudia Tienan had a duo called Uncle Monk. I don't think there are anymore in any other place than in my third book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives information of 80's Uncle Monk, what lasted around two years (see page 20 in a book). It was a trio and they recorded few demos, what aren't leaked on internet etc.
First time Tommy gave information about 2000's Uncle Monk was in 2003-2004. In my second book Rock In Peace: Dee Dee And Joey Ramone he does mention of it. Soon later Uncle Monk became active and of course I promoted it and their shows here on my site. When I look listing of their shows here on my site, 2000's Uncle Monk had their premier performance at BD Riley's, in Austin, TX, on Saturday, March 18, 2006, as part of the South By Southwest Festival.
Last one was this: July 5, 2012, The Bowery Electric, New York, USA. CBGB festival.
The debut CD for Uncle Monk was available on March 16, 2006. The CD has 14 songs. The musical style was a bit of a surprising mix for some Ramones fans, and also for many others, a refreshing acquaintance. Uncle Monk did an alt-country bluegrass. Tommy said that there are a lot of similarities between punk and old-time music. Both are home-brewed music as opposed to schooled, and both have an earthy energy. Anybody can pick up an instrument and start playing.
Tommy Ramone wrote to me in late November, 2012, that they are still working with second Uncle Monk album. Tommy wrote: "Yes, Claudia and I are finishing up the next record. One of my latest interviews with Tommy I did in April, 2010, (read it here) of one tour and on it Tommy also explains of second album: - We keep coming up with new songs so we keep recording. Our new record will have some unique songs on them mostly based on our lives and philosophies. there will be indie songs, bluegrass songs, old-time songs, romantic songs, and unclassifiable songs, Tommy explained.
Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone: Besides the guitar, you do play mandolin, banjo, and dobro on the CD (Jari-Pekka's note: 80's Uncle Monk was a bit different. Third member was drummer). How long have you been playing these instruments?
Tommy Ramone: (tells in Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives): I have been playing these instruments since 1994-1996. I have always liked that kind of music. I also have always wanted to take this music and put it into a rock or a pop band; but as I was doing that through the years, I realized that it was more fun just playing it acoustic. I enjoyed playing acoustic and it sounded better acoustic. So from the beginning of new Uncle Monk, it was just the two of us, Claudia and me. This is because I didn't want to get a drummer and things like that, Tommy says in Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
Jari-Pekka: What instrument was the most challenging for you?
Tommy Ramone: All bluegrass instruments are challenging. I have spent many years learning these instruments, practising, and I enjoy them very much. The mandolin has no sustain so one has to develop new techniques to compensate for that.
The banjo has a drone 5th string and is totally different from the guitar. The Dobro, uses a slide and is in open tunings, the fiddle has no frets; but they are all rewarding to play as they make wonderful music, Tommy said to me.
Jari-Pekka: Claudia, can you please give readers an idea about some of the songs you play?
Claudia Tienan: Some songs came from experience while others came from the observation of environments. Others songs came from reading the newspapers and watching the news on TV. It can be disturbing to see what is going on now, Claudia says in Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
I do remember how happy I was in October 17, 2007, when Tommy and Claudia wrote:
Tommy Ramone: "We just did a show with the legendary Earl Scruggs at the BB King Blues Club. We cannot put into words the feelings that we experienced having the honour of meeting him. We also got to meet his sons Randy and Gary, what a wonderful night!"
Stanley is the survivor of the Stanley Brothers, one of the few remaining figures of the first generation of bluegrass musicians.
Jari-Pekka: Tommy, so it meant a lot for you and Claudia to play as the opening act for Ralph Stanley and Earl Scruggs.
Tommy Ramone: Right, Ralph Stanley and Earl Scruggs are two pioneers of bluegrass and we were very lucky to have a chance to open for those classic, great artists. It was wonderful opportunity. Something that no-one could have imagined would have happened. It was just incredible. They were really nice people and very friendly to us and they were great shows. We had a great time, Tommy said.
