Tommy Ramone is dead, just in case you havent heard. The last ‘original’ Ramone along with Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee have proved all that good cretins go to heaven eventually. Much like any other artist he is now the best drummer that has ever lived and saved numerous peoples lives and inspired every musician. Everyone is ‘gutted’ and shouting ‘RIP’ and 2 weeks ago Tommy who?
Yeah its just how we are us crazy humans, once you dead you’re a legend, something to look forward to for all of us I suppose. Randy Blythe took to Instagram to genuflect to the drummer and as much as I dig Blythe, his intellectual blather is starting to irk me, you’re a metal singer not a scholar. Yes, you did hard time in a Czech prison (we were one of the few outlets who gave a crap) but your speeches are a bit self indulgent.
He says: “The importance of the Ramones in the history of underground music cannot be overstated — before the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Black Flag and way before any speed/thrash metal band, The Ramones were blowing minds with loud, fast, aggressive music.
“Although to the calloused ears of modern youth who have grown up listening to crust punk/grind core/speed and thrash metal/and even some of the more aggressive music on commercial radio, The Ramones might sound like fast pop, at the time they started playing out in New York City at CBGB/Max’s Kansas City (1974), they were something that had never ever been seen or heard before.
“The first time my band played CBGB, I was completely emotionally overwhelmed. ‘Man, the feeaking Ramones started out here!’ I thought as I stood on stage. I almost started crying. Without that band, the tempo of underground music would have never reached the speed that it has today. “No Ramones = no Lamb Of God, or any of the other music most fans of my band listen to.
“Rest in peace, bro.”
Now I’m gonna cry….
