Blitzkrieg Bop: The Few, the Proud, the Ramones
The whole show must have lasted forty-five minutes, an hour tops. But I'll never forget it, thrashing around in a primitive mosh pit to the driving bursts of the Ramones in a small North Carolina venue.
Back in Chapel Hill, some student organization sponsored an outdoor showing of Rock 'n' Roll High School that played to a packed crowd in front of the Union. Fun, fun! Before Reaganism dulled American society into a torpor, we students were anxious and full of energy and enthusiasm. The drinking age was still eighteen, and anything seemed possible (like $1 drinks at Breadman's over on Rosemary Street).
I loved the Ramones! They filtered into Tar Heel Land in the mid-to-late 70s and left their mark, a punk attitude with catchy short (and loud) songs that still stick. Jim Carleton and I found them instantly hilarious -- and we loved their sound.
The Ramones came into being in Queens in 1974 when the original guys came together, inspired by all manner of dark, primal bands -- especially Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, Iggy and the Stooges, the New York Dolls -- under the Ramones family stage name: Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy. This was their first stroke of genius. Next came composing incredibly short songs and catchy lyrics that even a cave man might grasp. From there to CBGB's and elsewhere around New York City, playing notoriously brief shows. Then they recorded three terrific albums in a row: Ramones (1976), Leave Home (1977) and my favorite of all, Rocket to Russia (1977).
I love so many of their songs! The irreverance of cuts like "Bltizkrieg Bop" and "Beat on the Brat" was refreshing, and what could you do with their first "happy" song, "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" (cf. the Stooges' "Now I Wanna Be Your Dog")? Rocket to Russia has everything from "Cretin Hop," "Rockaway Beach," "We're a Happy Family," and "Teenage Lobotomy" to the almost beautiful paean, "Sheena is a Punk Rocker."
Three of the original four guys are gone but not forgotten!
Joey Ramone (5/19/51-4/15/01)
Johnny Ramone (10/8/48-9/15/04)
Dee Dee Ramone (9/18/52-6/5/02)
Ramones RIP! The music lives at least until the sun explodes.
Besides Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979), there's End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (2004), an excellent documentary worth checking out. And there's a fun Brazilian fansite at: www.1234ramones.com/
Viva Ramones! Viva Ramona!
5 comments:
Love Rock and Roll High School!
I probably wasn't even born when you saw them. =D I remember fighting with my mom at the tender age of four about Michael Jackson's identity. I ruthlessly identified him as a woman and my mother would laugh and tell me, "No sweetie, it's a man!" Now she sees my way of thinking and questions not if he's a man, but if he's even human.
I adore your posts.
Hey Cheri,
Looks like your early intuition about MJ was right on target :->
That guys a freak with way too much money for his own good.
Link that it cited is perfect, super complete and I was a good time for there. It wants to say then that, if the Beatles had not finished, would not exist
Ramones? (laughs)
Good weekend! Kisses
Gabba gabba hey! Thanks for the mention. I also can't
believe that 3/4 of the Ramones are dead. Jesus! Remember
that show at NC State; Johnny had that 'psycho' look in his
eyes, staring down the audience the whole time?
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