The Next Big Thing

NO TOMORROW Records Presents THE BOWERY ELECTRIC EP

"It's three years since Joey Ramone left us and it's been a long time since we wanted to pay tribute to the greatest punk singer ever, but we wanted to do it right. It took three years but here it is at last.

A few days after Joey's death, the Ramones Creative Director, Arturo Vega heard a song that moved him deeply. The song had been written by a New York songwriter named Jed Davis to honor Joey and lamented his death while celebrating his connection with music, his fans, and New York City. Specially his own neighborhood around the avenue better known as "The Bowery" in the East Village. Arturo knew that SOMETHING needed to be done with it. But what?

Longtime Ramones/Joey producer Daniel Rey was a fan of "The Bowery Electric" as well. Daniel had heard the song while working with Jed's band, and he wanted to record it. Arturo played the song for Tommy, Marky and CJ Ramone - they all liked it and agreed to be part of the project. The idea of a tribute from "Joey's Musical Family" was born. Jed and Arturo decided to call the song "The Bowery Electric"

In March, 2002, two historic recording sessions took place in secret. Tommy, Marky, CJ, Daniel, Jed, and Arturo met at Loho Studios on Clinton Street and fired up "The Bowery Electric".

BOWERY ELECTRIC CREW - Tommy Ramone: producer, percussion, Marky Ramone: drums, CJ Ramone: bass, Daniel Rey: guitars, Jed Davis: vocals, keyboards, Arturo Vega: executive producer

The sessions were significant for many reasons (besides the obvious). This was the first time Tommy and CJ had ever worked together. Tommy's last Ramones-related production was 1984's "Too Tough to Die"; CJ joined the band six years later. "The Bowery Electric" is the first song to feature both great Ramones producers. Daniel is responsible for the best of the band's later work (plus Joey's solo album), and of course Tommy co-produced most of the Ramones' early recordings. It's also the first song Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummers Marky AND Tommy both played on. Tommy produced "Road to Ruin," but here he plays percussion over Marky's drums.

"The song existed first," Arturo says. "The power of this song made it possible for all these Ramones to get together and pay tribute". DeeDee who couldn't attend the recording sessions, decided to create a series of four paintings for the packaging of the music. The paintings were based on a poem he had written when he heard of Joey's passing.

The next step was to get the fans involved in the tribute, and to achieve this officialramones.com organized "THE BOWERY ELECTRIC FESTIVAL" The event took place in CBGB and it was a song writing contest to honor Joey, with young non-profesional bands as contestants. Five judges voted for the winner song and band NEVER FORGET/GOINGPLACES.

No Tomorrow has the great pleasure to present this very special package containing both songs honouring Joey Ramone and also a new, exclusive song by No Tomorrow artists and much talked about punkpop sensation Suzy & Los Quattro remembering Dee Dee Ramone. Pressed on coloured vinyl (500 blue, 500 pink), contained in hard euro-sleeve style cover and including an insert with the story of how The Bowery Electric Crew came to be.

What about the music? Well, let's just say that all three songs here would have made Joey proud. "The Bowery Electric" is a Ronettes styled pop gem that is bound to be the definitive Joey tribute, with highly emotional lyrics. "Never forget" is a punkpop nugget a la Green Day's first album with great double lead vocals and a snotty ending part that is pure Dee Dee. Last but not least, SUZY and LOS QUATTRO show their constantly improving potential with their best song to date, a blast of melody, powerful guitars and hooks that is and will be exclusive to this release."

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Thanks to Agent Heiko I got a preview of The Bowery Electric cut and it's a good song begging to be sung by Ronnie Spector. That would shred. The Suzy cut (I'm not Glad To see You Go) is utterly, gobsmackingly pure punk pop that I'm sure Joe would have been thrilled with. It all comes from the heart, what's not to dig...