I also asked Tommy to tell early memories of Stanley and Scruggs and many, many other things. In all my interview of Uncle Monk with Tommy and Claudia has two pages long in Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
I am happy that I had chance to inform readers on my books and now also here on my page, what kind of happy and exciting experiences Tommy and Claudia had with Uncle Monk. There were not too many of us who made long interview with Tommy of Uncle Monk. I knew it meant a lot Tommy to tell those things.
Rest In Peace with Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny my friend Tommy.
TOMMY TELLS TO ME OF HIS PLANS OF SOLO SHOWS / HIS FINAL PERFORMANCE.:
As I said, of course I promoted Tommy Ramone's and Uncle Monk's shows on my site. Tommy Ramone concentrated doing Uncle Monk shows with Claudia Tienan in 2006-2012. Tommy wrote to me in November and December, 2012, of his other plans:
- I started doing some solo shows playing guitar. The shows have gone well. I did an acoustic show with Glenn Matlock of the Sex Pistols two weeks ago at the Cutting Room here in NY, we each did a solo set and got a good response from the audience. We had a good crowd that showed up. I did some Uncle Monk songs and some Ramones songs. They included I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, Blitzkrieg Bop and Suzy Is A Headbanger. Others I would like to leave as a surprise for people who come to see the shows, wrote Tommy Ramone.
This was show he did play: November 14, 2012, The Cutting Room, New York, USA.
But about tour... Tommy Ramone's tour with Glen Matlock in Canada and USA in March 15 - April 7, 2013 got canceled. Both were going to play individual sets. Tommy Ramone E-mailed me in March 4, 2013.
- I want to let you know that I am not doing the tour with Glen Matlock this month due to unforeseen circumstances. I will update you on any future tours, Tommy E-mailed.
I did not mention to readers more details why tour got canceled... You know now some reason... RIP.
CBGB FESTIVAL'S A 40TH REMEMBRANCE & SALUTE TO RAMONE EVENT IN AUGUST 16, 2014
Event titled CBGB Festival Presents: A 40th Remembrance & Salute To Tommy Ramone was at The Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery, New York, USA, at 7.30PM on August 16, 2014. It honored Tommy Ramone and was also in honor of the Ramones playing at CBGB for the first time 40 years.
There were special guests speaking in August 16, 2014. Event was promoted pretty badly. Few days before event to Ramones' tour manager Monte A. Melnick wasn't sent information who other will be speaking and/or performing. He asked details to me.
- I just heard from Louise Parnassa Staley from CBGB's, here is what she told me. Along with me so far Michael Alago, Danny Fields, Spencer Drate, Bob Gruen and Seymour Stein with music by Martinets and DJ by Sandy Lieb. They are all reading or saying a few words, wrote Monte A. Melnick.
Jimmy Gestapo (as a DJ) of Dropkick Murphy's had to cancel his coming.
So Monte A. Melnick was Ramones' road manager. Also he has written with Frank Meyer really great book titled On The Road With The Ramones.
Seymour Stein is a co-founder of Sire Records, the original and long lasting label of the Ramones. I did long interview with Seymour in 2008, when Tommy Ramone and Seymour Stein spent a few days in Tampere, Finland as they visited the Musiikki & Media Conference. I was kind of Tommy's main assistant as I was only Finnish who he knew personally.
Seymour Stein's interview is in my third book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives. Of course it also has many interviews with Tommy.
Danny Fields is early Ramones' manager. Bob Gruen is one of most legendary punk and rock photographers since 1970's.
Michael Alago is multitalent in music business since 70's, famous producer, man who found and signed Metallica and White Zombie, photographer etc. Spencer Drate is most famous of his works as a album designer, he designed albums to the Ramones, Talking Heads etc.
Band who played in this event was The Martinets. One member in The Martinets is Daniel Rey who produced for example Ramones' album Adios Amigos, he recorded material with Joey Ramone to both of Joey's solo albums and who produced Dee Dee's Zonked album and wrote many songs together with Dee Dee to some of the Ramones albums.
