Tommy Ramone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tommy Ramone
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Ramone in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tamás Erdélyi |
| Also known as | Thomas Erdelyi, Erdélyi Tamás, Scotty |
| Born | January 29, 1949 Budapest, Hungary |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 11, 2014 (aged 65) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Punk rock, bluegrass |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1965–2014 |
Thomas Erdelyi (born Tamás Erdélyi), known as Tommy Ramone, was a musician and record producer from Hungary and America. He was the drummer for the famous punk rock band, the Ramones. He played drums for them from 1974 to 1978. Later, he also helped produce their music. Tommy was the last original member of the Ramones to pass away.
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Early Life and Music
Tamás Erdélyi was born in Budapest, Hungary, on January 29, 1949. His parents were photographers. They survived a very difficult time in history by being hidden by kind neighbors.
His family left Hungary in 1956. In 1957, they moved to the United States. They first lived in the South Bronx, then moved to Forest Hills in Queens, New York. Tommy grew up in Forest Hills. He later called it "home sweet home." He changed his name to Thomas Erdelyi.
In high school, Tommy played guitar in a band called the Tangerine Puppets. This was in the mid-1960s. Another schoolmate, John Cummings, who would become Johnny Ramone, also played guitar in this band. After high school, Tommy worked as an assistant engineer at a music studio. He even worked on an album for the famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
Joining the Ramones
When the Ramones first started, Johnny Ramone played guitar, Dee Dee Ramone played bass, and Joey Ramone played drums. Tommy Erdelyi was supposed to be their manager. But Joey, the drummer, found it hard to keep up with the band's fast music. So, Joey became the lead singer.
Even though Tommy had never played drums before, he became the band's drummer. Dee Dee Ramone later said, "Tommy Ramone, who was managing us, finally had to sit down behind the drums, because nobody else wanted to."
Tommy was the drummer from 1974 to 1978. He played on and helped produce their first three albums: Ramones, Leave Home, and Rocket to Russia. He also played on their live album It's Alive. His last show as the Ramones' drummer was on May 4, 1978.
In an interview, Tommy Ramone said the band was inspired by other artists. These included the glam-rock band the New York Dolls, singer-songwriter Lou Reed, and artist Andy Warhol. He said the music scene where the Ramones played was "intellectual."
Behind the Scenes with the Band
In 1978, Marky Ramone took over as the drummer for the Ramones. But Tommy Ramone stayed involved. He managed the band and helped produce their fourth album, Road to Ruin. He also returned to produce their eighth album, Too Tough to Die, in 1984.
Tommy Ramone wrote the song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." He also wrote most of "Blitzkrieg Bop," with bassist Dee Dee suggesting the title. Tommy and another producer, Ed Stasium, played all the guitar solos on the albums Tommy produced. This was because Johnny Ramone preferred playing rhythm guitar.
In the 1980s, Tommy produced albums for other bands. These included the Replacements album Tim and Redd Kross's Neurotica. In 2002, he helped produce a song for former Ramones members C.J. and Marky.
On October 8, 2004, Tommy played as a Ramone again. He joined C.J. Ramone, Daniel Rey, and Clem Burke for a concert called "Ramones Beat Down on Cancer."
Tommy Ramone also performed in a folk music duo called Uncle Monk. He played with Claudia Tienan. Their music was based on bluegrass. Tommy said that punk and old-time music are similar. He explained that both are "home-brewed" and have an "earthy energy." He said anyone can pick up an instrument and start playing them.
Later Years and Legacy
Tommy Ramone passed away at his home in Ridgewood, Queens, New York, on July 11, 2014. He was 65 years old. He had been receiving care for bile duct cancer.
Many people remembered Tommy's impact. One writer said that before Tommy left the band, the Ramones were already one of the most important punk bands. They played at the famous CBGB's club in New York and toured a lot. The band's official Twitter account shared Tommy's own words from 1976. He had said New York was the "perfect place to grow up neurotic." He also added that the Ramones were unique because they were "four original, unique people."
Another writer, Cristopher Morris, said that Tommy's "driving, high-energy drum work was the turbine that powered the leather-clad foursome's loud, antic sound." This shows how important his drumming was to the Ramones' music.
Discography
Albums with the Ramones
- Ramones (1976)
- Leave Home (1977)
- Rocket to Russia (1977)
- Road to Ruin (1978, producer only)
- It's Alive (Recorded in 1977, released in 1979)
- Too Tough to Die (1984, producer only)
- NYC 1978 (2003)
Albums with Uncle Monk
- Uncle Monk (2006)
See also
In Spanish: Tommy Ramone para niños
