Booklist
The Ramones were the first punk band, the inspiration, on their first British tour, for the Clash and the Sex Pistols. This svelte collection documents their visual appeal. Few rock images scream "icon" more than Dayton's of Johnny Ramone, both in color on the cover and in its more familiar black-and-white incarnation inside: "He's . . . got his leather jacket on, he's got his foot way out in front, he's got the ripped knee of the jean, he's got his Mosrite guitar, and he's got a real aggressive pouty look on his face. It really personified punk rock," and it sets the tone. Joey and Johnny get the most face time, but bassist Dee Dee, drummer Tommy, and replacements Marky and CJ aren't poorly represented. Of drug-crazed Dee Dee, Jesse Malin says in the introduction, "His insane genius . . and image pretty much defined the punk rock rebel model." Ditto, the rest of the band. Mark time till the Ramones documentary End of the Century comes out with these dramatic stills. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
The Ramones must now rank as one of the most brilliant prototypes ever. The New York CBGBs scene graduates helped spark British punk in the '70s, inspired US hardcore through the '80s and '90s, and again their 1-2-3-4 attackk style has resurfaced in international garage rock revivalism. Undoubtedly the genius of the four leather-jacketed 'brudders' from Queens lay in their ability to subvert all-American machismo with cartoon geekishness, as much as in their fusion of '60s girl group tunes and punk. In order to convey the Goofy-goes-Alice Cooper aesthetic they needed great image makers, and one of the earliest and best was New York photographer Chip Dayton. Whilst studying photgraphy in the mid-'70s, Dayton took a borrowed Canon F-1 down to the now legendary CBGBs club and began a series of live shots which would eventually comprise the seminal Ramones action frames. His extensive collection of black and whites from their buzz-saw gigs defined the band's appeal (featuring on their live album Road To Ruin) and glued them eternally to the hearts of rock fans. With revealing backstage portraits, Dayton's collection comprises essential rock history, as well as a fitting Ramones memorial, following the recent loss of founding members Dee Dee and Joey.
