Music Monday - The Ramones

The first concert I ever went to was on October 30th, 1992. Overwhelming Colorfast was the opening band (feel free to ask 'Who?'). Then came Social Distortion, great band. The main event was the sonic attack of the RAMONES!

I'd found them a couple years before while in high school. They were funny looking. They had played for ages. The music was simple at first listen. The lead singer's style was unique, to say the least. The lyrics were either very direct or confusing. There was a sense of humor to the band, as if they knew exactly what they were and wanted to let you know it would be okay for you to join them. It sounded like 50's rock played twice as fast. I quickly fell in love with them.

How can you not love a song that expresses the need for sedation?



You see, in high school, my geekdom was not considered to be as awesome as it might be now. I didn't care to be seen as cool and the majority of the people around be were willing to go along with that assessment of the situation. The Ramones were also outcasts, freaks, geeks. 'Gabba Gabba, we accept you, one of us' is the line they cribbed from the movie 'Freaks'. It was one of their credos: all are welcome here. They were geeks too. Who else would write a theme song for a Steven King movie?



During its existence, the band never really got the recognition (or money) it truly deserved. Bands during the 1990s identified the Ramones as their inspiration but it was too late for the group. They had toured hard and worked hard. The albums still weren't selling. In 1996 they called it quits.



Since then, the band was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Founding members Joey, Johnny, and Dee Dee Ramone have all died. The band is gone, but wherever someone starts a song with the cadence of '1 2 3 4', they will always be remembered.