Happy birthday, Tommy Ramone...

Tommy Ramone, The Ramones, Liverpool, United Kingdom (1977)- credit: Ian Dickson/Redferns

Happy birthday, Tommy Ramone...
Born Erdélyi Tamás (Thomas Erdelyi) on January 29 1949 in Budapest, Hungary, Tommy Ramone was a record producer and musician. He is mostly known as the drummer of the Ramones.
His family emigrated to the U.S. when he was 4, moving to Forest Hills, New York.
When he was in high school, alongside John Cummings, Tommy played in the Tangerine Puppets, a garage band.
Tommy was an assistant engineer for the production of Jimi Hendrix' album Band of Gypsys (1970).
Originally, he was supposed to be the Ramones' manager; Johnny Ramone was on guitar, Dee Dee Ramone on bass and lead vocals, and Joey Ramone on the drums. Eventually, Joey Ramone switched on lead vocals, and as they couldn't find a new drummer, Tommy sat down behind the drums.
He stayed as drummer from 1974 to 1978 (Ramones' classic lineup: Joey Ramone (lead vocals), Johnny Ramone (guitar), Dee Dee Ramone (bass, vocals), Tommy Ramone (drums)).
He played and co-produced four albums: Ramones (1976), Leave Home (1977), Rocket to Russia (1978), and the live album It's Alive (1979).
Along with Ed Stasium, he played the guitar solos on these studio albums, since Johnny Ramone preferred playing rhythm guitar. Tommy also wrote some Ramones songs like I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, and the majority of Blitzkrieg Bop.
In 1978, he was replaced on drums by Marky Ramone but remained close to the band as their manager. He co-produced the 1978 album Road to Ruin.
In the 80s, he produced the Ramones' Too Tough To Die (1984), the Replacements' Tim (1985), and Redd Kross' Neurotica (1987).
On October 8 2004, Tommy joined C.J. Ramone, Daniel Rey, and Clem Burke on stage in the Ramones Beat Down on Cancer concert.
He played with Claudia Tienan in a band called Uncle Monk. They released a self titled album in March 2006.
In an interview with the BBC in 2007, Tommy declared that the Ramones had found their major influence in the New York Dolls, Lou Reed, and Andy Warhol.
Suffuring from bile duct cancer, he died on July 11 2014, at his home in Ridgewood, Queens, New York.
As his bandmates from the classic lineup of the Ramones, he is remembered as a punk rock icon.
Rock in peace, Tommy Ramone!

Tommy Ramone, Berlin, May 3, 2005 - credit: ARND WIEGMANN/Corbis

Tommy Ramone (Left) and Marky Ramone attend the Recording Academy Special Merit Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles in this February 12, 2011 - credit: REUTERS/Phil McCarten

[french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Tommy Ramone ...
Né Erdélyi Tamás (Thomas Erdelyi) la 29 janvier 1949 à Budapest, Hongrie, Tommy Ramone était un producteur d'album et musicien. Il est mieux connu en tant que batteur des Ramones.
Quand il a 4 ans, sa famille emigre aux Etats-Unis, emménageant à Forest Hills, New York.
Au lycée, aux côtés de John Cummings, il joue dans les Tangerine Puppets, un groupe de garage.
Tommy est assistant ingénieur pour la production de l'album de Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys (1970).
A la base, Tommy devait être le manager des Ramones; Johnny Ramone était à la guitare, Dee Ramone à la basse et au chant, et Joey Ramone à la batterie. Finalement, Joey Ramone passe au chant et, le groupe ne parvenant pas à trouver de nouveau batteur, c'est Tommy qui passe derrière les fûts.
Il reste dans le groupe en tant que batteur de 1974 à 1978 (lineup classic des Ramones : Joey Ramone (chant), Johnny Ramone (guitare), Dee Dee Ramone (basse, chant), Tommy Ramone (batterie)).
Il joue sur 4 albums, qu'il co-produit : Ramones (1976), Leave Home (1977), Rocket to Russia (1978), et l'album live It's Alive (1979).
Avec Ed Stasium,  il joue les solos de guitare sur ces albums studio car Johnny Ramone préferrait jouer la guitare rythmique. Tommy a aussi écrit quelques chansons des Ramones dont I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend et la majorité de Blitzkrieg Bop.
En 1978, il est remplacé à la batterie par Marky Ramone mais reste proche de groupe en tant que leur manager. Il co-produit l'album de 1978 Road to Ruin.
Dans les années 80, il produit Too Tough To Die (1984) des Ramones, Tim (1985) des Replacements, et Neurotica (1987) de Redd Kross.
Le 8 octobre 2004, Tommy rejoint C.J. Ramone, Daniel Rey, et Clem Burke sur scène pour le concert Ramones Beat Down on Cancer.
Il joue avec Claudia Tienan dans un groupe nommé Uncle Monk. Ils sortent un album éponyme en Mars 2006.
Dans une interview avec la BBC en 2007, Tommy déclare que les Ramones avaient été grandement influencés par les New York Dolls, Lou Reed, et Andy Warhol.
Souffrant d'un cancer des voies biliaires, il meurt le 11 juillet 2014, chez lui, à Ridgewood, Queens, New York.
Tout comme ses camarades du lineup classic des Ramones, il est considéré comme une icône du punk rock.
Repose en paix, Tommy Ramone !]

Tommy Ramone and Claudia Tienan, Uncle Monk

Tommy Ramone (2005) - credit: AP Photo/Tina Fineberg

Tommy Ramone, The Ramones

Tommy Ramone, The Ramones (1978) - credit: Richard McCaffrey

Johnny Ramone, Joey Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, and Tommy Ramone (The Ramones) photographed in San Francisco, Jan. 31, 1978 - credit: Ed Perlstein/Redferns

Tommy Ramone with Phil Spector (1977) - The Ramones

Tommy Ramone performs on stage with The Ramones at The Roundhouse in London, July 4th, 1976 - credit: Gus Stewart/Redferns

Tommy Ramone, The Ramones (1976) - credit: Michael Ochs Archives

found and shared for you by your blog classic rock stars birthdays
sources: The Official Homepage Of The Ramones | The Ramones on facebook | The Ramones on twitter | time.com | abc.es | musiccityroots.com | nypost.com | citysound.bohemian.com | rocknrollicons.tumblr.com | independent.co.uk | theguardian.com | wikipedia