So, what have you been listening to lately?

[Ken]

The Ramones got lumped together with Punk due to superficial similarities, but in fact they were much more electrified late 60s bubblegum pop, and I mean that in the nicest and most appreciative of ways because I really think they were an American treasure. But essentially, they were a bare bones power pop band, and a great one at that. To me, the Ramones are closer to early Beach Boys than to, say, New York Dolls (also great), Sex  Pistols or The Clash.

Joey Ramone was one of the tallest rock lead vocalists ever at 1,98 meters or 6'6". He suffered from MFS or Marfan Syndrome (as had Abraham Lincoln, which puts him in good company), a multi-systemic genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue and lets you rocket in growth. That is why he was often so hunched.









I loved his voice. And he was an early Deep Purple fan to boot, what's not to like!

I already had that Ramones debut the week it came out, no one in Germany knew them back then, but I had been reading the Brit New Musical Express (NME) and they had really been hyping the Ramones pre-release. I wasn't disappointed, I thought they sounded great and extremely catchy.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/12/ramones-first-album-goes-gold-after-38-years

Interestingly, it came out at pretty much the same time as Judas Priest's Sin After Sin which had been lambasted by the NME. I, however, loved both albums, played them to death in the aftermath and couldn't see the conflict.

That prom pic is fantastic.  I hope it really is Joey.

[uwe]

Sure it is, the pointed chin, the full lips and the bad eyes are all there, not to mention how tall he already is. And come to think of it, his prom date must have actually been on the tall side too or she could have kissed his belt buckle standing up! 

Whoever bought him the suit should, however, have been unceremoniously shot or at least beaten on with a baseball bat.

Joey's voice had incredible warmth and intimacy, bum notes and all. Quintessentially American/NYC too, in a nice way.

[Ken]

Sure it is, the pointed chin, the full lips and the bad eyes are all there, not to mention how tall he already is. And come to think of it, his prom date must have actually been on the tall side too or she could have kissed his belt buckle standing up! 

Whoever bought him the suit should, however, have been unceremoniously shot or at least beaten on with a baseball bat.

Joey's voice had incredible warmth and intimacy, bum notes and all. Quintessentially American/NYC too, in a nice way.

While looking it up to find some authenticity, I saw a great comment that his date's dress was made from the curtains and his suit from the couch.

[uwe]

I guess it was American interior design camouflage look.

I wonder what became of the prom queen, she was such a nice girl back then ... Was her name Sheena?

[Ken]

[uwe]

It's Joey alright, who sez nerds can't be rock stars?

[uwe]

[Dave W]

Well, Lee wasn't exactly Johnny Winter on slide, but ... serviceable! 

You must be the only Yank on earth, Dave, who gives a damn about Dr Feelgood. 

They were never popular here but Wilko and Lee always had fans here.

[Basvarken]

Ghost Hounds.
(They remind me a lot of Vintage Trouble)

[uwe]

They only had their 15 minutes of fame in Germany in the late 70s too, when Wilko had already left. Milk & Alcohol was their one hit in Germany.

Is saw them on tour back then with Gypie Mayo on guitar who was actually the more versatile (if also much more conventional) guitarist to Wilko's idiosyncratic, but ultimately musically very limited minimalism. The gig was great.

[uwe]

When Motörhead for once went pop ... 

I first thought this was AI-manipulated (it's not) - I knew that Lemmy, Eddie and Philthy had covered the song, but not in a version as poppy as this, Lemmy even 'sings'.

[Basvarken]

That is a very meek version of Motörhead.

[uwe]

And as high in the charts as they ever got!

[Basvarken]

Wasn't Ace Of Spades their biggest "hit"?
I think it was in the Netherlands at least

[uwe]

Yeah, you're right, Ace of Spades was successful.