GODFATHERS OF PUNK TO RETIRE: AFTER TWO DECADES
In 1976, with the album The Ramones, four conceptual artists
from Forest Hills, New York, changed the face of rock and roll forever. Their
sound is faster than a speeding bullet, their lyrics witty, terse and to the
point.The Ramones have paid homage to headines and cult movies,
serial murderers and bubblegum pop. Now, in March of 1996, they will retire.
For two decades, Ramones concert wear (ripped jeans. T-shirts, flat-soled
sneakers) has been the dress of choice for all aspiring punks. And it was
Nirvana who perfected a trick the Ramones came up with: marrying
melody and metallic furore.
The original "brothers Ramone" were Johnny (John Cummings),
Joey (Jeffrey Hyman), Dee Dee and
Tommy. They shifted over the years, as Dee Dee found fame in the thrash/hardcore
movement and Tommy was replaced by Marky (Bell). In 1989,
CJ joined on bass, but continued to front his own band, Los
Gusanos.
Although CJ has taken to writing and singing, the band's latest album
Adios Amigos, is a fine piece of work and remains a testament to
Ramone-dom.
Why, at the top of their musical powers, are they quitting? Says Johnny,
We're not quitting, just retiring. All sorts of stuff has been
written about it. But the reason is, we been doin' it 22 years. We want fans to
remember us at a certain level. We don't wanna look like some buncha
grandfathers.
Their decision was spurred by others. Adds John,
I don't like what I've seeen around me. Those guys like Plant, Page
and the Rolling Stones look awful. If, 30 years ago, someone had told 'em they'd
be doing what they are, they wouldn't have believed it.
Not that Los Hermanos are ending too abruptly. Once their US tour has drawn to a
close, they hit South America and Japan -- then go on the road again with
White Zombie. In 1996, they play a Farewell Tour. In the
meantime, they have attained several special goals: played 2,000 shows and made
their twenty-year anniversary.
They also saw Las Vegas declare "Ramones Day", when they played this
Ramones-friendly hamlet. (One fringe benefit: their own star in that city's Hard
Rock Cafe). And, after all, no honor could be high enough.
This band saw the Sex Pistols come and go. They watched MTV put
a face on rock. They play perfect 3-minute songs with just 3 chords (including "I
Wanted Everything", the best song ever written about being American.) And their
new video has animation by Daniel
"8-Ball" Clowes: one of this planet's finest cult cartoonists.
European fans will get no additional product; just the final tour. But, in the
US, It's Alive (released abroad long ago, but never issued in
America) will be uncaged in the US in '96.
Just remember: it's YOUR real time and YOUR real life.
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