If proto-punk bands like the New York Dolls and Stooges represented the first stirrings of punk as a musical form and an attitude, the Ramones get credit for being the first undeniably punk group, no "proto-" needed.
That the Ramones were punk is obvious; they stripped down the music to where it could be stripped no more; four chords played fast, elementary melody, absurd lyrics. They flew in the face of the rock dinosaurs of the mid 70's era, who still roamed the earth, unaware of the meteorite hurtling towards them in the form of the punk revolution.
Unlike the bands that would appear shortly after in England, they weren't political, and their music wasn't violent. They didn't set out to destroy rock 'n' roll, as the Sex Pistols did. The Ramones were all about making rock fun again.
As such, their roots lay in the innocent charms of early 60's music; pre-Beatles Beach Boys, 50's greaser rock 'n' roll, even Chuck Berry. In a sense, it was a refutation of everything between the Beatles and Led Zeppelin; the Ramones came from an alternate universe where rock had never evolved or become progressive. In other words, when it was still innocent fun.
This was a radical concept at the time, a nearly theological reinterpretation of what rock was all about. Not that the Ramones necessarily knew what they were doing when they did it. Nor could they have known at the time what an influence they'd have not just on the future of rock, but on the cultural landscape of America. Love 'em or hate 'em, they left their mark.
They weren't alone of course; their peers in New York included the Patti Smith Group, Television, Talking Heads, and Richard Hell; intellectual bohemian-types who expressed the paradigm shift in rock a lot better than the Ramones could, had they been bothered to try. The Ramones never pretended to be artists, bohemians, or intellectuals; they were simple and unpretentious. This purity of vision and execution made them the leaders of the scene; New York punk wasn't best expressed by Patti Smith or the Talking Heads, regardless of the style or sophistication of their music. The entry "punk" in the dictionary is accompanied by the Ramones' mugs.
![The Ramones [Concert Poster] (1980)](http://img256.echo.cx/img256/5732/ramonesposter26po.jpg)
![The Ramones [Concert Poster] (1978)](http://img256.echo.cx/img256/1455/ramonesposter33ne.jpg)
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
Thank you for this. The Ramones always interested me, but I never really took the time to look into them. This was very enlightening.
As a coincidence I saw Marky Ramone perform a Ramones tribute last night, they put on a great show! You can see my review Here.
2 - uao
I linked your article at the top of this one, Chris. I ran it specially since I saw yours.
Glad you enjoyed the show, for the most part. The Ramones are an acquired taste these days, and punk isn't relevant to everyone's lives or tastes.
I liked the Ramones because they seemed to transcend punk, just as Led Zeppelin transcended heavy metal. They may have been punks, but not everyone who liked them were.
3 - Chris Beaumont
Thank you, I have returned the link on mine.
Punk isn't really to my taste, but, like you said, some bands transcend genre. I will definitely pick up some Ramones music now. I also have a soft spot for The Misfits. Occasionally one of the pop-punk acts of today will catch my attention for a bit, but I don't really consider them punk.
I always tend towards certain styles, but I am not adverse to straying beyond borders and giving other styles a shot.
I look forward to Jefferson Airplane now, I discovered them when I reviewed a DVD of theirs lasty September, here.
4 - Sobriquet Magazine
End of the Century is really a great DVD. Better even that such good recent punk documentaries and The Clash: Westway to the World. The Ramones have been one of my absolute favorite bands for as long as I can remember, and the DVD really made me appreciate the band all over again.
Thanks for highlighting one of the greatest bands ever.
5 - 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"
http://hometown.aol.com/ramonesontheroad/myhomepage/books.html
6 - Vern Halen
You gotta wonder how their lack of "success" affected their health - the guys who were longest with the band are all dead. Sort of a reverse Spinal Tap - the drummers (and CJ) are all still alive, but everyone else isn't.
They're considered the progenators of punk, but I can remember when I had their first 3 or 4 albums, how most of the rest of the world couldn't stand them. It took 20 years for them to be recognized for what they were, but the were already past their best before date.
Thanx for the article - brought back some memoires.
7 - Bennett
Great job uao, and thanks for filling in some of the gaps in my memory. My big brother gave me the first two albums and all four of us (brothers) kept the Ramones in a special place in our hearts. We saw them several times over the years, always left with ringing ears. Fantastic shows, that for sure.
You seemed to mention all of my favorite tunes, Questioningly is a stone cold classic, who thought punks could cry? "When I'm comin' home, whiskey bottle - movie on TV..."
Bonzo Goes To Bitburg is Joey really pissed off at Ray-Gun, and this song displays some of the finest vocal harmonies of the punk genre.
Cabbies On Crack is so damn funny!
Thanks for a great great piece on a band that will live forever.
8 - godoggo
The only late album I'm familiar with is Too Tough to Die, and it's definitely a keeper, as you say. I guess I got lucky.
9 - Phillip Winn
Wow, this is quite a catalog of the band. Nice.
10 - Lil Mike in SF
Nice historical Ramones over view, thanx for the discography. I'm a fan as well and not to nitpick, but I'm gonna toss in a few asides.
I just want to add that I believe Marky Ramone's real name was actually Marc Bell, not Bee as stated. Aside from a stint in The Voidoids, Marc had also served time in a hard rock band called DUST that put out two LPs in 1971 & 1972 on Kama Sutra ( Neil Bogart's label). Dust is a footnote but apparently Gene Simmon's from Kiss borrowed his tongue wagging shtick from the guitar player of this early hardrock band. Another Dust rhythm section member was Kenny Aaronson who became a journeyman bassist 1st with with Stories ( Brother Louie), as well as a lengthy list of rockers like Rick Derringer, Leslie West, Edgar Winter, Sammy Hagar, Brian Setzer, Billy Idol Graham Parker, and Bob Dylan amongst others.
As for The Ramones recording with Phil Spector on End of The Century, and saying "Spector's contribution is minimal" is not entirely true. It is known that Spector replaced Dee Dee's bass tracks and Phil's numerous orchestrations and multi-tracked sound additions throughout are obvious to even an untrained ear. The whole "Be My Baby" cover idea with it's sweet saccharine string section was more a Joey solo moment of Phil's encouragement and infuriated Johnny to no end.
To say that Pleasant Dreams is a " failure" is perhaps a failure to appreciate it for what it is. Proclaiming that the inarguably classic "The KKK Took My Baby Away" and "We Want The Airwaves" are the only two keepers ignores fan faves like "It's Not My Place In The 9 to 5 World", "She's A Sensation" and "This Business Is Killing Me". I would advise anyone interested in the Ramones to not skip this work for a peek at the 1981 era Ramones, and a record that was far fresher than some of their later way more embarrassing works.
11 - uao
Bell is his name; that was a crazy typo.
Nice Spector info, Lil Mike; I like the thought of Johnny seething as Joey gets his sweet strings :-D
As for the quality of individual discs, I realize that as far as the Ramones are concerned, everyone has their own favorites. It took me a long time to accept Subterranean Jungle, but my friends liked it at the time. You've convinced me to give Pleasant Dreams another try; I just recall thinking the sound din't fit comfortably with my image of the band, but maybe I really didn't appreciate it for what it was.
Really great thoughts, I appreciate it.
12 - Gary X Indiana
Thanks for putting it all out there so well and so concisely. I'm referring the authors of The Rough Guide to London to this URL because they claim that the Sex Pistols invented punk, and once again the Ramones are not getting credited. So hopefully we'll see that corrected in the next edition.
See you all at the CBGB benefits I hope!