In Memoriam | Original Ramones Drummer Tommy Ramone

Tommy Erdelyi, who was the drummer for The Ramones between 1974 and 1978 using the psuedonym Tommy Ramone, passed away yesterday at the age of 65 at his Queens home after a long battle with bile duct cancer. The drummer and producer was the last surviving, original member of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame rock act.

[Tommy Ramone & Companion Claudia Tienan]

Erdelyi was born in Budapest, Hungary, but grew up in Forest Hills, Queens; where he met and started a band called Tangerine Puppets with Johnny Cummings (Johnny Ramone). Johnny and Tommy went on to form The Ramones with Jeffrey Hyman (Joey Ramone) and Douglas Colvin (Dee Dee Ramone). Tommy played on The Ramones first three studio albums which included such classic songs as “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,” “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” and “Rockaway Beach.” The drummer left the band in 1978 and was replaced by Marky Ramone.

Tommy went on to produce The Replacements’ Tim and Neutrotica by Redd Kross after he left The Ramones. The Ramones were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2002. In October of 2004, Erdelyi teamed with C.J. Ramone, Daniel Rey, and Clem Burke for the “Ramones Beat Down On Cancer” concert. In more recent years Tommy performed with his longtime companion, Claudia Tienan, in Uncle Monk -a bluegrass duo. Tommy is survived by Tienan.