John Cummings (October 8, 1948 – September 15, 2004), better known as Johnny Ramone, was the guitarist for the punk rock group The Ramones. Along with vocalist Joey Ramone, he remained a member of the band throughout their career. He was known for his fast high-energy playing style that consisted of quick, double downstrokes; aka the "Buzzsaw" style: a style that was highly influential with a plethora of bands, punk and post punk. Johnny's most famous guitar is his white Mosrite Ventures II Model and the one that he is largely identified with; signature models have since been manufactured but their authenticity is questionable. However, for the real die hard Ramones fans, it was the blue one he used since the start of the band, that essentially defined the Ramones guitar sound. It was this guitar that was used on the first three albums. Unfortunately, the blue Mosrite guitar, along with the band's equipment was stolen not long after recording the third Ramones album, Rocket to Russia.
He was also known for his ability to keep everyone on task. Though often times it was thought he over-worked everyone, his focus kept the Ramones a cohesive unit, and his personal and musical style seem to have provided the motive power for Ramones songs.
Johnny Ramone's cenotaph at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Southern California.The Ramones song "The KKK Took My Baby Away" was allegedly written by Joey Ramone after Johnny "stole" his ex-girlfriend away from him. Though the band remained together for years after this incident, relations between the two remained frosty and verbal communication was almost non-existent. When Joey Ramone was in the hospital dying of cancer, Johnny refused to telephone him. Johnny discusses this incident in the biographical film End of the Century: The Story of The Ramones, saying that given their differences and estrangement it seemed pointless to call his former bandmate on his deathbed. He also added, however, that he was depressed for a week after Joey's death but couldn't figure out why, leading one to wonder how Johnny really felt about Joey after all the time and difficulties they had endured together.
Alongside his music career, he appeared in nearly a dozen movies (including Rock and Roll High School) and documentaries. He also made television appearances on such shows as The Simpsons. As a kid, he played in a band called the Tangerine Puppets. When he was older, he was known as a "greaser," though was later described as a tie-dye-wearing Stooges fan. According to remarks made by Tommy Ramone in the November 2005 issue of Mojo, Cummings lived a criminal lifestyle in his late teens — surprising, considering his image in the Ramones as a sober disciplinarian who disapproved of drug use.
Johnny was noted for a cool, reserved attitude that he rarely abandoned.
Although never a "closet Republican," (many around him said he was vocal about his opinions), Johnny made his political affiliation known to the world in 2002, when the Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After thanking everyone who made it possible — clad in his trademark T-shirt, ripped blue jeans and leather jacket — Johnny said "God bless President Bush, and God bless America," [1]. He said in an interview, when questioned on his conservatism, "I think Ronald Reagan was the best President of our lifetime."
In August, 1983, Johnny got in a fight with Seth Macklin of the band Sub Zero Construction, in front of his apartment in East New Village, when he was with his girlfriend, Cynthia Whitney (Roxy). Johnny was kicked in the head and suffered extensive injuries which required brain surgery. The event made the newspapers across the country. Johnny recovered, and the next album was titled Too Tough To Die.
His insistence on the band uniform of bowl haircut, leather jacket and white tennis shoes grated on some members, but his authoritarian style ultimately served to focus the Ramones.
On September 15, 2004, he died in his Los Angeles home after a five year battle with prostate cancer. After his death, his remains were cremated.
In 2006, the horror film The Wicker Man was dedicated to him. He was close friends with the film's producer and star, Nicolas Cage.
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