Sunday, August 15, 2004


I'm pleased to report that RAMONES RAW isn't just a padding out of Ramones Around The World. I have a tape of the TV broadcast that aired in the US recently and it's very entertaining both in a knockabout sense and in terms of showing what a gruelling schedule the band undertook. Pluses for me is that there's a fair amount of good Joey stuff and a short sequence with Mark, Joe and Al (Leo Schnauser/Grandpa Munster) Lewis. Footage from a Rome show (Castle of Saint Angelo 1980) is just about the best concert film I've seen of them ever, the sound is incredible and even if it might have been tampered with (I hear strange harmonics on the guitar in particular), it's bloody good. RAW also includes the CBS segment on the opening of Joey Ramone Place and a whole lot more. It paints a very positive spin on the band as a bunch of amiable freaks that should have taken over the world. I guess the evil spirits that were winding up the tensions in the wings and preventing their overground success were on vacation when this was put together. The link above is to Amazon UK who are offering it for just £9.74. Amazon US is $17+. Will have to check out Play.com... just did and it's not listed yet.


Some interesting stuff from this great Sex Pistols site:
"Johnny Ramone and Arturo Vega are celebrating the Ramones 30th anniversary with a gig at the Avalon Theatre in Hollywood, California on 12th September. Steve Jones will be one of the guests. Note, Johnny Ramone will not be performing at the show. For a more extensive list of guests, click on the Cook 'n' Jones link on the menu above.
The movie End Of The Century - The Story Of The Ramones starts Friday 20th August at Angelika Film Centre, NYC.
".
Besides that, the site holds some amazingly rare pictures, including several from the Pistols' two visits to Holland.