Tommy Ramone and I were originally just supposed to chat about the DVD release of the documentary Punk: Attitude but we ended up chatting about a myriad of recent and future Ramones related issues.
Check out the official website for The Ramones
Daniel Robert Epstein: Hey Tommy, what are you up to?
Tommy Ramone: Ah, nothing much, just general day-to-day business.
DRE: What day-to-day business have you got right now?
TR: Deals, talking to managers, lawyersjust general Ramones stuff, and of course music. Right now I have an alternative-country-punk-bluegrass thing that Im doing called Uncle Monk.
DRE: What instruments are you playing?
TR: Im playing mandolin and banjo. Its all acoustic; no drums. Its the new direction of punk rock. Also Im involved with a Ramones musical.
DRE: I read about that, its doing pretty well in Europe.
TR: Yeah, its a big hit in Berlin so were working on bringing that over here.
DRE: Who wrote the book on that?
TR: A playwright from Perth, Australia named Michael Herrmann.
DRE: What happens in the musical?
TR: Its about a young kid who runs away from an abusive family to go to the Lower East Side of New York City around 1980. He gets into more trouble there and through Ramones songs he comes to redeem himself. Its a pretty raunchy show; its not anything youd see in Andrew Lloyd Webber show or anything.
DRE: Did you guys go see Mamma Mia just to see how they did it?
TR: No, we avoided Mamma Mia! Its nothing like anything anybodys seen. Its basically satire with punk rock music.
DRE: Whens there going to be a Ramones biography movie?
TR: I dont know. Im sure someones working on something like that somewhere.
DRE: So youre not working on it?
TR: Me? [laughs]
DRE: I mean youre not telling someone to go do it or anything?
TR: Naw.
DRE: Would you like to see a Ramones biopic?
TR: That depends on whether the script is any good.
DRE: How did you get in involved with the documentary Punk: Attitude?
TR: Don Letts got in touch with me and asked me if Id be interested in it. He set up his cameras and I did some talking.
DRE: Did you see the movie?
TR: Yes, I did.
DRE: What did you think?
TR: First of all its a very good basic chronological and historical statement of the history of punk rock. Its very thorough, informative and entertaining.
DRE: Do you like seeing yourself onscreen?
TR: I guess so, I dont know. [laughs] Its always strange to see yourself on the screen.
DRE: Do you feel the documentary has an opinion?
TR: I think it tries to but Im not sure that it necessarily wants to have an opinion. Basically it wants to get across what happened and how it happened and clear up misconceptions that might have been in the past. Thats its premise and its statement I think it does the job well.
DRE: The Weird Tales of the Ramones box set is awesome, how did that come about?
TR: The 85 songs and 16 video clips were compiled by Johnny Ramone. It was the last thing he did before he passed away. I guess its his last testament.
DRE: What did you think of the documentary End of the Century?
TR: Its pretty good. It has got a lot of historical footage, so its a good chance to see the original, classic Ramones. The first part of the movie deals with the start and then it goes on to what its like to be in a rock band like the Ramones. The infighting and the drama and so the second half is like a soap opera.
DRE: Did you have issues with members of The Ramones that passed that you didnt get to settle?
TR: Of course but thats the way it goes. Its not as much as some other bands [laughs]. But I was on good terms with all of them. Johnny and Joey had problems talking, because they were in love with the same woman. But outside of Johnny and Joey, the rest of them talked to each other.
DRE: Do you still play drums at all?
TR: No, Im basically a string instrument player. I just played drums for the Ramones.
DRE: Howd that end up happening?
TR: I couldnt get the drummers to understand what we were looking for. I was on about the same level on the drums as them so it seemed to work out.
DRE: [laughs] Do you get recognized on the street a lot?
TR: I try not to. Its fine though. But I dont walk around in a motorcycle jacket or anything.
DRE: Why not?
TR: [laughs] Cause I like my own identity. I like to be where I am.
DRE: Whats a good story you want to finish the interview with?
TR: We were driving in our van and we pulled into a rest stop. We went in to use the facilities and as we entered the rest stop owner comes up to our road manager and goes, Its nice of you taking care of these retarded kids.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official website for The Ramones
Daniel Robert Epstein: Hey Tommy, what are you up to?
