OT non sports the Boss

[Michael B]

Tommy Ramone, the last original member of the Ramones, passed away Friday, July 11th at the age of 65. He played drums on the first 3 albums before being replaced by Marky (Mark Bell, formerly of Richard Hell & the Voidoids). He was assistant producer on the first album, producer on the next three and on 1984's 'Too Tough to Die". He is listed as the producer under his real name of Tommy Erdelyi. I never had the chance to see him with the Ramones. I did see him with his life partner of 40 years, Claudie Tienan, in their band Uncle Monk. You would have never guessed seeing this 60+ year old man in glasses and long gray hair playing bluegrass, country and american standards was the drummer for one of the most groundbreaking bands of all time. I was supposed to see him in April, 2013 in a small club in Virginia on a tour with original Sex Pistol Glen Matlock, but he had to pull out due to illness (bile cancer). He was replaced by Syl Sylvain of the New York Dolls. His chops were most evident on songs like 'Blitzkrieg Bop', 'Teenage Lobotomy' and the two surf covers 'California Sun' an 'Surfin' Bird'.
RIP Tommy -

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Tommy Ramone, the last original member of the Ramones, passed away Friday, July 11th at the age of 65. He played drums on the first 3 albums before being replaced by Marky (Mark Bell, formerly of Richard Hell & the Voidoids). He was assistant producer on the first album, producer on the next three and on 1984's 'Too Tough to Die". He is listed as the producer under his real name of Tommy Erdelyi. I never had the chance to see him with the Ramones. I did see him with his life partner of 40 years, Claudie Tienan, in their band Uncle Monk. You would have never guessed seeing this 60+ year old man in glasses and long gray hair playing bluegrass, country and american standards was the drummer for one of the most groundbreaking bands of all time. I was supposed to see him in April, 2013 in a small club in Virginia on a tour with original Sex Pistol Glen Matlock, but he had to pull out due to illness (bile cancer). He was replaced by Syl Sylvain of the New York Dolls. His chops were most evident on songs like 'Blitzkrieg Bop', 'Teenage Lobotomy' and the two surf covers 'California Sun' an 'Surfin' Bird'.
RIP Tommy -

Oh the Ramones ...Some levity , I had a friend /customer named John Cummings that I used to talk on the phone to for at least twice a week over 10 years ....I heard that Johnny Ramone was a big time baseball collector so I wanted to introduce myself , I knew a NY attorney who represented a lot of acts including the Ramones. So I asked him for a possible introduction. He called me back about 15 minutes later and could not stop laughing.....I asked him "whats so funny?" and he said "does the name John Cummings ring a bell?" and I said yea John is a friend of mine .......and he laughed and said ...well you are already friends with John Ramone. Next time I talked to John on the phone I asked him why he didn't tell me and he said "Its just a little rock & roll band ...No big deal".... finally I got invited to a concert on their World tour when I was in Hawaii , they were in Japan and got snowed in ......I showed up at the venue and there were about 300 angry fans , security told me it was a good idea to leave quickly. Never got to meet him, but felt like I knew him....should have known something was up when I called him and his answering machine consisted of a guitar riff and a BEEP !
_________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com


Vintage autographs for sale on my web site
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[Michael B]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Oh the Ramones ...Some levity , I had a friend /customer named John Cummings that I used to talk on the phone to for at least twice a week over 10 years ....I heard that Johnny Ramone was a big time baseball collector so I wanted to introduce myself , I knew a NY attorney who represented a lot of acts including the Ramones. So I asked him for a possible introduction. He called me back about 15 minutes later and could not stop laughing.....I asked him "whats so funny?" and he said "does the name John Cummings ring a bell?" and I said yea John is a friend of mine .......and he laughed and said ...well you are already friends with John Ramone. Next time I talked to John on the phone I asked him why he didn't tell me and he said "Its just a little rock & roll band ...No big deal".... finally I got invited to a concert on their World tour when I was in Hawaii , they were in Japan and got snowed in ......I showed up at the venue and there were about 300 angry fans , security told me it was a good idea to leave quickly. Never got to meet him, but felt like I knew him....should have known something was up when I called him and his answering machine consisted of a guitar riff and a BEEP !
_________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com


Vintage autographs for sale on my web site
stinsonsports.com

I bumped nto him at one of the old UACC shows in New York City in the late 1980's. He was just there looking for signatures for his collection. Happy to sign for me when I asked. The main 4 that everyone knew were always good for signing autographs. They had multiple in store album signings when they passed through Boston. They also came to Boston for the premier of 'Rock 'N' Roll High School'. They stood behind the candy counter signing autographs. Still one of my all time favorite 'fan friendly' bands.

[HOFautosChris]

Went to see a fantastic show of a band called the The Baseball Project if you have not heard them yet really should check them out. The band features Peter Buck and Mike Mills of REM fame. Peter was not on tour this show but Mike Mills was gracious enough to sign a few of my albums.

[HOFautosChris]

Was able to add a huge name today in person. Dickey Betts was nice enough to sign these two classics after his show. Hoping to add Greg Allman to these in the coming weeks.

[JimStinson]

Nice snag on the Dickey Betts !!! Hugely under-rated guitar player ! And that cover photo from the Fillmore is classic , One of my all time favorite records too ...Have worn out at least a few.

Long time ago right after Duane died , the Allman's were doing a concert at the University of Florida and the opening act was ...get this B.B. KING ! When he was through I thought the ROOF was going to fall down ...remember that was the YOUNG B.B. King they kept calling him back for encore after encore . And I remember thinking the Allman's would not even take the stage.

When they finally did .....It was Dickey Betts that stole the show back.
____________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

Vintage Autographs For Sale on my web site
stinsonsports.com

[Michael B]

Smalll Faces and Faces keyboard player and Rolling Stones sideman Ian McLagan passed away yesterday, December 2, at his home in Austin, Texas. A very pleasant person to meet. Here is a photo of him playing in Vienna, VA July 9, 2007 (My Mother's birthday) and his signature in my rockbook (I did not feel like photographing the albums he signed)