One of the dirty secrets about punk rock is that it's godfather guitarist, Johnny Ramone, was a rabid Republican. That secret became public in 2002, when the now-deceased Johnny (real name John William Cummings) declared "God Bless George Bush" at the band's Rock N Roll Hall of Fame induction. Joey Ramone, conversely, was as liberal as any punk rocker. While the two managed to look past their political differences while in the band (politics proved to be less divisive than Johnny stealing Joey's girlfriend), the Ramones' surviving family members are launching a Ramones feud from beyond the grave.

Turns out Johnny's equally rabid Republican wife, Linda Cumings, has been campaigning heavily for John McCain. Which would be all well and good, if she wasn't using the Ramone name in the process. The use of the Ramones name sent a red flag to the owner of Ramones enterprises, Mickey Leigh, a.k.a Joey Ramone's brother. Mickey released the following statement:

"As a president of Ramones Productions, and brother of Joey Ramone, I just want it to be clear that Linda Cummings does not represent the political views of the Ramones," Mickey Leigh said in a statement issued over the weekend. " Surely, as for Joey Ramone, the only Ramones song he would sing at a Republican campaign event would be ‘Glad To See You Go!’

“I should add that when Johnny stated ‘God Bless George Bush’ at the 2002 Rock&Roll Hall of Fame awards, I realize now that he was on to something. Because if it were not for George Bush and his handling of our country the past 8 years, I doubt so many Americans, including so many highly regarded Republicans, would now be getting behind Barack Obama. So, yes, God bless George Bush for paving the way to Obama.”

While we love the notion of zombie Ramones warring with each other (and imagine that Joey and Johnny would like that notion as well), it is a bit much to drag dead punk rock legends into an election that has nothing to do with them. Besides, it's not as if McCain is illegally using Ramones songs.

[Variety]