Tommy was originally just going to be the manager, but became the drummer in the band's formative days because Joey, the lead singer and the original drummer, couldn't play drums and sing at the same time. Some people say he just couldn't play drums. Anyway, Tommy took over as drummer and played with the band through their first three albums. After that, he still produced much of their music but no longer played. He hated touring, and that's what The Ramones did. Their album sales were never huge, so they made their living playing hundreds of live gigs every year. I saw them at least three times, more than any other band I've ever seen that wasn't a local band when I was in college or, later, a band I was in. Those don't count.
The Ramones were punk before there was punk. In 1976, they toured in England in support of their second album and basically gave birth to the punk scene there, influencing bands like the Sex Pistols and The Jam. They were a huge part of my youth, and I am beyond sad that all of them are gone. Sure, the replacement Ramones are still around, including later drummers Marky and Ritchie (who was fabulous) -- and even Elvis Ramone, who played two gigs as an emergency fill-in -- and bass player C.J. Ramone.
Anyway, so long Tommy. Steady as hell, as you can see in this live performance of "Blitzkrieg Bop," from their first album. The refrain of "hey, ho, let's go" became a staple of Ramones performances.
While I'm on The Ramones, got to give a hat tip to Richie, the only Ramones drummer to sing lead vocals and be the main writer on songs, including this one:
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