I Want Him To Be Well

Bad news from the rock n' roll front: The Ramones' legendarily cranky-conservative guitarist Johnny is in an L.A. hospital, "fighting a losing battle with cancer," reports CNN.

Everything I, and then Nick Gillespie and I, had to say in relation to singer Joey Ramone's legacy when he died back in 2001 bears repeating about his guitarist partner (and often sparring partner) Johnny. And it bears mentioning again and again that this guy is truly one of the greatest rock n' roll guitarists ever, brutally simple, contagiously fun, an innovator and a stylist without peer and an inspiration to almost all who ever heard him. Hoping hard that this isn't goodbye, and may his wall of perfect buzzsaw grind ring out forever.