NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) – In the latest chapter of the long-standing feud over the Ramones’ legacy, Johnny Ramone’s widow, Linda Cummings-Ramone, scored a major legal win against Joey Ramone’s brother, Mickey Leigh. On Dec. 10, an arbitrator ruled that Leigh’s manager, David Frey, must be removed from his position as a director on the board of Ramones Productions Inc. (RPI), which oversees the band’s music and other assets. The decision cited Frey’s failure to act in the company’s best interests and accused him of fostering a “dysfunctional” and “disruptive” relationship with Cummings-Ramone.
Frey’s failure to secure Cummings-Ramone’s approval for a Netflix film adaptation of Leigh’s memoir, I Slept with Joey Ramone, was a key point in the ruling. The film, announced in 2021 with Pete Davidson set to star, would include the band’s music, which requires RPI’s approval. The arbitrator, Shira Scheindlin, said Frey “breached his duty of care, honesty, and loyalty” by moving forward without consulting Cummings-Ramone or the board. An email from Netflix even described the film as “the story of the Ramones,” further complicating Frey’s oversight.
Additionally, Frey blocked a high-profile opportunity for the Ramones’ 50th anniversary celebration, where Cummings-Ramone had been invited to throw the first pitch at a New York Mets game. Frey’s refusal to allow her to participate under the name “Linda Ramone” further strained relationships and cost the band valuable public exposure.
Cummings-Ramone expressed her excitement over the ruling, stating that preserving and expanding the Ramones’ legacy is her personal mission. She hopes this decision will allow RPI to move forward without the dysfunction caused by Frey’s actions.
However, this decision only resolves one part of the broader legal battle between Leigh and Cummings-Ramone. Other issues, including Leigh’s separate federal lawsuit accusing Cummings-Ramone of trademark infringement, are still pending. Both sides have been involved in legal disputes for over a decade, continuing the tensions that existed between Joey and Johnny during their time as bandmates.
