The Ramones Pictures, Biography, Profile, Facts, Discography, Filmography, more.

Ramones: Group from Forest Hills, New York. They started to play as trio in March 1974. Ritchie was replaced soon by Dee Dee Joey was at first drummer, but four months later manager Tommy become a drummer and let Joey sing. All Ramones take Ramone for surname. They got their first attention on the New York rockscene in August 1974. They got rousing approval from audiences in CBGB in the Manhattan Bowery district. Ramones played many times in CBGB and too all around N.Y.

Formed: 1974, New York, NY

Disbanded: 1996

Best Known As: Punk band who did "Beat on the Brat"

Original members:

Singer: Joey Ramone

Lead guitar:Johnny Ramone

Basist: Dee Dee Ramone

Drummer: Tommy Ramone

Early Years:

Sire Records signed them in late 1975. Their first TV appearance was in Radio City Studios in N.Y 1975 and their debut LP, Ramones, came out in early 1976. This music was really fresh and vibrant. Ramones was invited punk. Their concerts included a summer visit to London. They saw there Damned and Clash in fourth of july. Clash was began in that day and Damned before in that week. Sex Pistols had started before, but they took the music be based on Ramones sound.

After two years on the road and the Top 50 hit album Rocket to Russia, an exhausted Tommy Ramone was replaced on drums by Marc Bell, who became Marky Ramone. Tommy left the band to go back to his studio work, which he preferred to the hard life of touring. In an interview from "End Of The Century", a documentary on The Ramones, Tommy said that he felt like the band wasn't accepting him as a friend. In the same movie, other band members were interviewed on this subject and they said that they were in a way jealous of Tommy because he was more mature. An example one of the band members gave was that Tommy would make his own breakfast in the morning. From what was said by the band members, it was just small differences like this that they had with Tommy. Tommy worked with Marky to ensure that his drumming was appropriate for the Ramones style; he also produced the Ramones fourth studio album Road to Ruin and their eighth Too Tough To Die. It was the lineup with Marky which played a central role in the 1979 film Rock 'n' Roll High School, a film that Roger Corman originally called Disco High until writer/director Allan Arkush heard the Ramones.

They featured in Rock'N'Roll Highschool-film. After Rock 'n' Roll High School, legendary producer Phil Spector became interested in the band and produced End of the Century. During the recording sessions for End of the Century, Spector reportedly pulled a gun on Dee Dee Ramone. The band would later consider this one of the 'not-so-great' albums they had distributed, crediting tensions between the producer and the artists. Johnny recalls that he was disappointed with the outcome of End of the Century. It recorded in 5 different studios. This diverged from the group 70' releases. 1981 they released Pleasent Dreams it was return to basics. Subterranean Jungle 1983 received strong support from critics. Several of whom compared it favourably with the best of group early work. Joey and Johnny were health problems and Marky leaves the group and is replaced by Richard Beau ex-Velveteen. They went to do complete Too Tough To Die 1984.

Later Years:

Animal Boy 1986, song-Bonzo Goes To Bitburg is a reference to a controversial visit by President Ronald Reagan to a nazi war grave. Halfway To Sanity released 1987. Marky Ramone was fired because of his alcoholism and eventually replaced by Richard Beau (under the name Richie Ramone). They recorded several albums with Richie Ramone who was then replaced by Clem Burke (a.k.a. Elvis Ramone) from Blondie. Burke lasted two days in the band before Marky came back in 1987. Collection album Ramonesmania released 1988, in this album were 30 song and something of each before released albums. By then Richie departed and Marky came back to drums. Brain Drain released 1989 and Pet Sematary had title track for Stephen King Film. Dee Dee leaves group to become rap performer Dee Dee King. His replacement had young Christopher Ward. Ramones is his first big band.

Sire released All The Stuff (And More) Vol.1 which compilated albums Ramones and Leave Home with 2 demo tracks and 1 other. These 3 tracks are previously unreleased tracks. All The Stuff (And More) Vol.2 compilated Rocket To Russia and Road To Ruin with 3 previously unreleased track. Loco Live is second live album from Ramones. It was recorded in Barcelona. 1992 released Mondo Bizarro contain Doors-cover Take It As It Comes. Ramones appears too in cartoon-program The Simpsons. They done more cover tracks and finally the whole albun Acid Eaters. Pete Townshend, Sebastian Bach and Traci Lords appears in this album. Album named Adios Amigos came out in summer 1995. That album was really strong performance from the Ramones and latest Studio Album. Year 1996 was very busy and they got much famous and they released Greatest Hits Live, which featured too studio tracks R.A.M.O.N.E.S and Any Way You Want It. After a spot in the 1996 Lollapalooza festival, The Ramones disbanded, reportedly due to ongoing personality clashes and frustration at not achieving success commensurate with their influence. Joey and Johnny didn't speak to each other for years. Joey was also reported to have drug problems.

Last gig was in Los Angeles, The Palace, 6.8.96. Later now Marky has new bands called Marky Ramone And Intruders and Marky Ramone Group, CJ had Los Gusanos (split-up 2000), after CJ started Warm Jets. Also guys played on Remains/Ramainz. At first line-up was Dee Dee Ramone, CJ Ramone, Marky Ramone and Dee Dee's new wife Barbara Zambini. Dee Dee has released many solo albums and also Joey planned to release album, but then he passed away.

It happened April 15th, 2001. Joey Ramone passed away afternoon 2.40PM in a hospital in New York City where he was many weeks being treated for cancer. Arturo Vega wrote to me that Joey's loving family was there at his bedside. On his last moments Joey listened U2-song: In A Little While.

The Ramones were later hailed as ?he Beatles of punk rock?for defining punk before punk took off. Ramones is in Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. 2002 was for Ramones first year of eligibility. The 17th annual Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on March 18, 2002.

In 2002 Deedee Ramone died and The bassist for the Ramones was soon replaced by Edgar Ramone , one of the best bass players in the world, know for his beats and bass slaps , marky and Johnny agreed to let him Join with his "favorite band in the world" as he said in the interview with carson Daily. Even though he hated the idea that DeeDee was going to be replaced .. playing THe RAmones would be such an honor. You can hear hi with bass on the New Ramones tribute CD with awesome Rock stars playing Ramones songs.

Their last show is recorded on video and CD and featured several special guests such as Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead and Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam.

Deaths of Group Members:

Joey Ramone died of lymphoma on April 15, 2001 in New York. The last song he ever heard was U2's "In A Little While". (At a June 2001 concert in Boston, Bono remarked that the song was originally about a hangover, but Joey turned it into a gospel song.)

Dee Dee Ramone was found dead at his Hollywood home on June 5, 2002 following a drug overdose.

Johnny Ramone died of prostate cancer on September 15, 2004 in Los Angeles, California.