History Music / Ramones

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+Music/BeastieBoys, Gorilla Biscuits, Music/TheMisfits, The Mob, Agnostic Front, Generation X, Music/SexPistols, Music/TheClash, Music/TheDamned, Sham 69, Music/BlackFlag, Music/DeadKennedys, Music/{{Ministry}}, Music/SocialDistortion, Music/BadReligion, the Lurkers, the Undertones, Teenage Head, the Zeros, the Dickies, Music/BadBrains, Riverdales, Music/GreenDay, Music/{{Metallica}}, Music/{{Motorhead}}, Music/IronMaiden, the Pastels, the Lemonheads, [[Music/FooFighters Dave Grohl]], the Strokes,

Their influence on the PunkRock movement was musical rather than political. While the Music/SexPistols or Music/TheClash's lyrics focused on sticking it to the man, The Ramones preferred to talk about common juvenile themes, like love, drugs, alienation and cheap horror movies. In contrast to the luxuriant symphonic rock that was dominant at the time, they wrote very simple, very fast songs.

The Ramones formed in [[BigApplesauce Queens,]] UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity. The earliest incarnation of the band had Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) on guitar, Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Ross Hyman) on drums and Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Colvin) on vocals. When Dee Dee's young vocals proved unable to sustain live performances, they switched, with Dee Dee sticking to backup vocals and mostly concentrating on bass, and Joey assuming lead vocals. The band still needed a drummer, and after manager Thomas Erdelyi had trouble finding a proper drummer, he assumed the duties himself, dubbing himself Tommy Ramone.

The band debuted in 1974, playing at various clubs around NYC, most notably CBGB's, which became famous for being a showcase for the budding PunkRock movement. They recorded their first album, ''Music/{{Ramones|Album}}'', in 1976 on the low budget of $6400, and while the record wasn't a commercial smash or anything - in fact, at their first performance outside New York, in Youngstown, Ohio, about ten people showed up - it was a further catalyst for the punk scene and got glowing reviews from critics. They were further vindicated when they proved to be more popular in the UK, most notably influencing bands like the Music/SexPistols and Music/TheClash, and playing career defining gigs second-billed to the Flamin' Groovies.

Two further albums, ''Music/LeaveHome'' and ''Music/RocketToRussia'', followed in 1977. While the former did even worse than the debut, ''Rocket to Russia'' was their best seller to date, hitting #49, and the single "Rockaway Beach" hit #66 - the highest charting single the band would ever have. By this time, Tommy stepped down as drummer for good, but remained friends with the band and would go on to produce for them. His replacement was Marc Bell, aka Marky Ramone, who recorded 1978's ''Music/RoadToRuin'' with the band.

After the band made a guest appearance in Creator/RogerCorman's cult movie ''Film/RockAndRollHighSchool'', the band got in touch with famous 1960s pop producer Music/PhilSpector in 1980, to attempt a breakthrough album, ''Music/EndOfTheCentury''. The sessions were fraught with tension between the band (who were always the 'get in, get out' types) and Spector (a notoriously meticulous ControlFreak). The sessions did pay off in an album that charted at #44, their highest charting album ever, but its got a mixed reputation, among fans and the band itself, for presenting a [[LighterAndSofter slicker, poppier Ramones.]] Oddly enough, their cover of "Baby I Love You" did huge business in the UK.

The band soldiered on with a few more pop crossover attempts, with relationships in the band straining further. Most notably, around the early 80s, Johnny stole Joey's girlfriend, Linda, which Joey never got over for many years, and they rarely spoke to each other since. Despite this, the band never slowed down, still playing hundreds of concerts a year. Marky, who was abusing alcohol, got fired from the band and replaced with Richard Reinhardt[=/=]Richie Ramone, who debuted on the 1984 album ''Too Tough to Die'', a more rock-oriented album featuring Tommy Ramone behind the boards alongside old school Ramones producer Ed Stasium.

Luckily, Marky Ramone was newly sober, and returned to the band for their eleventh studio album, ''Brain Drain'' (mostly notable for their song "Pet Sematary," written for [[Film/PetSematary1989 the film]] of the same name). Unfortunately, it was just in time for longtime bassist and songwriter Dee Dee Ramone to leave, in a miserable haze of addictions, depression, and an eating disorder. Dee Dee still continued to contribute songs to the band, however - in fact, the band once bailed him out of jail after a drug bust by trading a few songs for it. After leaving, however, Dee Dee embarked on an infamous series of odd career moves, including putting out ''rap music'' under the name Dee Dee King (to say the least, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-QveINMwkQ it didn't go over well]]), and briefly performing with shock rocker Music/GGAllin. The Ramones officially replaced Dee Dee on bass duties with PromotedFanboy CJ Ramone, who the band later credited as giving the band youthful energy again.

