Ramones to Receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy

Punk pioneers the Ramones are set to receive their first Grammy award when the gongs are given out next February -- a mere 14 years since the group last played a note together, reports Billboard.com. The award ceremony is likely to prove a bittersweet experience given that drummer Tommy Ramone -- real name Thomas Erdelyi -- is the last surviving member of the original line-up. Singer Joey, guitarist Johnny and bassist Dee Dee died within three years of each at the turn of the century.

Joining the Ramones will be Hollywood star Julie Andrews, country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, jazz drummer Roy Haynes, the Juilliard String Quartet, folk band the Kingston Trio and 101-year-old gospel singer and composer George Beverly Shea.

Widely regarded as the first punk band, the Ramones formed in New York in 1974 and, along with numerous contemporaries such as Television and Patti Smith, their name became synonymous with Bowery-based venue CBGBs. Early gigs often clocked in at around the 20-minute mark such was the speed of their delivery and their 1976 eponymous debut album proved hugely influential on the nascent British punk scene.

Despite various line-up changes, the Ramones toured relentlessly and by the time they reached the end of the road had played an impressive 2,263 concerts in their 22-year lifespan.

The Ramones have previously been inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

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