In Memoriam: Lorna Doom
Teresa Ryan, aka Lorna Doom of L.A. punk band The Germs, has passed away from breast cancer. She was 61 years old. A family representative announced the news in a statement.
“Teresa Ryan aka Lorna Doom was always a woman of mystery. So much so, that even in her final days as she fought a tough, year-long battle with cancer, very few people even knew she was ill,” they write. “She kept a very close-knit social circle, and those who knew her and loved her always respected her desire for privacy. When she finally lost her struggle with cancer at 12:50 pm yesterday, Wednesday, January 16th, it came as a shock to many, as she had chosen to not burden others with what she was going through.”
Doom joined The Germs (which included Darby Crash, Pat Smear, and Don Bolles) in 1976. The group was one of the first Los Angeles area bands to release an album. 1971’s G.I. was produced by Joan Jett became one of the most influential U.S. albums in the genre. It was later called one of the most important punk albums of all time by Rolling Stone.
After Darby Crash died of a heroin overdose in 1980, Doom left the music scene. She would return in the mid-2000’s as part of a Germs reunion coinciding with a biopic about Crash.
Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Lorna Doom.