The band reunited again with producer Ed Stasium and released ''Mondo Bizarro'', which did huge in Brazil, but the band were embittered by this point of never breaking through in America - in South America, they'd be packing stadiums and getting mobbed in the streets, but back home in North America, they were still playing smaller clubs. By 1995's ''¡Adiós Amigos!'', they declared they were hanging it up unless the album did huge numbers (again, it didn't), but nonetheless, they embarked on the longest farewell tour in the history of rock & roll, going over two years and spawning two live albums (''Greatest Hits Live'' and ''We're Outta Here!''). Their last show was in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, in August 1996, featuring special guests like Lemmy from Music/{{Motorhead}}, members of Music/{{Rancid}} and Music/{{Soundgarden}}, Music/PearlJam's Eddie Vedder and even a returning Dee Dee. After this show, the band unceremoniously went their separate ways.

In July of 2016, a 40th anniversary deluxe edition of ''Ramones'' was released, featuring the album in stereo and mono mixes, outtakes, and an unreleased live album. Similar deluxe editions followed for ''Leave Home'', ''Rocket to Russia'' and ''Road to Ruin'' for their 40th anniversaries, all of which contain outtakes, alternate takes and unreleased live recordings.

One of the more tragic facts about the band, is that they're now arguably [[VindicatedByHistory far more famous and are given more credit now than when they were performing]], and after [[PosthumousPopularityPotential every founding member has died]]. Their legacy lives on through the enduring influence of their own music as well as punk rock itself, plus one of the most iconic logos in rock history. (You've seen the shirts.)

** TheCoverChangesTheMeaning: Odd example with "I Don't Want to Grow Up". While the lyrics are unchanged, it has a rebellious tone to it in stark contrast to Waits' depressing original.

* GentleGiant: Joey stood at a rather imposing 6 foot 6, but was a laid back, friendly and fun-loving guy. Also, [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/83/29/64/8329645bfdbe5a31e7c27953f23ad75d.jpg as]] [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/31/60/34/3160347438c710bd07b2fef4740d890b.jpg these]] [[https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/enhanced/webdr06/2013/8/1/10/enhanced-buzz-orig-21968-1375367352-15.jpg?downsize=700:*&output-format=auto&output-quality=auto pictures]] show, he [[KindHeartedCatLover loved cats.]]

** Joey also sung like this in mid 80's. A good example is "Somebody Put Something in My Drink".

* IWantSong: Many songs contain the phrase "I Wanna" or "I Don't Wanna". A collection of them have been gathered and parodied [[http://shirtsofsatan.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/ramonesmisfits.jpg here]].

** "We Want the Airwaves" is about radio owned by corporations not airing rock music any more.

* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Deconstructed. They were a mess for most of their existence, and despised each other and were profoundly miserable at times.
* RockTrio: They originally attempted to start as this, with Johnny on guitar, Joey on drums and Dee Dee on [[LeadBassist bass and vocals]]. Dee Dee however found it hard to sing and play at the same time. Joey started singing, while intially remaining behind drums as well, but realized he had the same problem. Eventually Joey stopped drumming and after unsuccesfully trying out a few other drummers, Tommy eventually filled in the spot.

** Ever since ''Subterranean Jungle'' and the song "Time Bomb", the band made a point to invoke this. Dee Dee averaged a couple songs on each album until he left the band, and then the tradition was passed onto CJ.

** Drummer Richie Ramone sung on "Can't Say Anything Nice" as well as some demo songs.

* TakeThat: To a lot of Album-Oriented, Progressive, baroque, guitar-solo filled music that dominated most of The70s.

* TemporarySubstitute: After Marky was kicked out of the band for his alcholism, Richie Ramone took over as the drummer. He lasted from 1983 until 1987, when he quit the band when Johnny refused to give him a cut of the t-shirt sales. Clem Burke of Music/{{Blondie|Band}} then took over, but was fired after playing two disastrous shows. Marky, having gotten sober, rejoined the band.

* ThreeChordsAndTheTruth: {{Trope Codifier}}s; almost every song was this trope, with them sometimes using just two chords. They were originally started because they had "gotten bored with everything else" and described '70 rock as overextended jams, with Johnny in particular outright hating guitar solos. [[note]]He did play a handful of them, but usually short and only a few notes. [[/note]]

* WordSaladLyrics: Typically the songs make some general sense, but sometimes there's some... odd insertions (like the whole "Do you like bananas?" bit on "This Ain't Havana").

* LimitedWardrobe: Their stage attire varied even less than their music. Total costume changes were first Tommy/Marky/Ritchie, then Johnny & DeeDee/CJ, taking off the jackets.

* TitleTrack: ''Too Tough to Die'' and ''Animal Boy'' both had these.

* ThreeChordsAndTheTruth: {{Trope Codifier}}s; almost every song was this trope, with them sometimes using just two chords. They were originally started because they had "gotten bored with everything else" and described '70 rock as overextended jams, with Johnny in particular outright hating guitar solos.