It’s not always easy to adapt to change in New York, which bred punk rock in the 1970s and has watched over its growth ever since.
It started with CBGB, which opened in 1973.
The Ramones formed and started playing there a year later, a residency that led to the band’s Sire recording contract in 1975. In 1976, the Ramones released two records – an eponymous LP and “Ramones Leave Home” – and made their U.K. debut, heralded by the international press as the first punk rock band and, with the Sex Pistols, the leaders of the movement.
Nearly 30 years later, New York is lacking some of that leather-jacket luster. The Ramones’ mid-’90s breakup wasn’t pretty, but even worse is what has happened since. Joey Ramone died in 2001. Dee Dee Ramone died in 2002.
Johnny Ramone died in September. With the three founding members of the Ramones gone, the news of CBGB’s expected closing doesn’t come as a surprise. The infamous rock club, which has maintained its legendary status even without the legendary shows in recent years, announced it will likely close in August because its monthly rent was recently doubled to $40,000.
Amid all this turmoil, Marky Ramone – who drummed for the band from 1977-83 and 1987-96 – remains stoic. Ask him how he’s dealing with the death of his former bandmates and the impending closing of his old home away from home, and he will say in his distinct New York accent: “Ehh, life goes on.”
But Marky Ramone, who is in Denver tonight playing a tribute to the Ramones, has never let go of the music.
He has toured the Ramones tribute before, and has played in different bands over the years, including a four-year stint with the Misfits. He also has taken on the role of punk rock historian.
Last year he released “Raw,” an aptly titled Ramones documentary compiled from his own home videos over the years. And while “Raw” was overshadowed by the more
cogent, professional “End of the Century” doc in 2004, Marky Ramone is also working on a book, and many old-school punk rockers and newbies alike are looking forward to his recollections of the early days inside the New York scene.
“I guess you could say that I’m doing all this in the memory of Johnny, Joey and Dee Dee, because the three of them are gone and everything, but I also think that you have to live with that and just move on,” he said. “It was a sad thing that all this happened – us getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and all these other things coming the Ramones’ way – without the guys around, but, you know, it’s time to move beyond all that.”
A visit to CBGB two nights before the interview with Marky Ramone offered an opportunity to breathe that musty air and stand on that uneven patchwork floor one last time. The punk music was excellent, but as MDC blasted through its succinct reunion set, the nostalgia set in. This was the room. This was where everything went down. The sentiment almost overwhelmed the loud, strutting music, but eventually it faded to the back and just played a strong supporting role.
But Marky Ramone isn’t so sentimental.
“It meant more in the ’70s,” he said flatly about CBGB. “Honestly, it’s a great place, but it’s a T-shirt.”
Marky Ramone’s recipe for change is simple – and it involves a little bit of the same. For example, tonight’s Ramones tribute (billed simply as “Marky Ramone”) will have him and his band playing about 30 Ramones songs. But playing Ramones songs and pretending to be the Ramones are two different things.
Even if he owned the rights to the Ramones name, he said, he would never tour under the banner. He calls it ridiculous for David Johansen to tour as the New York Dolls.
“I would never do that to the guys. It’s such disrespect.”
That’s why he has no illusions about his current band.
“It’s a lot of fun, and I’ll do it for a while. But it’s not my life ambition, because there will never be another Ramones.”
Pop music critic Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-820-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com.
Marky Ramone
PUNK ROCK|Performance is part of Modern Drunkard convention; Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave.; 8 tonight; convention is today through Sunday|$20 (day pass and concert)-$49 (three day pass)|call 303-832-3166 or visit drunkard.com for tickets and full convention schedule.