So this event was also in honor of the Ramones playing at CBGB for the first time 40 years. CBGB is one of most legendary clubs ever, founded by Hilly Kristal. New York club was opened in 1973 and got closed in 2006. It was in Bowery, 150 meters away from Arturo Vega's (Ramones' creative director) house where Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone also lived in early 70's. The Ramones played really lot of their early gigs at CBGB's. CBGB was kind of birthplace of punk. So this event now in August 16 is at The Bowery Electric what is only 100 meters away from place where CBGB was. My interview with Hilly Kristal you can find from my first book Heaven Needed A Lead Singer: Fans Remember Joey Ramone.
TOMMY RAMONE MEMORIAL PLAQUE-RELIEF IN BUDAPEST,
HUNGARYTommy Ramone memorial plaque-relief was unveiled in a ceremony in Budapest, Hungary, on September 30, 2016. It is in the wall of apartment building where Tommy's family lived at the time he was born in central Budapest. They did live there until they left Hungary in 1956. Tommy was at the age of seven. He, his older brother and parents left Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and moved to the USA. Earlier was told that they immigrated to the United States already in 1953 but that is not true. I (Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone) spoke with Tommy in 2004, if he had visited Hungary often. He wasn't until they left in 1956. But later he traveled to Hungary in 2008. So it was the first and only time he visited Hungary since leaving the country in 1956.
Ramones tour manager and Tommy's close friend Monte A. Melnick sent a message from the USA that was read in the ceremony on September 30, 2016.
Address of the apartment building is: Bajcsy-Zsilinszky ut 36, Budapest, District V, Hungary. It is close to Arany Janos Utca's metro station.
It was told in newspaper article (article by Ferenc Sullivan in Hungary Today) that the memorial plaque is the brainchild of local mayor Peter Szentgyörgyvölgyi, journalist Robert Palinkas Szucs and Fidesz MP Zsolt Nyitrai.
Plaque-relief is by architect Andras Krizsan. The memorial is written in Hungarian and English. It commemorates Tommy's birthplace and his contributions to music. One part of it is a 3D version of the first Ramones album.
Text on it is in English: "Tamas Erdelyi, also known as Tommy Ramone (1949, Budapest - 2014, New York), the drummer of the legendary Ramones band was born in this building. To this day he is the only Hungarian-born musician who has become one of the legends of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The memorial plaque was erected by Belvados-Lipotvaros 5th District local government in 2016 for 60th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution of 1956."
You can see photos in right. Dave U. Hall is next to the building in Budapest in January, 2022. He is released for example a solo CD The Walter MIDI Group: And Then You Woke Up! He got to know Joey Ramone and his brother Mickey Leigh already when he (Dave) was teenager and he played with Mickey in Birdland and the Rattlers. Etc.
TOMMY RAMONE AND SHOW AT THE HUNGARIAN EMBASSY IN 2004:
This event did happen in November, 2004. There was Ramones tribute concert by Hungarian ambassador to the USA in Washington, and Tommy Ramone was a special guest.
So this event was in 2004. I asked Tommy's memories of this event afterwards to my book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
Jari-Pekka Laitio-Ramone: There was a Ramones tribute concert given by the Hungarian ambassador to the USA in Washington in November 2004, and you Tommy were a special guest. Would you tell some memories of it?
Tommy Ramone: We spoke to a gathering of about 300 people. The topic was how rock'N'roll music helped bring down the Iron Curtain in Hungary. The Hungarian ambassador Andras Simonyi is a talented guitar player and loves rock music.
Below is an article Tamas Kovacs translated to me (Jari-Pekka). Article / interview is by Mesterhazy Lili.
Here's site of Index where is also photos of the event and an interview in Hungarian, click here. Also picture is from the site, so copyright is theirs.
