Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Dee Dee Ramone (born Douglas Glenn Colvin) (September 18, 1951 – June 5, 2002) was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones. Though nearly all of the Ramones' songs were credited equally to all the band members, Dee Dee was the band's second most prolific lyricist and songwriter, writing many of the band's most well-known songs, such as "53rd & 3rd", "Commando", "Rockaway Beach" and "Poison Heart". He was initially the band's lead vocalist, though his (then) inability to sing and play bass at the same time resulted in original drummer Joey Ramone taking over the lead vocalist duties. Dee Dee would serve as the band's bassist and songwriter from 1974 through 1989, when he left to pursue a short-lived career in hip hop music under the name Dee Dee King.