Chris Frantz on Tommy Ramone: Remembering the Ramones' Backbeat

Thomas Erdelyi, better known as Tommy Ramone, who died of cancer at 65 on July 11th, was the Ramones' manager, co-producer and original drummer. After leaving the band, he produced the Replacements' 1985 LP "Tim" and, more recently, led a bluegrass duo. Here, he's remembered by a longtime friend, Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz.

The first tour Talking Heads ever did was supporting the Ramones in Europe in the spring of 1977. We shared a bus, and I talked with Tommy a lot. His family had fled the Iron Curtain in Hungary. He had a seriousness about him that was different......