"I am just honored that people still like us, and people are still nice to me."

—Johnny Ramone, March, 2004

Johnny Ramone, guitarist of the legendary punk rock band The Ramones, died in his sleep Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 55 years old.

The highly influential guitarist was a co-founder of the seminal group, which many consider the first real punk rock band.

Ramone, born John Cummings, was surrounded by friends and loved ones Sunday afternoon when he passed away at his Los Angeles home, his publicist told the Associated Press late Wednesday night.

The guitarist, thought by some to be the fastest in the world, had been fighting prostate cancer, and had kept his sickness private for four years. The news of it only became public in June when he lapsed into a coma for a week and was hospitalized.

The Legend Lives On:  Long Live Johnny Ramone