Marky Ramone is a definite punk rock legend, so of course I jumped at the chance to review this two-disk set. Disk one is a best of Marky and his band the Intruders, while disk two is a tribute to the band that he is best known to have played with, obviously the Ramones. Yet before he became a Ramone, Marc Bell spent some time with bands such as Wayne County and Richard Hell and The Voidoids.

Hell, a punk legend himself, in one story says that Marky finally left the band because he grew tired of "eating dog food." Hell (who is know for being a bit difficult, no... eccentric that's a better word, has more of a ring to it, eccentric; see what I mean?) at this time would only do gigs sporadically, or as lore would have it, when the rent was due. Another account of Marky's departure is the simple fact that the Ramones drummer, Tommy, was leaving the band, so bassist Dee Dee Ramone asked Marky to take his place. However you look at it, considering the punk rock scene, it was more than likely a result of both. So, join the Ramones he did and the rest is rock 'n' roll history.

Marky's wide range of influences made him a perfect fit for The Ramones; along with the others, he dug everything from 1950s rock 'n' roll to the girl groups of the early sixties. With The Ramones, as well as with The Intruders you can hear these influences come through in the music that both bands play. Although that seems to be the case with any band that Marky plays with or has a hand in shaping the sound of.

On disk one of Start Of The Century, both versions of the Intruders (there are two different line-ups) have a traditional punk sound. Gritty, tense vocals woven together with solid bass runs and loud, simple guitar riffs, while being held together by the superb drumming skills of Marky. Some of the standout tracks for me include a punked-up version of the Beatles' "Nowhere Man" and the piano-led, late '50s-styled rocker "Don't Blame Me", which has a great sax solo and guest vocals by Joan Jett.