Posted on 09/15/2004 8:28:23 PM PDT by JellyJam
Johnny Ramone, member of punk legends ’The Ramones,’ dies at 55
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Johnny Ramone, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal punk band “The Ramones,” has died. He was 55.
Ramone died in his sleep Wednesday afternoon at his Los Angeles home surrounded by friends and family, his publicist said. He had battled prostate cancer for five years, and was hospitalized in June at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Ramone, born John Cummings, was one of the original members of the Ramones, whose hit songs “I Wanna be sedated” and “Blitzkrieg Bop,” among others, earned the band induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
The band’s singer, Joey Ramone, whose real name was Jeff Hyman, died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer. Bassist Dee Dee Ramone, who was born Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose in 2002.
Johnny Ramone founded “The Ramones” in 1974 with Joey Ramone, DeeDee Ramone and Tommy Ramone, the only surviving member of the original band.
I saw him browsing the DVDs at Dave's Video on Ventura on a couple of occasions. Now he and Dave's are both gone.
78s could run well over 2:15 and in fact an early "rock and roll" song (circa 1951) was Roy Brown's Butcher Pete. It got around the length problem by issuing the song with PT1 and PT2 on the record (even telling the listener "I ain't done yet" at the end of side 1).
I've adored the Clash, but if someone says the Pistols suck, the Clash just turned and improved what the Sex Pistols did; they tell you that themselves (Capital Radio).
The Ramones are so different than anyone, really, what planet do they come from? Planet Ramone?
Compare them to the Clash as much as one would compare them to the Beatles, Beach Boys, Velvet Underground, even to that band that's been around 40 years, after all it looks like they did Street Fighting man.
FYI...
When inducted into the RnR Hall of Fame, Johnny said from the stage:
"God Bless President Bush and God Bless the USA."
He was also a supporter of the NRA and a known Michael Medved fan.
I have never heard that one but that was a fairly common expedient to get around the time problem.
You are not going to tell me that the Sex Pistols had ANY music comparable to Sandanista are you?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004C4L5/qid=1095395302/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-7522424-6987131?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
I was looking for the exact interview and words from Mick Jones or Joey Strummer, but it is on The Story of the Clash I before the song, Capitol Radio.
Now, one webpage doesn't make it gospel, but the statement below in quotes and referenced I would say is rather standard thought and conventional wisdom on how the Clash is perceived in regards to the Pistols. I mean I agree I have listened to a lot of Clash before I would ever put on Never mind the Bollocks; but I know that it is widely regarded that they were influenced heavily and by their own words by the Sex Pistols (and so there is no misunderstanding, this following is not their own words).
" The Clash were formed for ONE single reason. They saw the Pistols and jumped on the wagon, just like every other so-called PUNK band in the whole world. The punk movement turned into a joke in no-time, and the Pistols jumped off! They didn't wanna be stars, and they stopped being it by stop playing. It's as easy as that." - http://starling.rinet.ru/music/temp/sexpistols.html
Ever see older pictures of Mick Jones bands, where he wore glasses and had long hair? They looked like, like a British Rock Band.
What about the 101ers. That was Joe Strummer's band, right?
I hear that they were in the audience at the Ramones July 4, 1976 show.
The Stranglers were also on the bill but already taken as being "too old" and "not punk" by the slightly younger crowd.
A statement from Marky Ramone:
"Johnny Ramone was my bandmate and brother for over 15 years. The bond between band members was closer than any others in the Ramones' organization. John kept things in control when they could have spun out of control very easily.
"I'll never forget the day he asked me to join the Ramones in 1978. I always admired his guitar playing. He was the originator of the down stroke 8th note guitar style, which is very difficult to do for hours on end like he did playing in the Ramones. Four months ago, I knew about the serious nature of his illness, but for a while, he had a turn for the better. This comes as a shock, but it was inevitable because of the severity of his condition which worsened more recently.
"We were lucky enough to talk and hang out a few months ago when he was strong enough to do the commentary track on the DVD 'Ramones Raw,' which was his last professional contribution to the Ramones. I spoke to him most recently when I was in L.A. for the 30th anniversary concert that we put together for Ramones fans. Based on our last conversation, I felt this moment was coming. I'm sorry to see him go - like this. I hope the fans take the news as best they can. His legacy will live on in every band that has, is and always will be trying to duplicate the Ramones sound. It's a sad day for Ramones fans and a sad day for rock and roll."
Interestingly enough the Clash received a lot of publicity because of their stand for the right to keep and bear arms, not a popular stand in GB.
The Clash is more stylistically diverse and compositionally complex than the Ramones, who stuck to rock'n'roll distilled to its bare essence. I'm not sure that makes the Clash "far superior." I like 'em both.
In fact the Clash's Sandanista is one of the most diverse and complex albums ever recorded and ranks with Rubber Soul in that regard. I like the RAmones as well but do not overestimate their abilities.
I think Sandanista has at least a record's worth of subpar material, and I find London Calling much superior (there's that word again).
I like the RAmones as well but do not overestimate their abilities.
"Abilities" are not the point of the Ramones.
Two out of three ain't bad. I also like London Calling but cannot compare it to Sandanista.
Talent is the greatest factor in good music.
I see that idea as leading to 'progressive rock,' most of which leaves me cold.
I am sure you are correct, basically, I'd say "there's nothing new under the sun."
The Clash redid the song, "I fought the law", I don't know all of the groups, of which I hear people speak of for example in speaking of Punk prototypes; MC5 or whatever, I kind of just give each one his due.
Not sure what that is but most rock since the Clash leaves me cold. There are some good songs since then but they are hard to find.
But I am as much into Blues as Rock anyway.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.