À Quick question for you and Joe: Was Tommy really NOT important in the Ramones’ sound as claimed by none other than Johnny AND Dee Dee in the « End of the Century » soundtrack ?
I was around the band early on and Tommy was the person responsible for creating the Ramones' sound. The other Ramones always resented this and treated him terribly, forcing him out of the group. Several people who were around the band back in the day confirmed the mistreatment... Don't forget that Tommy was a music professional--he worked on the Jimi Hendrix LP Electric Ladyland and was an accomplished musician. He only played drums for the group because drummers all wanted to play like Ginger Baker or John Bonham, and Tommy wanted a simpler backbeat, so he had to do it himself.
That explains a lot, John! Great to see you here....we used to correspond a bit in the '70s (by letter....with stamps!). I was in Houston, and of course, subbed to PUNK! As for Tommy, that explains why he wasn't in the photo (backstage at Houston's Liberty Hall in '77...the one that adorns my FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE ID....the one just to the left). I can't even recall if he was in the room!
The following year, in '78, I don't recall him being in the Houston hotel room with us, either: 'Twas me, Johnny, Joey, and Dee Dee, plus Linda Stein, who was touring with them (at least, that leg). Never occurred to me to ask where Tommy was, and now, I'm wondering where on earth could he have been?! A shame to hear how he was treated, though.
As contemporary praise, I had my 12-year old daughter listen to the backing track of “Cretin Hop” and she enjoyed it a lot. She marvelled that every section was structured, clear, and how the sound was so compact, with every instrument in its place but none of them was overdoing it. “It is architecture!”
Fantastic. This really packs a punch. Among many other things m, I am reminded that this song, blaring on my friend Todd’s old family hi fi, introduced me to the word THORAZINE.
To me, the worst fallout from Tommy's departure was that he figured he'd stay on as producer (he was perfect for them), but instead the other brudders hired other producers. Like, I rmember Joey played the demo tape for Pleasant Dreams for me once, and I thought they sounded better than the Graham Gouldman version. But the Ramones were convinced it was Tommy's fault they never had a hit record...
You make it easy to write an essay on a 2:40 minute song! I am showing it to my daughter to try to get her write something for thé local Library writing competition. Thank you!
BTW, Ed StaSium has become Ed StaDium at the start in one of the later paragraphs. Maybe you wrote it before going to a baseball match…. 👌👍
Daughter liked the text, says it is very solid and cohérent. When reading Mickey Leigh’s quote on Joey, she asked if he had OCD and, when I confirmed it, she said: « I knew it ! » No questions on Thorazine. As for the library entry, « Maybe, dad, maybe ». Thank you!
Nice commentary on "Happy Family." (Remember, it's also a Chinese/American food dish.)
Anyway, like you wrote, sad that none of them are around anymore...
Thanks, John! Ha, forgot about that menu connection.
À Quick question for you and Joe: Was Tommy really NOT important in the Ramones’ sound as claimed by none other than Johnny AND Dee Dee in the « End of the Century » soundtrack ?
I was around the band early on and Tommy was the person responsible for creating the Ramones' sound. The other Ramones always resented this and treated him terribly, forcing him out of the group. Several people who were around the band back in the day confirmed the mistreatment... Don't forget that Tommy was a music professional--he worked on the Jimi Hendrix LP Electric Ladyland and was an accomplished musician. He only played drums for the group because drummers all wanted to play like Ginger Baker or John Bonham, and Tommy wanted a simpler backbeat, so he had to do it himself.
Right on, John. Nice to hear it from someone on the scene and in the know.
And Tommy went on to play highly regarded bluegrass!
That explains a lot, John! Great to see you here....we used to correspond a bit in the '70s (by letter....with stamps!). I was in Houston, and of course, subbed to PUNK! As for Tommy, that explains why he wasn't in the photo (backstage at Houston's Liberty Hall in '77...the one that adorns my FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE ID....the one just to the left). I can't even recall if he was in the room!
The following year, in '78, I don't recall him being in the Houston hotel room with us, either: 'Twas me, Johnny, Joey, and Dee Dee, plus Linda Stein, who was touring with them (at least, that leg). Never occurred to me to ask where Tommy was, and now, I'm wondering where on earth could he have been?! A shame to hear how he was treated, though.
Thank you John! It is very clear.
As contemporary praise, I had my 12-year old daughter listen to the backing track of “Cretin Hop” and she enjoyed it a lot. She marvelled that every section was structured, clear, and how the sound was so compact, with every instrument in its place but none of them was overdoing it. “It is architecture!”
I don't recall those comments. Certainly not true, imo.
I mean « End of the Century » movie documentary. Here they say it after the 59:58 mark
https://youtu.be/Rj38MQ4FbpE?si=r16gvTNvGv9a-t-_
Of course I agree with you.
Meh. Whatever.
Sounds revisionist to me, but I could be wrong.
Fantastic. This really packs a punch. Among many other things m, I am reminded that this song, blaring on my friend Todd’s old family hi fi, introduced me to the word THORAZINE.
Love it. We learn where we learn!
Tommy Ramone was a great producer for the Ramones...
Who else could have produced all that insanity?
To me, the worst fallout from Tommy's departure was that he figured he'd stay on as producer (he was perfect for them), but instead the other brudders hired other producers. Like, I rmember Joey played the demo tape for Pleasant Dreams for me once, and I thought they sounded better than the Graham Gouldman version. But the Ramones were convinced it was Tommy's fault they never had a hit record...
Yeah, papaer and stamps... Those were the days!
Have you given a listen to those "New York Mixes" of PD that came out on Record Store Day a coupla years ago? They sound good.
You make it easy to write an essay on a 2:40 minute song! I am showing it to my daughter to try to get her write something for thé local Library writing competition. Thank you!
BTW, Ed StaSium has become Ed StaDium at the start in one of the later paragraphs. Maybe you wrote it before going to a baseball match…. 👌👍
Thanks, Antonio—on both counts! Good luck to your daughter!
Daughter liked the text, says it is very solid and cohérent. When reading Mickey Leigh’s quote on Joey, she asked if he had OCD and, when I confirmed it, she said: « I knew it ! » No questions on Thorazine. As for the library entry, « Maybe, dad, maybe ». Thank you!
Keep me posted!