Gabba Gabba Hey at the Hungarian embassy
Exclusive interview with Tommy Ramone
The punkrock party of the last original Ramones-member with Hungarian ambassador Simonyi, with an american ambassador and with a Ramones-geek Rolling Stone journalist. Tommy Ramone member of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame gave an interview to Index.hu because of Blitzkrieg Bop, Judy Is A Punk, Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue....
It is said that they had saved rock. Their music is now called punkrock, they began it all in the early 70's in one of the clubs in Lower East Side. The members, Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy, started to use the surname Ramone, this way the the Ramones was formed.
Their quick, simple, back-to-the-basics music ruined the cult of songs with guitar solo of 20 minutes. One of their concerts in 1976 in London boosted british musical scene resulting in bands like Clash or Sex Pistols.
Out of four original members of the Ramones only the drummer Tommy with hungarian origin lives (so this event was in 2004). He is the only hungarian who is entered Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
On Thursday evening Tommy Ramone aka Thomas Erdelyi was the guest of Hungarian embassy in Washington, but before that event he gave an exclusive phone-interview to Index.hu. His sound is low. We are speaking in English, but the name of the street "Bajcsy-Zsilinszky" is pronounced perfectly in Hungarian.
Index.hu: You were born in Budapest, you were a little boy when your family moved to New York. What can you remember?
Tommy Ramone: Not much, I have got some childhood memories. I was seven, when in 1956, during the revolution, my parents came to USA. I remember living in Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street. I have not been to Hungary since then, although my brother goes home sometimes. Nowadays it often comes to my mind to go to Budapest, I left almost 50 years ago.
Index.hu: How did New York look like in the 70's?
Tommy Ramone: Those were special times. There was a club in Lower East Side in the Bowery called CBGB. It was full of bands that hated progressive rock of those times, you know those long songs with 8 minutes guitar solo. We wanted something new, which is honest and simple, which can be said in two minutes. Back to the basics. You could see extremely ingenious and amazing bands in CBGB like Televison or Talking Heads. These were the alternative bands then. They differed very much from each other, but they had one thing in common: they wanted something that differs from stylish things.
Index.hu: How did you meet first with the other members of the Ramones?
Tommy Ramone: Originally I controlled the studio-recording. There were three of them: Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee. I remember I was totally amazed when I heard them playing first. It was just amazing how original, how intensive, impulsive they were. Later on they accepted me as a member. I was the drummer instead of Joey, he started singing. I felt highly honoured.
Index.hu: Do you still use the name "Ramone"? What name
can be found - let's say - on your credit card?Tommy Ramone: (laughs, and speaks Hungarian for a moment) My name is Thomas Erdélyi (he said it in Hungarian). No, no, Tommy Ramone is a stage-name, I use Tom Erdelyi for everything else. Altough nowadays I am Tommy Ramone more and more often. We have made a musical, the first punkrock musical of the world. Its title is Gabba Gabba Hey. We played it in Australia first this summer (2004). It contains 18 Ramones-songs, it is about a young guy leaving home and going to New York to Lower East Side. It takes place in the 80's with real, romantic happy end. It was succesful I work on touring with it.
Index.hu: Johnny Ramone died almost two months ago (in September, 2004). From CNN to Rolling Stone it was mentioned everywhere that Tommy Ramone is the last man standing from the original line-up.
TR: It is very hard. But the most important thing is that this way my responsibility has become even higher. It is very sad and tragic, yes. But I have decided to get over it from an other point of view: for me it is the most important to speak about the Ramones as much as possible, to tell the people what this band was like. I am the last - it is my task.
