Tommy Ramone Original Ramones Drummer Dead At Age 65

Dangerous Minds has reported that original Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone, aged 65, has died following a long battle with cancer.

DM's Richard Metzger wrote that Ramone's partner Claudia Tienan asked NY Rocker editor Andy Schwartz to announce the drummer's passing today.

Schwartz posted the announcement about Ramone's death on his Facebook page: "It is with sadness and regret that I report the passing of Tom Erdelyi a/k/a Tommy Ramone who died at 12.15 pm [US EST] today (7.11.2014) at his home in Ridgewood, Queens. He was 65 and had been in hospice care following treatment for cancer of the bile duct."

Originally pegged to manage Ramones, Erdelyi ended up as the band's original drummer — co-producing their first three albums.

Erdelyi stepped aside from drumming duties in 1978, but remained with the band in a management role as well as assisting with production duties.

His production work outside of Ramones included recordings with The Replacements and Redd Kross.

In recent years Erdelyi and Tienan had played in country roots outfit Uncle Monk.