The last original member of a popular 70s punk rock band has died at the age of 62.
Tommy Ramone, who was the original drummer with The Ramones, was reported to have been undergoing treatment for bile duct cancer at a hospice before his death.
The band’s Twitter account announced his death by posting “We are saddened to announce the passing of Ramones founding drummer Tommy (Erdelyi) Ramone. #RIPTommy Ramone”.
The record producer and musician, who was born in Budapest in Hungary, died yesterday at his home in New York.
Founded in 1974, the band was one of the biggest names of the punk rock era and had a major influence on the genre.
Its four members were not related, but they all adopted the surname Ramone.
Tommy Ramone, whose real surname was Erdelyi, was the last surviving member of the original four.
The Ramones finally disbanded in 1996. Joey Ramone died of lymphoma in 2001, Dee Dee died of a drug overdose in 2002 and Johnny died from prostate cancer in 2004.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