Ambassador András Simonyi's attention to Tommy Ramone was called by his Ramones-fan daughter:
I didn't know punk rock bands well, but when my daughter told me about it I found it out that Tommy Ramone is the only Hungarian entered Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland. I contacted Tommy Ramone through Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. This evening's meeting is a talk with two Hungarians growing up at the two sides of the Iron Curtain and both of them like rock music. When I was young I played music, I was a guitarist on the first record of LGT (it is a famous hungarian progressive rock group of the 70's and the 80's, Tamás). I have become an ambassador, but I think rock music is important in foreign politics - people ruling the world now have grown up on rock music. The talk will be hosted by Chuck D. Young from Rolling Stone, he is the biggest Ramones-expert of America.
Surprise
More than 250 people were invited: diplomats, younger colleagues from White House etc., and the correspondent of Russian Press Agency was interested in Tommy Ramone and András Simonyi's talk. The guests then listened to three Ramones classics Blitzkrieg Bop, Beat On The Brat and Let's Dance performed by Chuck D. Young, András Simonyi and Alexander Vershbow who is the american ambassador in Moscow.
Although Tommy Ramone earlier refused to play on the drums due to emotional reason, but at the end he went on the stage and - in front of the portrait of Bartók, Kodály and Liszt - sang Let's Dance together with Simonyi. He didn't play on drums. As he said: I haven't used drumstick for 27 years. HeyHo, Let's Go.
Thanks Tamas Kovacs and Mesterhazy Lili.
TOMMY RAMONE' TRIBUTE TEXT BY RAMONES' ROAD MANAGER MONTE A. MELNICK:
Tommy was my dearest and oldest friend. We grew up together in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. I went to Stephen A Halsey Jr High and Forest Hills High school with him. He got me to pick up the bass guitar and enter into the crazy world of rock music. We played in several bands together (Triad & Butch) here in NYC over the late 60's and early 70's.
We built and managed Performance Studios in NYC, a recording/rehearsal studio the Ramones started in. I worked with him when he was in the Ramones and well after he left. He had an advanced musical foresight, well ahead of the times in forming and being part of the Ramones. He was a great musician on the guitar, then the drums, later on the mandolin, banjo, fiddle and many more instruments.
His musical expanse bridged from Punk to Indie Bluegrass.I mourn the passing of the last of the original Ramones, my friend and a true musical visionary.
Monte A. Melnick
TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE TEXT BY BLONDIE'S DEBBIE HARRY AND CHRIS STEIN:
By Debbie Harry:
Tommy seemed to me so understated compared to the rest of The Ramones. But I loved the way he played, and this light, very accessible style made those early songs loved by everyone. He added so much to their recording style and origination that I will mourn them even more now that he's gone, too, said Debbie Harry to NME.
By Chris Stein:
I met Tommy early on. He had a band called Butch that played at Mercer Arts Center, maybe in 1972. Later, after the Mercer literally collapsed and I had started working with Debbie, I ran into him and he told me he had a new band called The Ramones. I probably was at their first show at CBGB's and remember how awesome they were in spite of their rawness. Tommy was an amazing asset to the group, and I was always taken by his light drumming technique that somehow drove their very powerful, ferocious sound. He was a gentle and supersmart guy and a mover and shaper of the New York underground music scene, and we all will remember him fondly, said Chris Stein to NME.
TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE TEXT BY CHRIS
FRANTZ OF THE TALKING HEADS IN ROLLING STONE:
This text by Chris Frantz was published originally in RollingStone.
The first tour Talking Heads ever did was supporting the Ramones in Europe in the spring of 1977. We shared a bus, and I talked with Tommy a lot. His family had fled the Iron Curtain in Hungary. He had a seriousness about him that was different from most people in the business. The other Ramones deferred to him because he had the experience and the leadership qualities the others didn't quite have.
Tommy played the same part on every song, either a bit faster or a bit slower - usually faster - and he boiled things down to their essence. There were no fills, except maybe on the "Hey, ho!" chant. It was sheer minimalist perfection. Tommy was a songwriter, too - he wrote "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," one of the most direct love songs in rock history.
The Ramones were a great band, but as time wore on, it was not fun for Tommy. This was the time of gobbing as a sign of approval, and they'd have to wipe down his drum set after the shows. He didn't like the spit part at all. So I wasn't surprised when he decided to give up his post and let Marky Ramone take over in 1978.
