Joey Ramone, 1977 / Photo by Jenny Lens, From July 2001 Issue

I REMEMBER YOU:

Bono, U2: "In Dublin in 1977, when I saw Joey singing, I knew nothing else mattered to him. Pretty soon nothing else mattered to me. The Ramones stopped the music world long enough for U2 and other garage bands to get on. They invented something -- punk rock -- but they offered even more than that. It was the idea that your limitations were what made you. Your street, your neighborhood, and your record collection were the size of your universe."

Dexter Holland, The Offspring: "The Ramones have been a huge inspiration to me and the band. Joey was really kind to us and always came to see us when we played New York. It couldn't have been easy for him seeing punk bands come on the scene years later and have success, but he was always so gracious, so supportive. Musically as well as personally, he set such a strong example."

Adam Horovitz, Beastie Boys: "The Ramones were my first real influence, a bunch of local kids from Queens who made me realize that I could actually start a band myself."

Ronnie Spector: "It's not always easy to teach an old rock'n'roller new tricks, but Joey did so with kindness and gentleness. And his respect for me as both an artist and a woman was so genuine and heartfelt. When I had to go to England to promote [1998's] She Talks to Rainbows [which Joey produced], he insisted on going, even though it wasn't in his best interest, health-wise. He gave me everything he had, and I know that even with his last breath, he was there pushing for me. Rock lost its most generous soul."