Statue unveiled to Johnny Ramone

Johnny's widow Linda Cummings was at the unveiling

A statue honouring late punk guitarist Johnny Ramone has been unveiled at the cemetery where his fellow bandmate Dee Dee Ramone is buried.

Johnny died from prostate cancer in September at the age of 55.

Hundreds turned out for the ceremony, including his widow Linda and Tommy Ramone, the only surviving band member.

"He wanted the fans to have a place to come and a way to feel in touch with this music that got so many things right," said Tommy Ramone.

Stars including Nicolas Cage and director Vincent Gallo were also at the unveiling of the bronze statue.

"The first step to being free is to not care what others think of you, Johnny Ramone was free," said actor Cage during the unveiling.

"He had huge opinions, not all of which I agreed with, but he stuck to them honestly and he never wavered from them, he was a rock, he was a diamond."

Founding member

Musician and producer Rob Zombie added: "Sitting here I keep thinking of these funny stories, because every second with Johnny was odd and interesting and an experience that you would never have."

Johnny Ramone, whose real name was John Cummings, was one of the founding members of the seminal band, who scored hits with Sheena is a Punk Rocker and Baby I Love You.

The $100,000 (£53,718) statue is at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, home to the graves of famous people such as Rudolph Valentino and Cecil B DeMille.

Band members Dee Dee Ramone died of a drugs overdose in 2002 and Joey died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer.