Four decades ago, on 30 March 1974, the Ramones played their first gig in New York. Four months after celebrating this momentous anniversary, the band’s founder has died aged 62. We look back on their life in music, from their eponymous debut album to their time spent with Marc Bolan and Debbie Harry
Main image: Johnny Ramone at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1979. Photograph: David Corio/Redferns
Sat 12 Jul 2014 11.40 BST First published on Sat 12 Jul 2014 11.40 BST
This photograph of the Ramones by Roberta Bayley was for their first album cover. Formed in 1974 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, the band first had Jeffrey Hyman on drums, John Cummings on guitar and Douglas Colvin providing vocals and bass. Colvin was the first to use the name Ramone, calling himself Dee Dee. Hyman became Joey, Cummings Johnny, and the Ramones were born
Ramones in concert at the Agora Ballroom in Atlanta on 30 January 1979. Dee Dee realised he couldn't sing and play bass and so Joey took over vocals. A drummer was needed. Their manager, Thomas Erdelyi, auditioned wannabes, but it soon became apparent that he himself was the man for the job, and Tommy Ramone was born. However, Dee Dee continued with the trademark 1-2-3-4 before each song
The band signed to Sire records in 1975 and, on 23 May 1976, released their eponymous debut album. The reason for choosing the name is disputed. In an interview with the Soho Weekly News in 1975, Tommy said it was chosen because 'It's a nice name … it just sounds nice.' Others say it was Dee Dee who was inspired by Paul McCartney, who would use the name Paul Ramon when checking into hotels
Joey and Dee Dee on stage at the Roundhouse on 4 July 1976. The Ramones were unloved in the US outside NYC, but things changed when they came to the UK. They supported the Flamin' Groovies at the Roundhouse in London on 4 and 5 July 1976, and were a huge success. These gigs are said to have inspired the Damned and the Clash to kickstart punk in the UK
Johnny at Eric's, in Liverpool, on 19 May 1977; where they were supported by Talking Heads. The band released two albums in 1977: Leave Home, on 10 January, and Rocket to Russia, which came out on 4 November
The Ramones stand outside the demolished Cavern Club in Mathew Street, Liverpool, in 1977. Although the warehouses at street level were levelled, the original cellar was not destroyed, but filled in with rubble from above
Punk rockers Vicki Blue and Joan Jett of the Runaways, Debbie Harry of Blondie, David Johansen of the New York Dolls, Joey Ramone, and Joey's brother Mickey Leigh perform a fake wedding ceremony in the late 1970s
Dee Dee, Joey, Tommy and Johnny in Amsterdam in September 1978. Tommy tired of touring and quit drumming duties in 1978, although he did help produce the band
Marc Bell replaced Tommy and became Marky Ramone. Three weeks later, work started on the fourth studio album, Road to Ruin. In 1979, the Ramones made their movie debut in Rock'n'Roll High School. After seeing the movie, Phil Spector became involved with the band and produced their next album, End of the Century, which was released on 4 February 1980. The result was a much softer pop sound, which didn't go down well with the band or the fans. Spector's relationship with the band came to an end
Johnny Ramone at the Hollywood Palladium in 1988. Between 1981 and 1995, the band released a further nine studio albums, and there were more changes of personnel – including Richie Ramone, Elvis Ramone and CJ Ramone
The Ramones are said to have played over 2,200 concerts, touring virtually non-stop for 22 years. Their last gig was at the Palace in Hollywood in 1996
Three of the band's four founding members – Joey, Johnny, and Dee Dee – died within eight years of the breakup. Here, mourners stop by CBGB's in New York in 2001 to lay flowers and pay their respects at a shrine to Joey. You can read Joey's obituary here, Johnny's here and Dee Dee's here
