Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone

“Ramones" is a name applied to a Rock ’n’ Roll band of four guys from the Forest Hills Section of Queens in New York City. It was a name originally coined by Paul McCartney and used by this group as if it was a last name of a group of brothers. In fact, none of them were related, but it gave them a feeling of unity. They also dressed in costumes, both on stage and off, and all had long dark hair. The costumes were black leather jackets of various types, tattered jeans and sneakers. Indeed, they looked like a tough set of NYC Punks and the music they played became known as Punk Rock. Ramones got their start by playing at a Bowrey dive known as CBGB. They quickly gathered a following and a record contract and the word spread, particularly to Great Britain and Europe. The original Ramones were Tommy (drums), Johnny (guitar), Dee Dee (bass guitar) and Joey (singer). Their stage presence was typically with Joey front and center and the two guitars to either side with the drums in the back. Their music was a loud, fast, in-your-face wall of sound and their songs were short, catchy and quite humorous, in a droll, understated way. In short, it was fun listening and audiences responded enthusiastically. It was the birth of “Punk Rock” and quickly became a major cultural revolution. Ramones will probably go down as America’s most influential Rock “n' Roll band of all time, although their records were never particularly well selling. Alas, all original Ramones are now dead, but Marky Ramone, a first replacement for drummer Tommy, lives on to tell the story “Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life As A Ramone.” “Blitzkrieg” is an interesting book, particularly if you know a lot of 60s and later music. If you don’t, it’s difficult, but a good way to get started. The book is co-authored with Marky and Rich Herschlag. The pasting together strikes me as rather uneven. I’d guess that Herschag wrote at least 75 % of it. I’d imagine that Marky gave him the info and Herschlag put it together in his own writing. He’s a good writer. His parts of the book are interesting and informative, but somewhat ho-hum. On the other hand, here and there are parts that are written in an eastern accent by someone with an imperfect command of English and they’re funny, really funny. I’d guess that those parts were written by Marky and little modified. They’re truly funny and, trust me, the book would have been much better, although much harder to read, if Marky would have done more of the writing. On top of these two styles are little segments here and there which seem to fit neither style. My guess would be that others collaborated, but are not listed as co-authors. In any case, the reading is rather uneven, although I’m not complaining about it. In another way, the book seems more to be a book about Marky. It’s subtitled “My Life as a Ramone” and I would have preferred it to be less about his life and more about the other Ramones. Well, that’s all right too. It’s Marky’s book and he can do as he likes. I’m just offering my opinion. It’s a fascinating book. It tok me about three days to read it. I cringed at some of the personal details such as Joey's hygeine problems or Dee Dee’s substance abuse problems, but I guess those would have to be voiced to have a complete understanding of the group’s dynamics. If you get interested in Ramones' music, you should also view the “End of The Century” and “Rock and Roll High School” DVDs. View them either before or after reading the book. You’ll enjoy them either way. Gabba Gabba, Hey! Gary Peterson