The Ramones didn't always like one another very much. But Tommy was so important to the groove of that band. He was a small guy, but you never got that, listening to him play. He sounded like a big guy.
So this text by Chris Frantz was published originally in RollingStone.
TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE TEXT BY LAMB OF GOD'S RANDY BLYTHE:
The last original Ramone, Tommy Ramone, has died, & with him the last of one of the main roots of all modern punk/hc/and metal as we know it today. The importance of the Ramones in the history of underground music cannot be overstated - before the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Black Flag and waaaaaaay before any speed/thrash metal band, the Ramones were blowing minds with LOUD, FAST, AGGRESSIVE music.
Although to the calloused ears of modern youth who have grown up listening to crust punk/grind core/speed & thrash metal/and even some of the more aggressive music on commercial radio, the Ramones might sound like fast pop, at the time they started playing out in NYC at CBGB/ Max's Kansas City (1974) they were something that had never ever been seen or heard before. The first time my band played CBGB, I was completely emotionally overwhelmed - "Man, the FREAKING RAMONES started out here!" I thought as I stood on stage - I almost started crying.
Without that band, the tempo of underground music would have never reached the speed that it has today - there were a bunch of glam bands & hippies at that time, & (yeeeech) disco was big - the Ramones came along & blasted everyone straight out of the water.
No Ramones = no Lamb Of God, or any of the other music most fans of my band listen to. Metal existed, but it was not until punk rock kicked it right square in the ass with a combat boot that things got FAST & AGGRESSIVE. Tommy passed away from cancer yesterday in Queens, NYC, at the age of 62. Rest in peace, bro, & thank you for helping to create the music that changed and saved my life, wrote Randy Blythe on Instagram.
SHORT COMMENTS OF TOMMY RAMONE BY ARTISTS:
Text by Andrew W.K. Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg did in 2013 and 2014 few tours Andrew W.K. being singer.
- Just found out that Tommy Ramone died today. One of the most ground breaking drummers and producers ever. And always nice, wrote Andrew W.K.
Text by Nikki Sixx of the Motley Crue.
- Sad to hear of the passing of Tommy Ramone from the Ramones. Thank you for the inspiration, wrote Nikki Sixx.
Text by Garbage band who recorded I Just Want To Have Something To Do to We're A Happy Family - A Tribute To The Ramones CD.
- RIP Tommy Ramone. The last of the unique neurotics. Thanks for the dance. You were unforgettable, wrote Garbage.
Text by film composer Clint Mansell and and lead singer of Pop Will Eat Itself.
- Tommy Ramone is gone. The last of the (original) brudders. I'm deeply saddened. Without the Ramones I'm not sure what my life would have been. They changed everything for me when I heard Sheena Is A Punk Rocker in 1977. There's a through line from that moment to this, right now, everything I've done was born in that moment. I'm gutted that they're all gone. Sleep well, my brudders, wrote Clint Mansell.
Text by Jason Ringenberg, who is lead singer of Jason & the Scorchers. He started playing in alternative rock, rock, and country-bands in 1980.
- Tommy Ramone passed away of cancer. I am saddened to hear this. He played mandolin on my last Farmer Jason release Nature Jams, and did a bang up job. I knew him and ran into him a lot when he was doing his bluegrass gig. He was a legend and a gentleman, wrote Jason Ringenberg.
Ringenberg created that children's music character (Farmer Jason) in 2002. Tommy Ramone and Hank Williams III plays on song titled Manatee in Nature Jams.
TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE BY BBC 6 MUSIC IN JULY 13, 2014
BBC 6 Music had a Ramones playlist at 6-8PM (London Time)
in July 13, 2014, to mark the sad passing of Tommy Ramone.- What would be great is if you could post this on your wall asking your followers for suggestions, informed Alex Burnard.
