According tot the Associated Press (AP), former Ramones drummer Richie Ramone, also known as Richie Beau (real name: Richard Reinhardt), has filed a federal lawsuit Friday claiming he is owed nearly $1 million in royalties on songs sold over the internet.
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Reinhardt, who performed with the Ramones between 1983 and 1987, sued Wal-Mart, Apple, RealNetworks, the band\'s management and the estate of its lead guitarist Johnny Ramone, claiming he had never fully signed over the rights to the six songs he wrote for the group.
Specifically, Reinhardt claims there was never any written deal authorizing the sale of those songs digitally. He says he is owed at least $900,000 in royalties, and asks the court to issue an injunction preventing further use of his compositions without permission.
Reinhardt\'s six songs for the Ramones were Smash You, Somebody Put Something in My Drink, Human Kind, I\'m Not Jesus, I Know Better Now and (You) Can\'t Say Something Nice.
Before working with the Ramones, Richie drummed with Velveteen, and is also reported to have drummed with Annie Golden\'s band The Shirts.
Richie Ramone played his last show as a Ramone on August 12, 1987, in East Hampton, New York, after four-and-a-half years and 500 shows.
When he quit, the band looked for other drummers. Clem Burke filled in for two gigs, soon after Marky Ramone (real name: Marc Bell) returned.