LOS ANGELES (Ramones Official Website) -
Dee Dee Ramone (real name
Douglas Glenn Colvin) died of an apparent drug overdose at 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday (June 5) at his home in Los Angeles. He was 49.
According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, Ramone was found by his wife, Barbara, on their living room couch with drug paraphernalia on a nearby table and a syringe on the kitchen counter. The spokesperson said that his wife had left the residence and upon returning home, found Ramone at 8:25 p.m. and called 911. The Los Angeles City Fire Department paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead on the scene shortly after, at 8:40 p.m.
An autopsy is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT on Thursday (June 6) to determine the cause of death. However, the spokesperson says that if it was indeed the accidental drug overdose that they believe it was, the cause of death "will be deferred pending toxicology tests, which could take three to four weeks."
Ramone, born Sept. 18, 1952 in Fort Lee, Va., was a founding member of the influential punk band the Ramones, which were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March. The group was formed in New York in 1974 and was known for such hits as "Rock and Roll High School," "I Wanna Be Sedated," and "Blitzkrieg Bop," among others.
Dee Dee Ramone also had a solo career, which included the rap album, Standing in the Spotlight, under the name Dee Dee King, and the punk records 1995's I Hate Freaks Like You, 1997's Zonked, and 2000's compilation Greatest & Latest. He has also written such books as the novel Chelsea Horror Hotel and Lobotomy: Surviving the Ramones.
Former bandmate Joey Ramone died of lymphatic cancer also at the age of 49 last year. The tribute album to the Ramones is still due on Columbia sometime this year, with contributions from Rob Zombie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eddie Vedder, Marilyn Manson, the Pretenders, Green Day, and others.
A posting on the official Ramones Web site on early Thursday reads: "Make a joyful noise unto God. All ye Lands; sing forth the honor of Dee Dee's Name; make his praise glorious."
His last performance was Saturday (June 1) at the punk rock tribute-themed Club Makeup in Los Angeles.