When I first found out that Marky Ramone was going to be a guest at the 2016 Albuquerque Comic Con, where I would also be as a comic book co-creator, I immediately ordered this book from Amazon. It would arrive just in time, right before the trip there from El Paso, TX. With no time to read it, I figured I'd just get it signed and read it some time in the future (after I finished half a dozen other books I started). I was introduced to Marky by his convention handler, a mutual friend from the convention circuit, and I was quickly taken with Marky's smooth, cool charm and immediately understood the "Ramonesmania" I'd heard about. I've always loved their music, but they have always been "Legendary Status" to me, and I never saw them live or knew much about them or their history. "Pet Sematary" was MY Ramones song as it was my first Stephen King book read, leading me to the film and then the song. As Marky signed my book, he asked where I purchased it, and when I said Amazon, he asked kindly if I would leave review. I told him of course but I wanted to give him something in return. I noticed the silver rings he wore and knew right away what to give him - a stainless steel ring of the comic book hero I co-created. He tried a couple and found the size that fit him best and then he put it on. And kept it on. The whole weekend! I sat in to listen to his panel the next day, he was still wearing the ring. Here was this rock and roll "Living Legend", Marky "EFFIN" Ramone telling life stories to a room full of true Ramones fans, and he was still wearing the ring! I was humbled and honored beyond belief! I barely noticed Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and Ron Pearlman (Hell Boy etc), this comic con, it was Ramones Mania for me! Once back home, I did not hesitate to begin reading the book, if nothing more than to honor my word to Marky's request of leaving a review. What I didn't count on was getting so sucked into the narrative that I could not stop reading. It was as if I was reading a biography, rock/punk rock history, regular history, New York history, music theory and application, band management, a do it yourself guide, and a movie script all seamlessly woven together in a cohesive, enthralling, funny, and at times emotional, story, told by the person who had lived it and seen it all. It gave me an insight and humanity to a band that had always been at legendary status since I was a kid. These were just guys who loved music, classic monster movies, sports, comics, cars, who happened to be in the business of rocking! Even though I knew the outcome of the Ramones in the later years, I was still glued to this book like I was reading it for the first time, and in a way I was. I was hearing it from a guy who was there, a guy who knew the subtle nuances of his longtime band mates, friends, and brothers in this dysfunctional, yet functioning, musical family. For 388 pages you are dropped into this world and taken on Marky's journey with him. The church rec centers, the slimy New York basement apartments, the clubs/bars/CBGB's, the Ramones van, the courier bike, the Cracker Barrels, the parties, the AA meetings, the plane trips, the Berlin Wall, packed stadiums with 40,000 screaming fans...and that's not the half of it. It's a journey you don't want to see end, not even in a book. And in some weird way, after meeting Marky Ramone in person and having the geeky comic book fan boy exchange with him, I feel like I am part of this journey now, if not in the comic con experience itself, then as a small token of gratitude in the form of a stainless steel character ring on the middle finger of MARKY RAMONE...now THAT'S PUNK ROCK!

Almost twenty years after the iconic Ramones disbanded, their main drummer has released an autobiography to give fans an inside view of the band and to, in his words, set the record straight on some of the controversial relationships and incidents that have become Ramones lore. This work took three years to complete, and given the in-depth content, it shows. Marky starts his tale detailing his childhood in 1950s Brooklyn, NY and later describes the path he followed which led him to the Ramones in 1978. Of interest to Ramones buffs are accounts of his stints with the bands preceding his Ramones era - Dust, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, and Wayne County. It was a surprise for me to learn that by the time Marky replaced Tommy Ramone, he had already become solidly entrenched in the New York punk rock scene. Marky gives readers a vivid and at times a jarring insight into the diverse personalities within the Ramones. He does not hold back sharing a great many details and anecdotes which reveal both the positive and negative traits of all members of the group. Marky does not spare himself from his own criticism, as he candidly shines a light on his battles with alcoholism and the way that affliction affected his ability to be a reliable and steady member of the band. On the other hand, many of his stories will leave you chuckling...and wondering how the Ramones were able to persist for twenty-two years. After reading his autobiography, I feel that I know the band and its members as individuals much better now. Marky's revelations and candid insights make this book a 'must-have' for Ramones fans. I rated this book a '4 out of 5' because no 4.5 rating is available and because a 5 implies perfection. One major flaw of the book is that Mark does not provide nearly as many details about his 1987-1996 stint with the band as compared to 1978-1983. He also barely acknowledges his post-Ramones band, the Intruders, nor does he address his brief time with Jerry Only's Misfits. Most glaringly, he also fails to provide his point of view regarding his infamous on-air battle with Joey Ramone on Howard Stern's show in the late 1990s. All in all, the ending feels rushed. These drawbacks pale in comparison, however, with the in-depth knowledge that music fans will receive regarding the classic punk movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s and the band that started it all. On a personal note, I recently met Marky at the Chiller Theatre Expo and found him to be really friendly, down-to-earth and approachable. It's a treat for us fans that he is still keeping the Ramones legacy alive.

