 The Ramones
In 1975, The Ramones negotiated a deal
with Sire Records and began recording their first album on a
shoestring budget of $6,500. The self-titled result (running time: 29
minutes!) was released in April 1976, as America was luxuriating in the
AOR double-whammy of Frampton Comes Alive and Wings At The
Speed Of Sound.
Prior to recording this first album, The
Ramones acquired a reputation for being a fairly amateurish and
hilariously fast band in concert. Despite already being in their mid
20's, they had picked up little expertise as musicians, concentrating
instead on their few strengths: Joey and bassist Dee Dee could write
lyrics and melodies, guitarist Johnny could play barre chords, and
drummer Tommy could keep time.
 From
1976 to 1978, their first four albums established their simple chord
progressions and guitar/bass/drums combination as the blueprint for
thousands of bands over the last 20 years - many of whom were unaware
that it was a blueprint pinched from early Rock & Roll, Phil
Spector,
Bubblegum and The Brill Building.
The Ramones, in turn, handed down the
tradition to British and American punks, to indie bands, to hardcore
rockers and to modern commercial chart acts such as Green Day, Ash and
Feeder.
Tommy Ramone left the band in 1978 but
continued to produce them under his real surname of Erdelyi. He was
replaced by Marc Bell (Ex- Richard Hell and the
Voidoids), who adopted
the name Marky Ramone. The Ramones' long-awaited hit arrived finally
in 1980 when their faithful interpretation of The
Ronettes' Baby I
Love You made the UK Top 10.
In the decade that followed they were
widely perceived as un-hip and they disbanded in 1996 - at least 14
years after everyone thought they had. The Ramones played their final
gig on August 6, 1996 at The Palace, Hollywood - with guest
appearances from Eddie Vedder, Lemmy, and Dee Dee (who had left the
band by then). It was a fitting close to their 22 years of
service.
Joey Ramone passed away from lymphoma in April
2001. Dee Dee was found dead of a heroin overdose at his Hollywood
home on June 5, 2002. Johnny died of prostate cancer on September 15,
2004.
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