Albums by Ramones
ALBUMAdios AmigosRamones
ALBUMAcid EatersRamones
ALBUMMondo BizarroRamones
ALBUMBrain DrainRamones
ALBUMHalfway to SanityRamones
ALBUMAnimal BoyRamones
ALBUMToo Tough to Die (Deluxe Edition)Ramones
ALBUMSubterranean Jungle (Deluxe Edition)Ramones
ALBUMPleasant Dreams (Deluxe Edition)Ramones
ALBUMEnd of the Century (Deluxe Edition)Ramones
Ramones's Popular Music Videos
I Wanna Be Sedated
Ramones
Blitzkrieg Bop
Ramones
Pet Sematary
Ramones
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Ramones
Rock 'n' Roll High School
Ramones
Poison Heart
Ramones
I Wanna Live
Ramones
Substitute
Ramones
Psycho Therapy
Ramones
She's The One
Ramones
Artist Playlists
Ramones Essentials
Meet the punk hooligans who took over rock 'n' roll.
Ramones: Deep Cuts
Jangly gems that offer less blitzkrieg and more bop.
Ramones: Influences
It's time to get rock ‘n' roll high-schooled on the Bruddahs' favorite bands.
Inspired by Ramones
These punk outsiders changed culture.
Artist Biography
It’s not hyperbolic to say that punk’s initial wave began with Ramones. Clad in black leather jackets and blue jeans, the Queens, NY, band threw out snotty slogans (“Gabba gabba hey!”) while putting a tougher, faster spin on melodic ’60s garage rock and the airtight arrangements of girl-group pop. Formed in 1974, the faux-fraternal quartet—lead singer Joey Ramone, bassist Dee Dee Ramone, guitarist Johnny Ramone, and drummer Tommy Ramone, all adopting a common last name—honed a ferocious live show as one of the house bands at the gritty New York City club CBGB. This led to a deal with Sire Records and a 1976 self-titled LP full of punk pogos (“Blitzkrieg Bop”) and gender-flipped ’50s rock homages (“I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”). Although Ramones sometimes drew on their own lives for inspiration—“I Wanna Be Sedated” was inspired by road ennui—they found a groove writing songs about teenage outcasts and adolescent angst; “We’re a Happy Family” describes a turbulent home life, while other tunes star vivid rebels named Sheena, Suzy, and Judy. As the years progressed, Ramones embraced a broader sonic palette (the metallic “Psycho Therapy,” a surf-rockin’ “California Sun”) and deeper lyrics: 1980’s “Do You Remember Rock ’N’ Roll Radio?” name-checked early musical icons Alan Freed and Jerry Lee Lewis yet resisted the urge toward misty-eyed nostalgia, while 1981’s “The KKK Took My Baby Away” touched on racism’s pernicious undercurrents. Ramones continued touring and recording steadily into the ’90s but broke up after taking a victory lap on the 1996 Lollapalooza tour. Although the band never reunited—all four original Ramones have since died—their legacy is secure. Not only can their world-famous Arturo Vega-designed logo be seen on T-shirts worn by grandmas and toddlers alike, but their short, sharp songs and intimidating look remain a modern punk blueprint.
Hometown
Queens, NY, United States
Genre
Punk