LOS ANGELES - Johnny Ramone, the guitarist of the influencial 70's punk band The Ramones, died Wednesday afternoon at the age of 55. His wife and Red Hot Chilli Pepper's John Fuschiante were at his bedside when he died.

  Ramone (whose real name was John Cummings) had suffered from prostate cancer for five years. He is the third founding member of the band to pass away. Singer Joey Ramone died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer and bassist Dee Dee Ramone died of a drug overdose the following year.

  A fan of the Ramones, critics raved when Per Gessle released a cover version of the Ramones's hit "I Want To Be Your Boyfriend" a couple of years ago. Other members of Gyllene Tider also admire their music, with drummer Micke "Syd" Andersson wearing a "Gabba Gabba Hey" t-shirt during the GT25 tour this summer.