|
|
|
The story of the Ramones began in their childhood
neighbourhood of Forest
Hills, Queens. The band members shared childhoods filled with alienation,
salvaged only by their common love of underground music like Iggy and the
Stooges and the New York Dolls. As high school students, amidst teenage
delinquency, glue sniffing and a shared dark sense of humour, all set to a
soundtrack of teen angst and frustration, the Ramones were headed nowhere.
With seemingly no other options, and against a popular music terrain that
was completely polar to their sensibilities, they formed a band and
learned to make music by simply picking up instruments and just playing.
And after a few false starts, they unveiled their newly invented sound at the legendary CBGB's on the Lower East Side. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
With their stripped-down sound, clean aesthetic and fast attack, the band
quickly became the darlings of the New York underground music scene. Before long, their reputation gained them fans among the ranks of New
York’s biggest scene-makers: Andy Warhol, Malcolm McLaren and Danny Fields
all attended Ramones concerts. Danny was so impressed by their performance
that he offered to be their manager on the spot. The band accepted under
the condition that he provide them with the necessary funds (three
thousand dollars) for a new drum set. Danny then brought them to the
attention of Sire Records head Seymour Stein who signed them immediately.
Although their first album, The Ramones, sold poorly in the U.S., it is
now commonly acknowledged as a landmark album and became an underground
favorite in London.
On July 4, 1976, the Ramones
played the Roundhouse London supporting the Flaming Groovies and inspired the nascent
English punk rock scene. Members of the Clash, the Sex Pistols, the
Damned, and Chrissy Hynde—all of whom had yet to make their musical
debuts—appeared at their first gig. The Ramones blitzed London yet
returned to the States to find manager Danny Fields begging to get them a
gig in New Jersey. Wherever they played across the U.S., they drew only a
small crowd of misfits bored with the music and culture of the time. Yet
in their wake, the Ramones left behind numerous local bands who were
inspired by their, “do it yourself” musical philosophy. |
History
- Part 2 | History - Part 3 Back
To Top
History
courtesy of press pack for Ramones - End OF The Century
|