Here are more background details I put on my page. So what should be in a Ramones playlist? There were listed this kind of information in BBC 6 Music's blog.
- The big songs like I Wanna Be Sedated, Blitzkrieg Bop and Sheena Is A Punkrocker or anything from their 14 studio albums?
- Bands they influenced like The Undertones, Dead Kennedys, Nirvana and The Strokes?
- Who influenced the Ramones? The Stooges and The Who?
- Their contemporaries from the New York scene?
- Or any other musical connection that you think is deserving of a place on this special playlist. But do make sure you give us your reasons behind your selections for a better chance of making the playlist.
Alex Burnard did with me few minutes long phone interview in advance but host made mistake and it wasn't aired in time. Alex Burnard told me they had archive material of Tommy since 70's. But also host made mistakes with it and we heard Tommy's interview just a little bit..., Tommy for example did speak of recordings of first album, how it was recorded in six days on a budget of 600 US$.
Instead of more of Tommy's interview host did play for example Nine Inch Nails... and The Human League's The Things That Dreams Are Made Of.... Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus... Drenge's Nothing... Would you had liked to hear instead Tommy's old interview than those songs? Other songs did include The Ronettes' Baby I Love You, Television's Prove It, The Clash's Tommy Gun, Frank Black's I Heard Ramona Sing, The Undertones' Teenage Kicks and Ramones' songs Cretin Hop, Pet Sematary, Surfin' Bird and Rockaway Beach.
TOMMY RAMONE TRIBUTE SONG WRITTEN BY J. KARJALAINEN
Even most of foreign Ramones fans doesn't know who is J. Karjalainen, I
want to update this great tribute here.Finnish pop-rock artist J. Karjalainen released new album titled Sinulle, Sofia on November 20, 2015. J. Karjalainen is one of the most succesful Finnish artist of those who makes music in Finnish language. J. Karjalainen released his first album in 1981 and in all he has released with his bands around 20 albums.
New album Sinulle, Sofia has a song titled Se Mies Oli Tommy Ramone (in English: That Man Was Tommy Ramone). Karjalainen told of that song already to me at Vauhtiajot festival, Seinäjoki, Finland in July 2014. Song is about meeting when I introduced Tommy Ramone to J. Karjalainen and Veli-Matti Järvenpää here in Finland in 2008. Tommy Ramone and I went together with journalist Timo Isoaho to see a record release party of J. Karjalainen's and Veli-Matti Järvenpää's record entitled Paratiisin Pojat. On that Paratiisin Pojat record, Karjalainen's main instrument is banjo and Järvenpää's is the accordion. They played played for example some Finnish versions of old Finnish/American blue grass songs from the early 1900's to the 1950's. Tommy liked Paratiisin Pojat a lot. I knew that in advance because. Some of you remember Tommy having Uncle Monk duo together with Claudia Tienan.
So I wanted introduce Tommy to Karjalainen and Järvenpää and they were amazed how Ramones member is at their concert. Karjalainen told to me now in November, 2015, how song Se Mies Oli Tommy Ramone is a real tribute for Tommy. It is catchy tex-mex-punk song. Karjalainen told me that it is oldest song on new album. There is a photo of that meeting on my 3rd book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives and on it Karjalainen also tells of that meeting.
Here is part of that text in a book: "Veli-Matti Järvenpä and I could not have imagined having such a sudden meeting with a Ramones member at the oldgrass show in Tampere, Finland. I was happily surprised and astonished when Tommy yet asked as his first question what note key Veli-Matti used on the accordion for that show. I was wondering how he knew to ask about that. It requires special knowledge to know that every accordion has it's own note key. The following day I noticed from Tommy Ramone's business card that he plays bluegrass. That explained his knowledge. I got nice feelings of meeting Tommy. Somehow it feels great to know that a Ramones member can just come and talk with you on the street. As band members gets older, this doesn't deduct a person's achievements; but makes the artist grow stronger.", tells Karjalainen on Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
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