Tommy Ramone, the last surviving original member of the iconic punk band The Ramones, died yesterday at age 62. Tommy was drummer for the band when they started in mid 70's, but began working with them as a producer after 1978. He was at the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame when the band was inducted in 2002, where Green Day played the following tribute to them:



Here's an interview with Tommy from back in 2005 where he talks about his time with the band and what it was like creating punk music in the 1970's and being inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Today Billie Joe posted on Instagram "dear Tommy we will never forget #longlivetheramones".

Here's what Billie Joe wrote to Rolling Stone back in 2001 after Joey Ramone died:
[quote]If it wasn't for the Ramones [...] there wouldn't be a Green Day, an Offspring, a Rancid, a Blink-182 -- there wouldn't be any punk band, period. There are bands that are influenced by the Ramones that don't even know it yet.

The Ramones sounded like rock & roll in its purest form -- they beat it back into purity. I saw them about ten years ago on the Escape From New York Tour; me and my girlfriend at the time went. The Ramones aren't only the sort of band that you would go and mosh to. It's also a band that you can have romance around, too. I remember looking around and seeing people make out in the audience. It was that sort of Fifties inspiration. It's a bunch of street guys who aren't afraid to sing a sappy love song, too.[/quote]