The Ramones

Published on September 11th, 2016

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These days you’d be forgiven for thinking the Ramones sold more t-shirts than records. Their emblem shows no sign of fading and the music they made has inspired a generation or two of bands. Emanating from Noooo York, the Ramones fought like crazy, played like there was no tomorrow, and even had a staunch Republican in their ranks. Out front was the great Joey Ramone, who took his non-de-plume from a moniker Paul McCartney dreamt up in his pre-Hamburg days. Joey was a so-so singer with attitude and a great enthusiast of the music that preceded him. With all that combined, the Ramones made music like no other. Forty years later their debut album is getting re-released in a multitude of various discs. Here we dig through the archives and have come up with a chat between two legends, writer Richard Kwong and Ramones’ front man Joey. Details on the re-issue follow this 1989 feature that was commissioned for the release of Brain Drain. Hey Ho Let’s Go…

Most rock bands come and go, but others seem destined for eternity and among the immortals, thankfully, is the Ramones. And if you’re to believe the whimsical rantings of hirsute frontman Joey, these guys have only just begun, despite the recent loss of original bassist Dee Dee.

“We couldn’t be any more hungry,” Joey blurts in call from downtown Noo Yawk. “It’s the kind of people we are. As time goes by, we play harder and faster and we’re never satisfied. That’s how it should be.”

This is no idle chat. If you could hear this guy, you too would believe every word he says. I swear. The band’s new LP Brain Drain—their first under new label Chrysalis—continues recent moves away from bubblegum rock. Amazingly, in 1989, the Ramones remain contemporary. And at thirty-seven, Joey really does seem to still have that bug, the spark that got him going so many years ago.

“I’ll play until I don’t want to do it any more. I enjoy playing for myself the as much as for the kids. It’s very good therapy. It sounds like I’m seeing a psychiatrist! Things are only getting better. Our audience is getting larger. Our fans are crazier and the shows are wilder. Things are so bright, I have to wear shades.”

It is only in the brief moments between froths of boyish excitement that Joey shows signs of his bitter disappointment at losing an original member after so many years.

“Everything was going great, but Dee Dee had been doing side projects and his extracurricular activities got the best of him. You can do stuff on the side, but the Ramones is the priority. Dee Dee left without notice, like we’d only known him for twenty years. You’d think if he wasn’t happy he’d have said so.”

In Joey’s words, Dee Dee has gone on to become a ‘Noo Yawk Rappa’. But despite one of the heaviest losses of their career, Joey and the rest of the band are going great guns at pushing on with the recruitment of new bass player Cee Jay, just twenty-three years old.

The story goes that Cee Jay was AWOL from the Marines or something when he was selected from around seventy-five hopefuls at an audition.

“Cee Jay just got out of the Marines. I don’t even know him that well myself.” Joey says. “He’s perfect. He looks good and he’s got that kind of street credibility, you know what I mean? He’s really excited. Things can only get better because there won’t be any tension any more. There was a bit of friction. Dee Dee believed he was some kind of genius: God’s gift to the rock world.”

So one of the most seminal bands in rock history powers on. With this in mind, it’s hard not ask what Joey thinks of…gulp…the likes of Bon Jovi or Poison and the new crop of guitar outfits.

“They make me wanna puke. It’s superficial bull. But there are other bands far more exciting, like Metallica, Anthrax, and Guns N’ Roses.”

Joey has no qualms admitting the Ramones have influenced millions and continue to do so.

“Rock and roll is bigger than it’s ever been. We know we’ve had a major effect on just about everybody. Sometimes it’s the music, the attitude or the look. Even Bon Jovi are wearing ripped jeans.”

November 1989. Original text: Richard Kwong.

(Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee and Tommy) sounded like nothing else when their self-titled debut came roaring onto the scene in 1976. Even so, original drummer Tommy Ramone did do a pretty good job describing the band’s primal sound when he penned the quartet’s press bio that same year. “The Ramones all originate from Forest Hills and kids who grew up there either became musicians, degenerates or dentists. The Ramones are a little of each,” he observed. “Their sound is not unlike a fast drill on a rear molar.”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Ramones, recently named the “Greatest Punk Album Of All Time” by Rolling Stone, and certainly one of the most important and influential albums of all time. This 29-minute masterpiece helped launch the punk rock scenes in both America and Britain, and also went on to inspire countless other artists for generations to come. To celebrate the Ramones’ lasting impact, Rhino is releasing a remastered version of the original album and creating the ultimate tribute to the band’s landmark debut packaged in a 12 x 12 hardcover book. The 3CD/1 vinyl LP set is a limited edition of 19,760 individually numbered copies and includes a sonically superior remastered stereo version and a meticulously recreated mono mix of the original album, plus rarities, unheard demos, and an unreleased live show, all produced, mixed, and mastered by the album’s original producer and mixer Craig Leon.