Tommy Ramone: Ah, nothing much, just general day-to-day business.
DRE: What day-to-day business have you got right now?
TR: Deals, talking to managers, lawyersjust general Ramones stuff, and of course music. Right now I have an alternative-country-punk-bluegrass thing that Im doing called Uncle Monk.
DRE: What instruments are you playing?
TR: Im playing mandolin and banjo. Its all acoustic; no drums. Its the new direction of punk rock. Also Im involved with a Ramones musical.
DRE: I read about that, its doing pretty well in Europe.
TR: Yeah, its a big hit in Berlin so were working on bringing that over here.
DRE: Who wrote the book on that?
TR: A playwright from Perth, Australia named Michael Herrmann.
DRE: What happens in the musical?
TR: Its about a young kid who runs away from an abusive family to go to the Lower East Side of New York City around 1980. He gets into more trouble there and through Ramones songs he comes to redeem himself. Its a pretty raunchy show; its not anything youd see in Andrew Lloyd Webber show or anything.
DRE: Did you guys go see Mamma Mia just to see how they did it?
TR: No, we avoided Mamma Mia! Its nothing like anything anybodys seen. Its basically satire with punk rock music.
DRE: Whens there going to be a Ramones biography movie?
TR: I dont know. Im sure someones working on something like that somewhere.
DRE: So youre not working on it?
TR: Me? [laughs]
DRE: I mean youre not telling someone to go do it or anything?
TR: Naw.
DRE: Would you like to see a Ramones biopic?
TR: That depends on whether the script is any good.
DRE: How did you get in involved with the documentary Punk: Attitude?
TR: Don Letts got in touch with me and asked me if Id be interested in it. He set up his cameras and I did some talking.
DRE: Did you see the movie?
TR: Yes, I did.
DRE: What did you think?
TR: First of all its a very good basic chronological and historical statement of the history of punk rock. Its very thorough, informative and entertaining.
DRE: Do you like seeing yourself onscreen?
TR: I guess so, I dont know. [laughs] Its always strange to see yourself on the screen.
DRE: Do you feel the documentary has an opinion?
TR: I think it tries to but Im not sure that it necessarily wants to have an opinion. Basically it wants to get across what happened and how it happened and clear up misconceptions that might have been in the past. Thats its premise and its statement I think it does the job well.
DRE: The Weird Tales of the Ramones box set is awesome, how did that come about?
TR: The 85 songs and 16 video clips were compiled by Johnny Ramone. It was the last thing he did before he passed away. I guess its his last testament.
DRE: What did you think of the documentary End of the Century?
TR: Its pretty good. It has got a lot of historical footage, so its a good chance to see the original, classic Ramones. The first part of the movie deals with the start and then it goes on to what its like to be in a rock band like the Ramones. The infighting and the drama and so the second half is like a soap opera.
DRE: Did you have issues with members of The Ramones that passed that you didnt get to settle?
TR: Of course but thats the way it goes. Its not as much as some other bands [laughs]. But I was on good terms with all of them. Johnny and Joey had problems talking, because they were in love with the same woman. But outside of Johnny and Joey, the rest of them talked to each other.
DRE: Do you still play drums at all?
TR: No, Im basically a string instrument player. I just played drums for the Ramones.
DRE: Howd that end up happening?
TR: I couldnt get the drummers to understand what we were looking for. I was on about the same level on the drums as them so it seemed to work out.
DRE: [laughs] Do you get recognized on the street a lot?
TR: I try not to. Its fine though. But I dont walk around in a motorcycle jacket or anything.
DRE: Why not?
TR: [laughs] Cause I like my own identity. I like to be where I am.
DRE: Whats a good story you want to finish the interview with?
TR: We were driving in our van and we pulled into a rest stop. We went in to use the facilities and as we entered the rest stop owner comes up to our road manager and goes, Its nice of you taking care of these retarded kids.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 10 of 10 COMMENTS
I guess from the rumors I've heard I would have been with Joey. Wasn't he in love with Deborah Harry at one point? I was too, but then again I was a little kid at the time.