Hello Friends....

It's funny. I guess because of the two Ramones films that have been very 
recently released
"Raw" and "Ramones-End Of The Century" I've been doing some heavy reminiscing 
about the band.
I was lucky enough to have seen them way back in the the late 70's when all 
four original members (including Tommy) were in tact and I saw them probably 20 
times after that with Marky on drums.
I will never forget the sweat, the lights, the excitement, the VOLUME of 
being pressed up against the stage at Ramones shows.  Every time that I saw them I 
would say "never again!" because I would be walking around half deaf with a 
ringing in my ears for the next 3 days but I always went back!  There was 
nothing like them and there never will be.  I had no clue that what I was seeing 
would end up being so significant and influential (to me) and in the general 
scheme of musical things.
I always knew in the back of my mind (even as a young kid when I first saw 
them) that they were just a LOUD, souped up version of The Beatles, Rolling 
Stones, Kinks, Beach Boys, Spector, 60's Girl Groups etc....in other words 
"classic rock".
They were funny too and they had a lot of heart and class.  I really miss 
them a lot.
I hope that that Johnny, Joey and DeeDee knew how much they changed the face 
of things and how adored they were to a lot of people.  I think they did.
MB