The influence of The Ramones on popular music is immeasurable: not only did the NYC quartet help to establish the early punk sound and aesthetic, but they also served as a vital link in the rock timeline by drawing influence from ‘60s pop and garage singles. While their hoodlum look bordered on cartoonish, their signature attack–three chords (or less) played at twice the normal tempo (or more)–has become the embodiment of independent rock for a generation of musicians, from Sonic Youth and The Clash to Green Day and Foo Fighters.