"Hey Ho, Let's Go!" became the war cry for a revolution against the pedestrian sounds of soft rock over the radio. That chant would encompass the globe and bring about a change in music everywhere. With the Ramones first album they drew a fan base of angst filled youth ready to have something to do and to sniff some glue.
Dee Dee Ramone summed up the formula for Punk rock as "Rock n roll should be three words and a chorus, and three words should be good enough to say it all." There was simplicity in the style but the underlying ideas and emotions were complex, raw, and tough. But it definitely was enough to change bring subculture into direct conflict with pop culture.
Independence of thought and self reliance were the main themes for this revolution. No more would they sit idly by and listen to crappy surf music that was uninspiring. From now on it was going to be hardcore rock n roll and living according to your own rules.
The band was put together by Johnny and Dee Dee after Johnny had seen a New York Dolls concert and realized he could be as good as them... perhaps even better. With the moniker "Ramone" the three guys- Joey, Johnny, and Dee Dee started to play. However, Dee Dee, who did the vocals and Bass guitar, was unable to sing which meant that Joey had to relinquish his drums to Tommy in order to sing. Johnny played lead guitar. They began to play at CBGBs and after some time they attracted quite a large crowd of people. They threw together a demo which labels would not listen to, despite their popularity nor could they get it played over the radio. The radio was being saturated with crap rock and boring music and the Ramones were determined to take over the airwaves and bring back rock n roll radio.
After playing their demo to every producer they could catch, they finally signed up with Sire records. They immediately went into the studio and put out a raw, visceral album in nearly one take album which consisted of 14 tracks and lasted about half an hour. Now, in the business, Johnny, like Springsteen, would play until his fingers bled and drenched his guitar in blood. Nevertheless, he and Dee Dee played stone faced and stoic as they rocked the stage.
Joey as the new vocalist had a voice like no other. It was similar to a Brit inflection but it was his Queens accent that gave it the unique sound. The four guys co-wrote many songs based on what they saw around themselves, be it two chicks who were their biggest fans, a rich mom beating on her spoiled little brat, or hookers standing on 53rd and 3rd. Songs like "Chainsaw" and "I Don't Wanna Go Down to The Basement" reflected their love of cheap B horror movies. And of course they had to have a cover song (Let's Dance).
But it would not be an easy road for the Ramones. By 1978, the Ramones felt they were on a road to ruin as labels were abandoning Punk Rock groups. Even their own label, Sire, was refusing to market Punk. The radio also refused to give up the airwaves. But probably the most hurtful of all was the fact that the British Punk Rock groups were overshadowing them, despite the fact that the Ramones were the ones to give them life. Tommy decided by 1978 that it would be best if he were left to produce and write songs, not play the drums. He was replaced by Marky Ramone who was able to perform just as well, if not better, than Tommy. He came on board at a time when the Ramones were looking for some recognition for their accomplishments.
They were touring like mad and trying to reach that star of fame but it was simply too distant. Knowing this, the angst and frustration resonated through their music. Notice the past tense in "I Wanted Everything". They were no longer optimistic and this was no longer a joke. Punk was on it's deathbed.
"Needles and Pins" comes across through Joey's voice as more suicidal and lonely than any Ramones song before or since. "I Wanna Be Sedated" was taken from a true event in which Joey demanded that he be put in a wheelchair and put in a plane before he went insane after recovering from a serious burn.
But by this time the Ramones had finished a movie called "Rock n Roll High School". The movie had elements of a B movie which suited them and it put their name out in the spotlight. Unfortunately, they were further cast as campy and not tough and hardcore which did not help.
By 1984 the Ramones were going for one last reach for the star of fame.The band had been divided over which direction to take- change their sound to be played on the radio or to go hardcore. Ultimately, they decided to go hardcore in Too Tough To Die. Their old philosophy of "less is more" became their mantra and the album turned out to be probably their best.
Before this happened, Marky left the band due to alcoholism and he was replaced by Ritchie. He did not quite fit into the group but he was able to keep up with the fast pace of the songs. The band was fighting to stay alive though their Punk Rock successors had overshadowed them, hence the name "Too Tough To Die".
The album is much more mature and reflect their growing concern with the state of the world. In a time when Reagan had declared a war on terrorism, the Ramones felt the world had become less safe. In "Planet Earth 1988" Dee Dee Ramone sings, prophetically, that "the terrorist threat is a modern fear... death destruction, bombs galore/ the rich are laughing at the poor".
Other songs reflected their rejuvenated talent which shocked and surprised everyone. The album put the Ramones back on top of the Punk Rock scene.
After some time, Marky returned to the band only to see Dee Dee leave and be replaced by C-Jay. Johnny was devastated because the two men had agreed to be in it together forever. By the early nineties the band broke up and everyone went off on their own little collaborations or solo projects.
Joey had a solo album by the end of the millennium but he died of lymphatic cancer in May 2000. Dee Dee did a number of solo albums but he too died about a year after by OD. Marky is currently touring with the Damned, the Dickies, and Jerry Only (Misfits). I saw them in Ventura and it was awesome. The Misfits (Jerry Only is the only (HA!) member left) and Marky just completed an album. Johnny is keeping the spirit of the Ramones alive by putting out the CD's and putting out compilations and tribute albums. Tommy is doing something I suppose. Ritchie and C-Jay can go fuck themselves. Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Marky were inducted into the Rock n Roll hall of fame this last year thus ensuring that the Ramones are too fucking tough to die.
