The Ramones were an American rock band that began in 1974 in New York. Often cited as the premiere punk rock band, the Ramones rose above limited commercial success to become cult heroes and a major influence on the punk rock movement both in America and the UK. In fact, the Sex Pistols and The Clash were fans, attended the Ramones first UK concert and even met and were advised by them.
They also inspired such other artists as Pearl Jam, Metallica, Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and numerous others. Over the years the line-up included: Dee Dee Ramone (vocals, rhythm guitar, and bass), Johnny Ramone (guitar), Joey Ramone (vocals, drums), Tommy Ramone (percussion), Marky Ramone (drums), Richie Ramone (drums, vocals) Elvis Ramone (percussion) and C.J. Ramone (bass guitar, vocals). All the members took on the pseudonymous surname “Ramone” even though they were not truly related. The name Ramone was taken from a story that Paul McCartney of the The Beatles would check into hotels under the pseudonym "Paul Ramon" while touring and had used the name while recording with The Steve Miller Band.
They put out 15 albums on 5 different labels although the only album to go gold in the US was the compilation Ramones Mania. They appeared in the motion picture Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (and on the accompanying soundtrack with such artists as Brian Eno and Alice Cooper), played thousands of concerts and toured almost non-stop for over two decades. Their original style continued through the years as they rocked through songs such as “California Sun”, “I Don’t Wanna Be Learned” and “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”.
After playing the 1996 Lollapalooza music festival the group played a farewell show and disbanded. This is the brief story of but one of the founding members, Jeffrey “Joey Ramone” Hyman. Hyman was a fan of The Who, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Stooges, the Phil Spector-produced "girl groups" and others.
His personal idol was The Who’s Pete Townshend (with whom he shared a birthday). He started to play the drums when he was 13 and would continue to play them through his teen years. In fact, when Hyman/Joey Ramone first joined the band he was the drummer. Dee Dee was the first lead singer.
Joey would not become the frontman until the band’s manager Tommy Erdelyi made the suggestion that Joey sing and Tommy Ramone play the drums. Hence, the classic line-up was formed. From behind a curtain of straight, long black hair, Joey, the pencil-thin lead singer of the Ramones, ignited frantic crowds with simple chants of “Hey! Ho! Let’s go!” or their signature shout: “Gabba gabba hey!” for a good two decades.
His dark, leather-jacketed prototype punk rock image was what initially endeared Joey Ramone to the discontented youths so prevalent in their audiences. It was his blunt, no-nonsense approach, however, that helped the band retain its fan base. Joey Ramone's singing style was slightly unorthodox and he had had no formal training at a time when vocal proficiency was generally the norm for most rock groups.
His signature sound included occasional cracks, crooning, hiccups, snarls and young voice made his voice what many consider “one of punk rock's most recognizable voices.” Indeed, Allmusic.com feels that "Joey Ramone's signature bleat was the voice of punk rock in America." It’s also interesting to note that Joey’s vocals changed and even deepened through the years as did—to some extent—the band’s songwriting. Critics note a significant difference from Joey's first callow, melodic style—citing tunes such as "Somebody Put Something in My Drink" and "Mama's Boy" as examples.
Ramone and 49 other artists including Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Bob Dylan signed up with Steven Van Zandt's music-industry activist group Artists United Against Apartheid in 1985 which protested against the Sun City resort in South Africa. They collaborated on the song "Sun City" in which they claimed they wouldn’t ever play there.
He would sing on “Punk Boy” on Helen Love’s album Love and Glitter, Hot Days and Music in 1994. He would also co-write and record the track "Meatball Sandwich" with Youth Gone Mad. He would even (briefly before his death) manage and produce the punk band The Independents. When the band officially disbanded in 1996, Joey Ramone remained active in the industry and became an outspoken opponent of censorship despite being diagnosed with lymphoma the prior year (1995).
As the king of the underground music movement, he would host special events, made select appearances and worked on other music-related projects. In 1998, he became sick enough to cancel a series of appearances in Canada. That first clue to his chronic illness did not stop him.
The following year (1999) he would appear with Dee Dee, Johnny, Tommy, Marky, and C.J. at the Virgin Megastore in New York City for an autograph signing. He would also produce the Ronnie Spector CD, She Talks to Rainbows, that year. It would receive critical acclaim but go virtually unnoticed by music fans. The title track was previously used on the Ramones' final studio album, ¡Adios Amigos!.
This would be the last time the public would ever see the original four members of the group together. In March of 2001, Ramone would go into New York-Presbyterian Hospital to be treated for acute lymphoma. After an unsuccessful treatment for this immune-defense destroying cancer, he would die in the presence of his family and friends on April 15, 2001.
He was 49 and was said to have been to the U2 tune "In a Little While" when he died. This was during U2's Elevation Tour. From that day forth, Bono would introduce the number as “a tune that was originally about a lovestruck hangover but that Joey turned it into a gospel song.”
Ramone/Hyman was buried at New Mount Zion Cemetery—a part of the Hillside Cemetery—in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. People wishing to visit his grave must enter the cemetery at the second gate. From there drive straight in for about 100 yards, To the right visitors will see a pair of granite pillars that belong to the new York Social Club. Jeffrey “Joey Ramone” Hyman’s grave is three rows back and five rows to the right of said pillars.
The Ramones’ lead singer is dead and gone but their prototype punk rock sound may never reach the end.
My name is Phoenix and . . . that’s the bottom line.
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