Johnny Ramone dies, aged 55

Johnny Ramone has passed away, aged 55, after losing a long fight with cancer.

The legendary guitarist and co-founder of The Ramones had been battling prostate cancer for the last five years. He died in his sleep yesterday afternoon at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family and friends.

Amongst those at his bedside were wife Linda Cummings, Eddie and Jill Vedder, Lisa Marie Presley, Talia Shire, Vincent Gallo and Pete Yorn. Also present was Rob Zombie, a close friend and compiler of a recent Ramones tribute album which featured Tom Waits, U2, the Chili Peppers and more.

Drummer Tommy Ramone (real name Tom Erdelyi) is now the last surviving founding member of The Ramones. Joey Ramone (Jeff Hyman) died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer, and Dee Dee Ramone (real name Douglas Colvin) died in 2002 following a drug overdose.

The Ramones officially split in 1996 but their legacy to punk will continue in popular culture forever. Just last week a tribute concert was held in LA to commemorate The Ramones 30th anniversary and raise money for cancer research. Amongst the performing artists were the Chili Peppers and Henry Rollins.

A similar benefit concert was being organised to coincide with Johnny's birthday on October 8. Johnny Ramone had personally invited Blondie and The Strokes to perform at the event, to be held in New York's Spirit nightclub, with all proceeds to be donated to to Cedars Sinai Cancer Research Center and The Lymphoma Cancer Research Foundation.

An official statement issued on The Ramones website reads:

"We are immensely saddened by this terrible loss. Johnny contributed in many ways to the success and greatness of the Ramones. But it was his strength and guidance, which made everybody else’s work come to an effective completion, that made him the group’s center of gravity, providing the balance and stability that kept the band, its support crew, and the entire Ramones organization together and in rocking shape. Johnny’s strength came from his character, rich in decency and honesty. His sense of fairness and his strategies always pointed towards the benefit of the Ramones and their fans as an inseparable unit.

"In this moment of tragedy and darkness, let us find solace, and a cure to our pain, in the knowledge that Johnny accomplished to the limit his life’s aspirations, and in the process he made ours seem possible."