Listen: Bonzo Goes To Bitburg / The Ramones RamonesBonzo.mp3
No one said it better than Seymour Stein: “A band like The Ramones don’t come along once in a lifetime, they come along once”.
Somewhere on the west side, either 14th or 23rd Street, they were recording a few songs. Damn if I can remember where.
As I recall it, there was a single to do between albums for the UK and the band had a song they figured would work. Well not John, but the others that is.
Around 10 pm, the phone rang. It was Joe. Did I wanna go to The Ritz for a drink and oh, could you pick me up? Couldn’t have come at a more boring moment, I was alone for the weekend. Got in the Honda, and headed over.
I remember this as clearly as looking in the mirror. He jumped into the front seat. There was definitely something about the expression on his face, eyes almost bugging and kind of panting, breathing anxiously. “You gotta hear this song, can I play it, it’s a rough mix but you gotta hear it”. Ah – yeah!
In went the cassette. I guess I was luckily the first person to hear it outside of the studio walls. Joe kept watching for my reaction, beaming at the same time. How could he not. The Ramones had just finished recording one of the greatest singles of all time.
I pulled over on 2nd Ave. I had too. This sounded so fantastic it was almost unbelievable. We listened a few more times really loud. It was warm, windows open, perfect until more than a few kids, awestruck at seeing Joey Ramone sitting in this car, started to clammer. God bless him, Joe had time for everyone, autographs, pictures, you name it. It often took us half an hour to go a couple blocks from his place to eat – every walk of life stopped him on the street, fans, foreigners, even cops, always. So after a bunch of hellos, it was time to drive along.
You see, one of The Ramones biggest fans was Joe himself. So he had no problem with my insistence we drive a bit and keep listening. We went round and round town, up the east side, through the park, down the West End Highway, playing this for at least an hour, probably two. No exaggeration.
Does life get any better than a memory like that?
No.
Above: Jukebox Tab signed by Joey Ramone
Below: One of the few clips that actually captures their sheer power.
Tags: Beggars Banquet, Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Jukebox Tab, Seymour Stein, Sire, The Ramones, The Ritz