I finished this book in a few days since I just couldn't seem to put it down. Marc shares a lot of stories about his start into music and the scene of the early 1970s in New York. Being able to listen to his early bands work after reading about it in the book was a fascinating step back in time. Despite all their ups and downs at the end of the day the Ramones are indeed a happy, albeit dysfunctional family. Although Marc clearly had some issues with his fellow band members, the fact that he cares deeply for them is evident. His descent into alcoholism is raw and honest and it is hard to believe that he survived the sheer amount of booze he was consuming and the lifestyle that went along with it. The only thing missing would have been more info about what Tommy was up to after he left as he pretty much disappears from the story after he leaves the band in the late 70s. I also wish Marc had shared more about CJs contributions and their time together as the book doesn't go into much detail about it. The last few chapters move quickly and perhaps that was done to prevent the book from being too long as it is already nearly 400 pages. Like another reviewer mentioned, my paperback copy was also missing characters from the end of sentences and I saw a few grammatical errors here and there. This has nothing to do with the quality of what is on the pages, and in a strange way it added a bit of extra grit to the book which is very Ramones if you ask me. Over all, this was a great read and Marc seems like a genuinely cool guy. RIP Joey, Johnny, Tommy and Dee Dee, you guys are missed beyond words.

I just finished reading "Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone" by Marky Ramone. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was well written and kept me interested from beginning to end. Marky covers every phase of the Ramones music, the various relationships within the band, the songwriting and playing in the studio and live, and his love for this band comes through in his stories. Even the stories about his youth growing up in Brooklyn and the band he played in before joining the Ramones are very interesting. If you love the Ramones, I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed.

What a story! Not only does it tell the story of his time in The Ramones (and beyond), it illuminates so much in that story. Marky also sets the record straight - about the music, the different personalities and how the band functioned (or didn't) as a unit. I also appreciated his honesty and service in telling his own story of sobriety. What I appreciated most was the obvious love Marky feels for his Ramones brothers. He doesn't use his book as a platform to slag anyone. Instead he uses it to give the fans a fuller picture of who these people were. Marky paints each one with all the colors they had. He doesn't shy away from giving his perspective on less than flattering incidents/issues, but I got the impression that it was to give his honest perspective. After reading his book, I certainly had a fuller picture of who Joey, DeeDee, Johnny and Marky were/are as people. His perspective on DeeDee gave me a new respect for him. Although the DeeDee stories are often the funniest in the book, Marky also painted a clearer portrait of DeeDee, the artist. The anecdote of DeeDee at Stephen King's home is truly illuminating. Ultimately, Marky tells the story of the love and appreciation he had for each Ramone, on each of their own terms. He loved them for what each brought to the table and accepted each - flaws and all. Most of all, he loved them as brothers and that is the story which comes through, LOUD and clear. It is still hard for me to accept I will never get to see them live again. For many years, it was an annual experience to get see them in person. Of course, the even harder thing to accept is that except for Marky, they are all gone. I so appreciate that Marky wrote down his memories and perspectives. It is a story worth remembering.

