The "Ramones": A Biography [Hardcover]

I could not have asked for more it was delivered in mint condition and I mean "mint". The book was also a brilliant read however, this review is mostly for the excellent service this seller provided by getting the book to me as fast as possible.

Own up, Monte...we know it's you - or a close personal family member/friend - who posted the review above! This is actually a very cool book, featuring tons of interviews with friends and fans and members of da brudders: all written from an unapologetically biased fan's perspective. But it's nice to have some passion mixed in with the historical overview, y'know?

Check out other customer reviews on amazon.com for a more balanced perspective on this title. (Monte's book is great, too, with a killer cartoon cover from John Holmstromm - but this is far more in-depth.)

I do Know the author and wanted the post the comments I wrote to him. I thought it was a terrific book. I am also a fan of the band. Heres what I wrote to him:

Hi Jerry (E. True's real name)

I have been meaning to write once I read your Ramones book and have put it off so here is my review which I will post on Amazon too.

I read it in two days so I found it very engrossing. Its a good companion piece to the recent Documentary and to "Please Kill Me" by Legs McNiell which I had read recently. I read a lot of Biographies, usually film directors and its hard to get a balance between telling the story and assesing and reviewing "the art" in a critical way and apart from a couple of fanzinish sections you have managed that really well. The criticism is excellent and objective but still makes you want to reach for your old vinyl.

You are wrong about the last ten years section. I know its not how we want to remember them but it makes it a really great book and essentially a very sad story, locked into their endless tour, not speaking to each other. Dee Dee with his addiction etc. Rock stories are usually either a progress form angry, vibrant youth towards contented old agre and serentity, wisdom etc or live fast, die young type cliches so the Ramones story is unusual.

I will never forget the impact of seeing them at the Croydon Greyhound in 1977. I was a prog rock fan and went to see what this Punk Rock was, expecting to laugh at their ineptitude etc. I immediately realised this was the best thing I had heard. The floor shook. there were hardly any punks then. Most of the crowd were hippies who all pogoed. I went out and bought the single which was I remember you, still a favourite the the album which was leave Home. Sheena came out almost straight after and I played my 7" to death. I played it to everyone and couldnt uinderstand why they didnt all love it! My main regret about the whole thing is that at 20(!) I felt too old and wished I'd been 15 to experince it for the first time. I would have died if I had thought about listening to it still 30 years later.

I was standing in the front row at the Rainbow, New years eve when 10 rows of seat were passed over my head into the photographers pit, All managed very politely before the era of Mosh pits . Pogoing was much more considerate activity then which deteriorated as more young men felt the need to stick their elbows out (I think that started in London during psychobilly) I am visible in front of Dee Dee in clips of the Rainbow Show. I had long hair then. I was a bit Pissed of that my programme and Jumper were under my seat and I never saw them again! As far as I could make out all the rows of seats behind me were destroyed during the first number (Rockaway Beach) I remember seeing Sid Vicious and Mick Jones chatting in the bar beforehand. Gen X were crap with Billy Idols Mike cutting out so he was left sneering along silently. The Rezillos were great as usual.

I must have seen them with you some time. I remember listening to Subterranean Jungle and Pleasant Dreams with you in your flat. I saw them do Baby I love you with the Boys helping flesh it out at the Rainbow. They must have had Keyboards on that number! The seats at the front were all destroyed again. I took photos at that gig. I saw them at the Lyceum and I think it was about that time I realised they were playing too fast and Joey couldnt keep up. Also the drums were louder than the guitar so the sound didnt reall Ramone. I stopped buyoing the records after animal boy although I bought Bonzo and liked Pet Cemetary. I must have seen them at least 6 times but cant recall. Did I see them at the Brixton Academy?

I'm glad to have the question of Johnnys guitar ability cleared up. I assume Daniel Rey played all the lead type bits on most of the later records. I hadnt realised what a great songwriter Dee Dee was before.

Best wishes. I really enjoyed the book