The Ramones (Johnny Ramone) by David Corio

I think this picture captured the persona of Johnny Ramone – requisite Ramones tee-shirt, guitar slung impossibly low, drainpipe jeans plastered on...

I think this picture captured the persona of Johnny Ramone – requisite Ramones tee-shirt, guitar slung impossibly low, drainpipe jeans plastered on skinny long legs spread out wide and all of this capped by a contemptuous sneer on his face. Johnny Ramone’s super-fast ‘buzzsaw’ guitar had a huge impact on the punk scene and he could make a two-minute song sound like an epic.

The Ramones were synonymous with CBGB’s the legendary New York club on The Bowery that kickstarted the careers of many US punk bands. Considering his punk credentials I was taken aback to hear Johnny paying tribute to George Bush at the Ramones induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and not even mentioning lead singer Joey Ramone who had recently passed away.

Johnny Ramone died of prostate cancer in 2004.