SEE: Joey Ramone relaxing on his couch in Queens, NY... SEE: Marky Ramone give his car a tune up... SEE: CJay Ramone washing dishes... SEE: the Ramones eat cold cereal...
Okay, while the Ramones lifestyles aren't very exciting, their music kicks booty. They just so happen to be my all-time favorite band, and I believe they are the greatest band in rock and roll history. More than just a punk rock band, they've done it all - hardcore punk, love songs, country style tunes, many a cover tune, and of course the blitzkrieg rock'n'roll they're most famous for.
This video, "Lifestyles of the Ramones", includes 12 of their videos (the ones you never get to see on MTV) and a ton of interview footage with the band and their peers from New York City. Deborah Harry, members from the Talking heads, Anthrax, Living Colour, Little Stephen, and various producers (Daniel Rey), radio deejays, and record executives share their insights into what it is that make the Ramones so darn cool.
Although the interview segments get a bit boring at times (especially after repeated viewings), it's the music videos themselves that make this a must have for Ramones fans. Here we have videos for the following Ramones classics - Do You Remember Rock'n'roll, Rock'n'roll High School, We Want the Airwaves, Psycho Therapy, and I Wanna Be Sedated, as well as some other excellent tunes including my personal favorites Pet Sematary, Something to Believe In, and Howling at the Moon. I Wanna Live, Merry Christmas, and I Believe in Miracles are also included. The video runs for 58 minutes, but I just wish they included a few more songs - even if they were just live footage.
Another thing I wish they had included in this video is interview clips with Dee Dee Ramone - the heart and soul of the band. Heck, even after he quit and was replaced by CJay, he still wrote most of their songs for them! I reckon Dee Dee would be a lot more interesting to interview than the rest of the band - I hear he's a bit on the schizophrenic side - but hey, this video is still a gem. I love the way the Ramones never changed their look - they wear the same black leather and sport the same bowl haircuts in each video - and Joey Ramone's speaking voice is funny as heck! I love it when he says, "It wasn't always peaches and cream" in that low, low Brooklyn voice of his.
If you love the Ramones the way I do, then you must get your hands on this video. I've had my copy for over five years, and the darn thing is totally worn out 'cos I've played it so many times. "Lifestyles of the Ramones" is definately worth having - I give it three thumbs up!
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