Tommy Ramone is only surviving (real) founding member for the Ramones. He is only one who could tell truth of Ritchie (Richie) Stern. This Ritchie Stern is different than (drummer) Richie (Reinhardt) Ramone. Tommy writes long reply of Ritchie on my book Ramones: Soundtrack Of Our Lives interview.

Here is little bit what Tommy tells of Ritchie Stern in my book. Tommy Ramone: "Dee Dee was there from the beginning, and Dee Dee wanted to play guitar not bass; but Ritchie Stern could not play the bass so Dee Dee had to and then became the bass player. Ritchie gave up right away he never played with the Ramones at all, no practice no nothing."

Dee Dee tells in the Ramones: End Of The Century movie: "We had one friend, Ritchie Stern, and he was the leader of The Stooges fans."