R-A-M-O-N-E-S, Ramones!

[willywonka666]

I've recently gotten on a little bit of a Ramones kick again and wondered what was everyone's thoughts.

It's sad that of the original classic lineup, only Tommy their drummer survives.

It's also a testament to the dedication to their work that they could carry on as long as they did with Joey & Johnny barely on speaking terms.

It bothers me that seemingly some kids wear their shirt and don't know any f***ing thing about them though, or how some might make you think they recorded one song-I Wanna Be Sedated

I might watch Rock'n'Roll High School tonight.

Thoughts? Hey Ho, Let's Go!

[mjolnir]

Love the Ramones, discovered them at a young age by way of a certain Stephen King novel turned movie they recorded a song for.

Being born and raised in Chicago helped a little too, admittedly.

[chazraps]

Feb 15, 2013 21:25:03 GMT -5 willywonka666 said:

It bothers me that seemingly some kids wear their shirt and don't know any f***ing thing about them though, or how some might make you think they recorded one song-I Wanna Be Sedated

Honestly, as much s I love(d) the Ramones and how much their catalog meant to me in high school, they're one band I don't get hung up on people "posing," as it were, to be fans. Their wave of American punk was birthed in such a destitute place out of such feel-good Americana that whether one song or several albums bring somebody enough joy is just another person touched by their legacy.

Like I said, their music meant the world to me during my first real heartbreak at age 15. It was such a happy destructive unironic bit of fun to be fully caught up in. Being a fan didn't feel like you were part of an army or a cult, but a movement. Even if that movement had long since been stationary, seeing a Ramones button on someone, or hearing "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" or "The KKK Took My Baby Away" on a mixtape was such a calling card for "let's just have fun."

It's not that I like their music less now, but rather I don't ever think I'll be able to engage with it again like I did between the ages of 14 and 17. That's such a fleeting "just give me the good parts" live fast special time, having the Ramones as the soundtrack just fit perfectly. I still have four or five of their albums on my iPod and don't skip them when they randomly come up, but knowing I was able to have them in my life during that brief window where listening to them was just perfect really makes me feel fortunate.

Question for the thread, we all discovered the Ramones in junior high/high school, right? I've had the thought the past few years that I can't imagine some guy in his mid-30s working at a bank with a family all of a sudden discovering "Carbona Not Glue" and wylin' out.

[mizerable]

They're probably one of the few 70's punk bands that I can actually listen to.

[Deleted]

Love them. My dad was a big fan of The Ramones and played them all the time and well it just carried on

[King Boo]

Love.

[Deleted]

I love Shonen Knife's tribute song to them:

[The OP]

Love them. Dee Dee is one of the best songwriters in American history. It says something when a band fires you and then buys your songs for subsequent records they're making without you.

Feb 15, 2013 22:25:54 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Question for the thread, we all discovered the Ramones in junior high/high school, right? I've had the thought the past few years that I can't imagine some guy in his mid-30s working at a bank with a family all of a sudden discovering "Carbona Not Glue" and wylin' out.

I'm sure the answer to this question is probably yes for everyone if not younger, but I don't see why an adult couldn't discover it and get into it if they could listen to something like the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin. I don't see classic rock bands like that as being in any way more sophisticated than the Ramones.

[chazraps]

Feb 15, 2013 23:42:25 GMT -5 The OP said:

Love them. Dee Dee is one of the best songwriters in American history. It says something when a band fires you and then buys your songs for subsequent records they're making without you.

Feb 15, 2013 22:25:54 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Question for the thread, we all discovered the Ramones in junior high/high school, right? I've had the thought the past few years that I can't imagine some guy in his mid-30s working at a bank with a family all of a sudden discovering "Carbona Not Glue" and wylin' out.

I'm sure the answer to this question is probably yes for everyone if not younger, but I don't see why an adult couldn't discover it and get into it if they could listen to something like the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin. I don't see classic rock bands like that as being in any way more sophisticated than the Ramones.

Wasn't the point of the Ramones being how stripped down they were in every aspect?

[The OP]

They're known for having had a stripped down approach, but I wouldn't say it was the point, the point was to write songs and play in a band. What I'm getting at is that I think Dee Dee was a great writer. There's wit to songs like "Rockaway Beach" and "Blitzkrieg Bop" and and the poetry of songs like "53rd & 3rd" and "It's Not For Me To Know" is emotionally effective.

Maybe it isn't what you meant, but it sounded to me like you were saying the Ramones is just teeny-bopper music and you don't see it as something adults could enjoy and relate to and I disagree with that assessment.

[SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts]

Have the Rolling Stones killed.

[chazraps]

Feb 16, 2013 0:49:38 GMT -5 The OP said:

They're known for having had a stripped down approach, but I wouldn't say it was the point, the point was to write songs and play in a band. What I'm getting at is that I think Dee Dee was a great writer. There's wit to songs like "Rockaway Beach" and "Blitzkrieg Bop" and and the poetry of songs like "53rd & 3rd" and "It's Not For Me To Know" is emotionally effective.

Maybe it isn't what you meant, but it sounded to me like you were saying the Ramones is just teeny-bopper music and you don't see it as something adults could enjoy and relate to and I disagree with that assessment.

Oh, I wasn't saying that at all. What I meant was, their catchy and "just the good parts" approach to song writing that made the bulk of their catalog around the 2-2:30 mark is just so ideal for those fast paced rebellious-even-if-I-don't-know-I'm-rebelling high school years, that I can't imagine those first few months of first becoming a Ramones fan being as perfect at any other age.

Of course their less-is-more and often visceral approach to songwriting is rightfully heralded and, let's face it, truly timeless, but let's say if someone becomes a Ramones fan after they've got the bulk of their life figured out, they missed out.

[Deleted]

They're cool but I don't listen to them regularly or anything.

[Deleted]

I just saw End of the Century the documentary about them thanks to this thread. Really good documentary

[KevFalcön07]

The Ramones are my second favorite band of all time. A few photos over the last few years at various Ramones related events and such I've taken part in


With Tommy Ramone






Marky Ramone


Resting place of Joey Ramone in New Jersey





Johnny and Dee Dee's in LA


Ramones T-Shirt signed by Marky and Tommy

[The OP]

I love how Dee Dee's grave says "OK...I gotta go now." Dee Dee might be the coolest rock star ever. There's just something about him where like even other really cool people aren't as cool as Dee Dee.