Gabba Gabba Overkill?
The Ramones were/are likely the greatest rock and roll band of all time. By combining raw riffs with comedic, Dee Dee-inspired lyrics, this band spawned generations of rockers and rockers to be.
With the untimely deaths of Dee Dee, Joey, and Johnny Ramone, this leaves just a few Ramones; Tommy (drummer who left the band for the production studio), Marky (who joined the band after Tommy left, then left for rehab, and joined up again), Richie (AKA Elvis Ramone who filled in for Marky), CJ (who played bass for the band when Dee Dee left for multiple reasons) and others who we won't provide much detail on, like Clem Burke. Of these remaining Ramones, fans can only really call Marky, CJ and Tommy Ramones, although we appreciate Richie's contributions.
Marky has stepped in the forefront as the lone Ramone to carry the torch. However, is Marky stepping forward and providing the fans with what we need to fill our now-empty hearts? Or is Marky taking the opportunity to look like the "leader" now that the Ramones have died or moved-on to other projects.
If you check out ramones.com frequently, you'll find that the site is almost exclusively devoted to Marky's projects and updates. This is either by design or because he is the lone Ramone left. But now that the Ramones have sold more merchandise than records, End of the Century has played in theaters to great reviews across North America and Marky's personal videos have been produced in the new Ramones Raw DVD that has been certified "gold," it seems that the Ramones are remaking themselves, long after the bickering has ended, sadly so too have the lives ended.
So is Marky carrying the torch? Is he indebted by the Ramones fans to do so? Or is he assuming a role for his own gain. And what's happened to the music - it's the music that made the Ramones great. Perhaps it was the interpersonal strife and struggles that gave the band the Strength to Endure, but in the end, it was the music that trumped it all. Maybe that's the best way to remember the Ramones, through their music.
With the untimely deaths of Dee Dee, Joey, and Johnny Ramone, this leaves just a few Ramones; Tommy (drummer who left the band for the production studio), Marky (who joined the band after Tommy left, then left for rehab, and joined up again), Richie (AKA Elvis Ramone who filled in for Marky), CJ (who played bass for the band when Dee Dee left for multiple reasons) and others who we won't provide much detail on, like Clem Burke. Of these remaining Ramones, fans can only really call Marky, CJ and Tommy Ramones, although we appreciate Richie's contributions.
Marky has stepped in the forefront as the lone Ramone to carry the torch. However, is Marky stepping forward and providing the fans with what we need to fill our now-empty hearts? Or is Marky taking the opportunity to look like the "leader" now that the Ramones have died or moved-on to other projects.
If you check out ramones.com frequently, you'll find that the site is almost exclusively devoted to Marky's projects and updates. This is either by design or because he is the lone Ramone left. But now that the Ramones have sold more merchandise than records, End of the Century has played in theaters to great reviews across North America and Marky's personal videos have been produced in the new Ramones Raw DVD that has been certified "gold," it seems that the Ramones are remaking themselves, long after the bickering has ended, sadly so too have the lives ended.
So is Marky carrying the torch? Is he indebted by the Ramones fans to do so? Or is he assuming a role for his own gain. And what's happened to the music - it's the music that made the Ramones great. Perhaps it was the interpersonal strife and struggles that gave the band the Strength to Endure, but in the end, it was the music that trumped it all. Maybe that's the best way to remember the Ramones, through their music.
posted by Skier at
4:09 PM
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