punk rock means different things to different people. growing up in chicago i thought it meant mohawks and safety pins. but when i moved to LA i didnt see any of those stereotypical accessories on any of the real punk rock bands. the sex pistols and the ramones started punk rock they say. and you can argue who came first but whats also important is, who kept going. ramones kept putting out good music for 20 years. "merry christmas (i don't wanna fight tonight)" is a classic christmas song. plus theyre still being echoed in younger bands like the Donnas and Shonen Knife.

joey ramone led his band of amazingly untalented sidemen through every bullshit pop trend from disco to techno by playing straight ahead 4/4 rock.

listening to the ramones for rock fans is like listening to motown to pop fans. there is a simplicity and a harmony that has such a nice subtle swing. the ramones had 12 original albums and played live over 25 years and every record had at least two excellent songs.

ramones (76) - Blitzkrieg Bop, Beat On The Brat, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
leave home (77) - Glad To See You Go, Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, Pinhead, Swallow My Pride, California Sun
road to ruin (78) i wanna be sedated, i just want to have something to do, needles and pins
rocket to russia (79) - Rockaway Beach, Do you Wanna Dance, We're A Happy Family
end of the century (80) - Rock N' Roll High School, Do You Remember Rock N' Roll Radio?, Chinese Rock
pleasant dreams (81) - We Want The Airwaves, KKK Took My Baby Away, She's A Sensation
subterrianian jungle (83) - Psycho Therapy, Time Has Come Today
too tough to die (84)- Mama's Boy, Too Tough To Die, Durango 95
animal boy (86) - Something To Believe In, Somebody Put Something In My Drink, Animal Boy, My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg), Love Kills
halfway to sanity (87) - I Wanna Live, Bop 'Til You Drop , Death Of Me
brain drain (90) - I Believe In Miracles, Pet Sematary, Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
mondo bizarro (92)- Main Man, Strength to Endure

the other thing i love about the ramones, this is how joey looked at the beginning, and this is how he looked at the end. it was all about the music.