Artist: The Ramones
Genre: Punk Rock
Title: End of The Century-The Story Of The Ramones
Format: DVD
Label: WEA
Web site
End Of The Century-The Story Of The Ramones is one of the very best DVD career documentaries I have ever viewed; it is the type of project that deserves consideration for an award.
The Ramones where the heartbeat for a generation of punk rockers and inspired so many bands, it goes beyond words. Ironically, they never really made it when it came to album sales. Sadly, the people that they inspired left them in the dust in that respect. I can see why the band had such a bitter attitude towards the music business and the entire process of getting their music out. They did it their own way and created some of the best rock music every recorded. I emphasize that, it was not just punk - they recorded some great rock-pop songs. They never compromised their ideals and beliefs, they just played.
While I was fascinated watching this story, I was at the time very saddened how it ended. Dee Dee, Joey, and Johnny are all gone now and all that remains is the music, thank God for that. Nobody can ever take that away from us.
This was a crazy group of guys with a lot of fighting going on all the time. There is some early footage of them on stage arguing about what song to play. Members of the band and people associated with them discuss all of the drugs and drinking stories - the typical scenarios in most rock groups - piece by piece. The fact that they were a bunch of street kids from NYC made their chemistry even that much more volatile, and their music was a reflection of their personalities.
This is a snapshot of life, its does not get any more real and honest than this. Everyone interviewed is right up front about everything that happened during the development of the band.
Dee Dee, visibly strung out throughout the interviews, seemed totally whacked out and ended up dying of an overdose of heroin. It is amazing he lasted as long as he did. Johnny was very bitter and painfully honest about everything, many times answering questions with a straight face and a blank unfeeling stare. The head-to-head confrontation between Johnny and Joey really heated up when Johnny stole away Joey’s girlfriend, yet they remained together. Their music was a bond that could not be broken regardless of anything else that happened in their lives.
Article comments
1 - David Cougar
This review is dead on. MuzikMan is always fashionably correct on his reviews. But this one is another story. This DVD is incredible. It's fantastic if you are a fan of Rock Music or the Ramones. It's an intense glimpse into the lives and legacy of the Ramones. R.I.P.
2 - Temple Stark
MM,
I launched this on the world - or at least the part of the world that scours Advance.net for the (family-friendly) cream of the BC Web log.
Here's the link. Sorry here.
- Thanks. Temple
3 - Road Cat
For the best book written about the Ramones by someone who was there from the beginning to the end (Monte A. Melnick - Ramones Tour Manager) pick up - "On The Road With The Ramones"
4 - Roxy
I never ever saw this movie, but I sure want to. My best friend Ryan saw it and he told me it was a very dark movie. I herd from him that Johhny stole Joey's girlfirend. That sounded pretty sad to me. It looks intresting to, and I really want to get this for my birthday, which is next month. I also want to get it with, The Wierd Tales Of The Ramones collection. Me and Ryan are huge fans of them, and we love there music. And I'm planning to get all there Cds!!! The RAMONES are #1!!!!!!
5 - Roxy
-By the way, I love Joey Ramone. Hes hot, my bestfirend Ryan looks exactly like him. When I told Ryan that, he said I'm about the forth person that said that. Just to let you know, I'm in love with my bestfriend. No other girl would like him but me, because everybody thinks he's wierd. He is very wierd but, thats why I love him alot!!! He's diffrent than everybody elesand he's a nice sensitive, sweet person. Someday I'll stand up to him, and tell him how I feel.( But wait for the right moment!)Anyways!!!!.......... I have to go now, bye bye!!!!
6 - Bennett
Hmmmm...
(I'm guessin' Roxy hasn't heard the news.)
That or Ryan looks dead.
7 - Roxy
ha, ha, ha, very funny....