In addition to the music, the set also features extensive production notes about the recording of the original album by Leon, an essay looking back on the Ramones’ early days by rock journalist Mitchell Cohen, along with additional pictures taken by Roberta Bayley, whose iconic photo of the band graces the album’s cover.

The anniversary edition’s second disc spotlights single mixes, outtakes, and demos. Several of those recordings have never been released, including demos for I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, 53rd and 3rd, and Loudmouth.

The third disc captures the band performing two full sets live at The Roxy in West Hollywood on August 12, 1976. While the band’s first set has been available before, the evening’s second set makes its debut here. Rounding out the set is a vinyl LP containing the new mono mix of Ramones.

Ramones (Remastered) and Ramones: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition are available now.

RAMONES (REMASTERED) Track Listing

  1. Blitzkrieg Bop
  2. Beat On The Brat
  3. Judy Is A Punk
  4. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
  5. Chain Saw
  6. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
  7. I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement
  8. Loudmouth
  9. Havana Affair
  10. Listen To My Heart
  11. 53rd& 3rd
  12. Let’s Dance
  13. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You
  14. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World

RAMONES: 40th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION Track Listing

Disc One: Original Album

Stereo Version

  1. Blitzkrieg Bop
  2. Beat On The Brat
  3. Judy Is A Punk
  4. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
  5. Chain Saw
  6. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
  7. I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement
  8. Loudmouth
  9. Havana Affair
  10. Listen To My Heart
  11. 53rd& 3rd
  12. Let’s Dance
  13. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You
  14. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World

 40th Anniversary Mono Mix

  1. Blitzkrieg Bop*
  2. Beat On The Brat*
  3. Judy Is A Punk*
  4. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend*
  5. Chain Saw*
  6. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue*
  7. I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement*
  8. Loudmouth*
  9. Havana Affair*
  10. Listen To My Heart*
  11. 53rd& 3rd*
  12. Let’s Dance*
  13. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You*
  14. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World*

Disc Two: Single Mixes, Outtakes, and Demos

  1. Blitzkrieg Bop (Original Stereo Single Version)
  2. Blitzkrieg Bop (Original Mono Single Version)
  3. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend (Original Stereo Single Version)
  4. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend (Original Mono Single Version)
  5. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World (Original Uncensored Vocals)*
  6. I Don’t Care (Demo)
  7. 53rd& 3rd (Demo)*
  8. Loudmouth (Demo)*
  9. Chain Saw (Demo)*
  10. You Never Should Have Opened That Door (Demo)
  11. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend (Demo)*
  12. I Can’t Be (Demo)
  13. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World (Demo)*
  14. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You (Demo)*
  15. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue (Demo)
  16. I Don’t Wanna Be Learned/I Don’t Wanna Be Tamed (Demo)
  17. You’re Gonna Kill That Girl (Demo)*
  18. What’s Your Name (Demo)

Disc Three: Live at The Roxy (8/12/76)

Set One

  1. Loudmouth
  2. Beat On The Brat
  3. Blitzkrieg Bop
  4. I Remember You
  5. Glad To See You Go
  6. Chain Saw
  7. 53rd& 3rd
  8. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
  9. Havana Affair
  10. Listen To My Heart
  11. California Sun
  12. Judy Is A Punk
  13. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You
  14. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World
  15. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
  16. Let’s Dance

Set Two

  1. Loudmouth*
  2. Beat On The Brat*
  3. Blitzkrieg Bop*
  4. I Remember You*
  5. Glad To See You Go*
  6. Chain Saw*
  7. 53rd& 3rd*
  8. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend*
  9. Havana Affair*
  10. Listen To My Heart*
  11. California Sun*
  12. Judy Is A Punk*
  13. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You*
  14. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World*
  15. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue*
  16. Let’s Dance    40th Anniversary Mono Mix 

LP Track Listing

  1. Blitzkrieg Bop*
  2. Beat On The Brat*
  3. Judy Is A Punk*
  4. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend*
  5. Chain Saw*
  6. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue*
  7. I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement*
  8. Loudmouth*
  9. Havana Affair*
  10. Listen To My Heart*
  11. 53rd& 3rd*
  12. Let’s Dance*
  13. I Don’t Wanna Walk Around With You*
  14. Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World*