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Influence - MC5
"Kick Out The Jams"From Lincoln Park, Michigan, Motor City 5 was loud and energetic, much like the band they influenced - the Ramones. Although they had a short-lived career, they have had a lasting impact on rock. Their songs, like "Kick Out the Jams," had a fast tempo and simple chords and lyrics (much like the Ramones). The leader singer shouts the lyrics, like Joey Ramone will do. It is important to point out that unlike the Ramones who detested solos, there is a solo in this song. -
Influence - Iggy and the Stooges
"I Wanna Be Your Dog"The stoogies were unlike artists of their time in that they revealed the nastiness beneath rock 'n' roll. They are often categorized as raw, vulgar, and immediate. Iggy pop was reckless and far out there, the rhythm section was chaotic, their performances were wild! They are distinct because of this in addition to their distortion, and power chord riffs. A characteristtic of theirs is that their songs had 2 minutes of composed material followed by improvisation. -
Influence - New York Dolls
"Personality Crisis"Before there was Punk, there were the New York Dolls. Classified as "Protopunk" and influenced by bands such as the Rolling Stones, the Dolls constructed a form of hard rock that anticipated punk and heavy metal. Their songs were fast in tempo and the instruments overpowered the lyrics (which were sometimes inaudible and certainly always yelled/screamed). Their instruments included drums, bass, guitar, piano, and a vocalist. The voice is often deep and in the lower register. -
The Beginning of Punk Rock
The Ramones began in Forest Hills, Queens, NY with John Cummings (Johnny Ramone), Thomas Erdelyi (Tommy Ramone), Douglas Colvin (Dee Dee Ramone), and Jeffry Hyman (Joey Ramone). Later members of the band included: Marc Bell (Marky Ramone), Richard Reinhardt (Richie Ramone), Christopher Ward (C.J. Ramone) and for a very short time, Clem Burke. -
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Characteristics
What is Punk Rock, as established by the Ramones? The Ramones' songs are characterized by their use of four chords, a simple melody, speedy tempo, and asinine lyrics. It seems as though thery sought to return to early rock 'n' roll. The bandmembers dressed in torn blue jeans, t-shirts, leather jackets, long hair, and sneakers in honor of the rockers of the 1950s. -
"Blitzkrieg Bop"
"Blitzkrieg Bop" From their first album, titled Ramones, this song can be characterized as energetic and rebellious in nature. It begins with a 20secs introduction, before Joey sings the first line: "Hey Ho, Let's Go!". The bass and the guitar gradutally build until they are at full volume. The aggressiveness is achieved by a fast tempo, simple lyrics and chords that are repeated, and a high volume. Joey sounds like he's shouting the lyrics. -
Influenced - Bad Religion
"We're Only Gonna Die" Bad Religion was a punk band that began in Los Angeles. The band was composed of three instruments and a vocalist: guitar, bass and drums. This, like the Ramones, stuck to the basics of rock'n'roll. Their songs had a hard and energetic tempo, and the lyrics were sometimes simple. Unlike the Ramones, they were more complex in that they had vocal harmonies. -
Influenced - Screeching Weasel
"Hey Suburbia"Formed in Chicago in 1986, Screeching Weasel began after bandmembers Ben Foster and John Pierson attended a Ramones concert. The band was influenced specifically by the lyrical content of many of the Ramones' songs - songs about girls and mental problems.
Screeching Weasel adopted the driving tempo of the Ramones, as well as the rebelliousness depicted in many of their songs. -
Influenced - Green Day
"Longview"Formed in East Bay, California, Green Day is one of the many bands in recent decades that have been influenced by the Ramones. They are often credited with reviving the basic punk esthetic in the modern generation. The Ramones' influence can be seen in the simple three-chord form that many of their songs take. Furthermore, it can also be seen in some of their songs that have a faster tempo and a more aggressive, energetic tone.
