Wow, I have the pleasure to start the Ramones thread? Cool!
So, for Christmas 2015, I gave my best friend a copy of Mastodon's latest album. A week later, he bought and gave me a copy of Johnny Ramone's autobiography, which he knew I wanted to read. Since then, I've been reminiscing about my times listening to the Ramones.
I think the first time I was exposed to the Ramones I was 14 and I was watching
School Of Rock. When Jack teaches the kids about the history of rock, they have "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down" playing in that scene. A few years later, this younger kid I gave guitar lessons to, told me he wanted to learn some Ramones songs (I'm thinking "Rock N' Roll High School"). So, he gave me a mixtape for me to learn them first. My good friend Julieta was a fan of the band, so there was always Ramones songs playing at her house whenever I visited - I remember she was especially fond of "Touring" and the
Loco Live record. When we graduated from high school, the song she chose to be played during her part of the ceremony was the "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" cover.
I still find it weird that the whole original (and, to a lot of fans, best) line-up is dead
Whenever I listen to
It's Alive! (which is awesome
) I think about that. Still, I mostly prefer their '80s songs. I don't think the debut album is that special - in my opinion
End Of The Century,
Leave Home or
Mondo Bizarro (although in this case it might be the guitar sound, which I love) are far superior.
I never saw them in concert - they broke up when I was 6 - but whenever I watch live videos (especially from the '90s, with the extra energy CJ added) I keep thinking to myself what an awesome experience that must have been. I think the same thing about Maiden and System Of A Down, and DT obviously (which I
have seen live fortunately
).
Any other fans? Have you been to a concert? If so, what was it like? Any favourite songs/albums? Any special memory related to the band?
Although I still have to discover some of their stuff, my favourite album is
End Of The Century, and my favourite songs:
10. Heidi Is A Headcase
(Mondo Bizarro)9. Danny Says
(End Of The Century)8. I Wanna Live
(Halfway To Sanity)7. I Can't Make It On Time
(End Of The Century)6. Born To Die In Berlin
(ˇAdios Amigos!) 5. Wart Hog
(Too Tough To Die) 4. Do You Remember Rock N' Roll Radio?
(End Of The Century) 3. Howling At The Moon
(Too Tough To Die) That NOMACs intro
2. Oh Oh I Love Her So
(Leave Home)1. My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down
(Animal Boy)Finally, a cool pic of MP with the band from the early '80s:
https://twitter.com/mikeportnoy/status/289541421076193280