Marc "Marky Ramone" Bell's excellent Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone runs chronologically from his upbringing to musical beginnings, followed by an in-depth reportage of his time with the Ramones, through the deaths of his bandmates Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee. Bell's honesty and sense of humor compliments a passionate and emotional recounting of his life and work. The Ramones were as dysfunctional as could be, highlighted by a chilly relationship between Johnny and Joey. Dee Dee, for his part, was a hugely creative force despite his rabid drug addiction. The band was a study in contrasting personalities, all sewn up in their famous van, a symbol of the stripped-down, economical, disciplined schedule put forth by Johnny, who took charge of the band's internal affairs. So many great inside stories here: Joey's strange scar; Johnny stealing Joey's girl, who he later married; Dee Dee's wild times; the filming of "Rock and Roll High School"; visiting the Berlin Wall and a tough incident with German locals; the Phil Spector affair. Too many to name, so much good humor from Marky, with an excellent co-writer in Rich Herschlag, who deserves a ton of credit for pulling this all together. The book is meaty at 388 pages yet moves at a blistering pace. Impressively, Marky is very candid about his struggle with alcoholism, which contributed mightily from his being asked to leave the band in the 1980s. He returned for the final years of the Ramones' run, sober and carrying the message of recovery to Joey and Dee Dee, both receptive to some degree. Marky's account of his alcoholism is so candid it's worth the price of admission alone. Indeed, this section of the book would be good enough for inclusion in the famous "Big Blue Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization Marky credits for his 30-plus years of sobriety. A brilliant, clear-headed account of the history and relationships amongst the Ramones, this is a deeply introspective book that deserves a wide audience.

I've been a fan of the Ramones for many years but have never read much about them or delved into their history. "Punk Rock Blitzkrieg" offers a unique view from the drummer's seat: the personalities, the neuroses, the endless touring, and not least, the addictions. Marky was not an original Ramone. He cut his teeth in other influential bands of the time and was asked to join when Tommy stepped back in 1978. Excepting a hiatus to deal with his own alcohol addiction he remained with the band until the end and is today the sole survivor of the primary line-up. By reading "Blitzkrieg" I learned more about being in a punk band and how the music is played than I thought I would. The book offers a musician's view, explaining Johnny's guitar style, how Dee Dee approached the base, and how these techniques were critical to the sound. The book is clearly written by a guy from Brooklyn. It has attitude, it has chutzpah. It sometimes comes off as a string of somewhat unrelated memorable incidents, without the continuity one comes to expect from an autobiography. But read with an eye on who the author is, and taken at face value, it's an entertaining and good read. I came away feeling like I knew more about the Ramones, and certainly about who Marky is. And he's quite a guy. I'd love to buy him a seltzer some time!

To be read by any Ramones fan…

Amazing book, epic account of the ramones and Marky is a great story teller. Check it out!

Definitely a 'no holds barred' autobiography from Marky. As a big fan of The Ramones for many decades and having seen them live this was a very good read, mainly because it outlines in detail what an incredibly dysfunctional group they actually were - something which was general knowledge, but this fleshes out the detail very well. Marc was also a member of other early seminal groups in the New York punk scene and their development was fascinating. The book is well written and moves at a good pace throughout. As the only surviving Ramone - although not the original drummer - he was best placed to tell their story and his in detail. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in this hugely influential, yet highly underrated band and this period in New York rock 'n' roll history. Hey ho, Let's Go !!

The book covers Marky's childhood and his career in music, including the bands he played in before Ramones. Some of the stories are just hilarious, others insightful but all of them make you feel that your witnessing things from the front row. The characters of the Ramones as described in the book are more or less in line with the stories one could read so far. For me personally, the most interesting part of the book is where he talks about his childhood, his performance at school, the relationship with his father, growing up in general etc. Additionally, the bands he played in (because of his excellent drumming skills) but also the rise of the punk rock in the 70s, his personal demons etc. This book nicely lays out the history of the Ramones but also tells a personal story. A recommended read for everyone that is in for a laugh and wants to have look behind the scenes of a (their most beloved) rock band.

I always find the "I grew up in Resume Speed, Idaho" bit of any auto-bio tiresome Marc Bell get through fairly concisely and quickly. I was fascinated and looked into the previous bands he'd been in, and saw it was obvious that he should be a Ramone! Well written by a kind soul and a nice man. No punches are delivered in a nasty way, just stated factually. Good reading for punk fans, music history buffs and Ramones Lovers!