Linda Stein, former manager to the Ramones and ex–wife of Seymour Stein, president of Sire Records, was killed in a shocking and senseless murder yesterday. Stein, a former schoolteacher co–managed the Ramones during the band's heyday. She's credited with bringing the Ramones to England for their infamous July 4, 1976, show. That performance is often described as the catalyst for the punk movement in Britain. After Stein and Fields parted ways with the Ramones in 1980, she eventually launched a real estate career brokering multimillion–dollar Manhattan apartments for rock and roll royalty.

Stein's daughter found her body Tuesday night face down in the living room of the apartment, located in a doorman building on Fifth Avenue where she lived alone. There were no signs of a break–in or robbery, and police said they had no motive or suspects. An autopsy found that Stein, 62, died from blows to the head and neck.

Our deepest condolences to Linda's friends and family.