How'bout some RAMONES?

Joey Ramone's brother, Mickey Leigh, will be publishing his memoir "I Slept With Joey Ramone" on December 1st... the book was co-written by noted punk rock writer Legs ("Please Kill Me") McNeil... should be a good one.

Hype about the above-mentioned book:

"I SLEPT WITH JOEY RAMONE: A Family Memoir," is the story of the turbulent life of one of America’s greatest rock icons, revealed for the first time by Joey Ramone’s brother, Mickey Leigh, with “Resident Punk” Legs McNeil. "I Slept with Joey Ramone," will hit the bookstands Dec. 1, 2009. Pick up your copy and hear the story behind the music.

The Ramones gave voice to the disaffected youth of the seventies and eighties while defining punk rock in America with hits such as “Blitzkrieg Bop” / “Rockaway Beach” / “I Wanna Be Sedated” / “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” / and “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.”

About the Authors:

MICKEY LEIGH has been an influential player in the rock & roll world since the late seventies. After forming Birdland with Lester Bangs in 1977 he became the lead singer/guitaris/songwriter for the Rattlers and Stop and was a contributor to the music of the Ramones. He has written the monthly column My Guitar is Pregnant for the Lower East Side-based newspaper the New York Waster since 1996; created and published the Coney Island High Times, a monthly magazine for famed rock club Coney Island High; and written reviews for magazines including Audio Review and Time Out New York. This is his first book. He lives in New York City.

LEGS MCNEIL is the coauthor of Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, a book widely hailed as the definitive work on the subject. The cofounder of the seminal magazine that gave punk its name, he is a former editor at Spin and editor in chief of Nerve. He divides his time between New York City and his home in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania.

I'm so getting this. The Ramones are one of my fave bands and I've been jamming them a lot lately.

Looks like a cool read, but I've already got a stack of books that I received last Christmas that still need my attention. I'm not adding more to the pile.

How cool is this? Joey Ramone singing the holiday classic "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" -- had no idea this track (or the CD it came from, a single called CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN MY HOUSE) even existed till today...

Love me some Ramones!!!

Fat Freddy wrote:

How cool is this? Joey Ramone singing the holiday classic "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" -- had no idea this track (or the CD it came from, a single called CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN MY HOUSE) even existed till today...

I've known of this for a while although I never have gotten my hands on Christmas Spirit In My House. Need to though.

The Ramones Rule !!!
I think I spin the Ramones Mania comp. at least weekly.

Yeah, "Mania" is indeed a great comp. That's where I started with the band. I'd recommend that one to anyone looking to get into The Ramones.

akeldama wrote:

I've known of this for a while although I never have gotten my hands on Christmas Spirit In My House. Need to though.

As I said, I had no idea this disc existed... did some Googling about it and it appears that it was just a 5-track EP. It featured "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," an acoustic version of the Ramones "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" and then three tracks from Joey's DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME solo album.
It looks like used copies run about $20 on Amazon, but that's a lotta bread for only two songs I don't have...

Fat Freddy wrote:

akeldama wrote:

I've known of this for a while although I never have gotten my hands on Christmas Spirit In My House. Need to though.

As I said, I had no idea this disc existed... did some Googling about it and it appears that it was just a 5-track EP. It featured "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," an acoustic version of the Ramones "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" and then three tracks from Joey's DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME solo album.
It looks like used copies run about $20 on Amazon, but that's a lotta bread for only two songs I don't have...

I agree, are you familiar with the Sibling Rivalry (I think that's what it's called) 3 song EP?

akeldama wrote:

are you familiar with the Sibling Rivalry (I think that's what it's called) 3 song EP?

Yea, I have those three tracks on a bootleg compilation ... Joey did them with his brother Mickey (author of the book I posted about a day or two ago)... haven't heard'em in awhile though

I really need to fill all the gaps in my Ramones collection.

Metallic Blaze wrote:

I really need to fill all the gaps in my Ramones collection.

Which ones are you missing?

Fat Freddy wrote:

Metallic Blaze wrote:

I really need to fill all the gaps in my Ramones collection.

Which ones are you missing?

The only actual album I have from them is "Mania". I got into them a few years ago with that album and it was a great introduction to the band. I keep meaning to pick up their other albums, but I tend to forget about them sometimes I guess.

Awwww damn dude, you got catchin up to do! Haha. Start with the self titled debut and work your way up from there. My personal faves are 78's ROAD TO RUIN and '84's TOO TOUGH TO DIE, but honestly you can't go wrong with any of'em.

By the way, I was in the barber shop with my son yesterday (getting his hair cut before the snow flew) and happened to hear the Ramones' "She's A Sensation" (from PLEASANT DREAMS) on their satellite radio. That was a rather obscure tune to hear in a barber shop.

I agree FF, you can't go wrong with any of them, but my faves are the S/T, Too Tough To Die & Brain Drain. I like the Expanded editions a lot, I wish they were all expanded.

Does anyone have the multi-disc compilation Weird Tales of the Ramones? I've often thought of picking that one up but haven't yet.



Any good?

Fat Freddy wrote:

Awwww damn dude, you got catchin up to do! Haha. Start with the self titled debut and work your way up from there. My personal faves are 78's ROAD TO RUIN and '84's TOO TOUGH TO DIE, but honestly you can't go wrong with any of'em.

By the way, I was in the barber shop with my son yesterday (getting his hair cut before the snow flew) and happened to hear the Ramones' "She's A Sensation" (from PLEASANT DREAMS) on their satellite radio. That was a rather obscure tune to hear in a barber shop.

I will certainly look into those albums based on your recommendation alone friend! Thanks!

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Does anyone have the multi-disc compilation Weird Tales of the Ramones? I've often thought of picking that one up but haven't yet.



Any good?

I think Spec has this one, or at least he used to. I never bothered with it cuz I own all the Ramones albums so other than the DVD of all their videos, there wasn't much in this box set that I didn't have already. I believe the only "rare" track included was "Carbona Not Glue" (which was on the first pressing of LEAVE HOME but was removed at the request of the Carbona spot-cleaner company, who didn't like the idea of a song suggesting that kids sniff their product)... and Spec was nice enough to send me an MP3 of that one track.

If I ever came across this box cheaply enough though I'd probably grab it just cuz it looks like a great collection. I believe there's a comic book included too, which I'd love to see.

Yea, I've got the majority of the tracks on here too. A good portion was covered on the 2 disc anthology, which I have already. Eh, if I could find it cheap, it might be a cool purchase.

I'd like to own it too but I have all their stuff too.

Holiday Greetings from the Ramones...

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Does anyone have the multi-disc compilation Weird Tales of the Ramones? I've often thought of picking that one up but haven't yet.



Any good?

It's great, but I think I paid too much ($99.99 Canadian+15% sales tax).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weird_Tales_of_the_Ramones
I wish I ordered it from their good friend/artist Arturo who I bought the Pleasant Dreams re-issued cd from, as he includes bonus stuff like a t-shirt maybe, and for a cheaper price!
he sent a couple ramones photo postcards with the sites he runs, or helps
http://ramonesworld.com
http://johnnyramone.com