The Friday Five: December 9, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll…
It’s Good to Leave Home
If you find yourself with an extra half hour today, you should really listen to the Ramones 2nd album, 1977’s Leave Home. I’ve been getting back in the swing of things after more than two weeks of vacation, and yesterday,…
Happy Birthday Joey Ramone
The world is worse off without the presence of Joey Ramone. Eight years ago (8!) last month, Joey lost his battle with lymphoma – he didn’t even see his 50’s, and that’s a tragic shame. I think often about how…
The Ramones in London: the spark that lit the fire
The British punk explosion of 1976-77 can pretty easily be traced to one night in London: July 4th, 1976. That was the night the Ramones came to town. It was their UK debut, opening for the Flamin’ Groovies at the…
Happy New Year! An Ickmix just for You…
So how was 2007 for you guys and gals? I can’t complain here. I’m blessed with a beautiful wife and two precious girls, I have a steady job (knock wood), and my family and loved ones are healthy. I thought…
Pleasant Dreams
I guess it’s because ‘Pleasant Dreams’ had just been released about the time I discovered them, that it still ranks up there as one of my favorite Ramones albums. I was all of 11 years old when I heard my…
The Ramones Live in 79
Tonight it’s a full-on late 70’s punk rockin’ assault, as the Ramones rock Northwestern University. Coming to you from way back in October of 1979, this is a supercharged set from Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Marky. It’s quite shitty…
Chop Suey with Joey and the Girls
There’s an eighties movie called ‘Get Crazy’. It starred Malcolm McDowell, who freaked everybody out as Alex in ‘A Clockwork Orange’. I haven’t seen ‘Get Crazy’. But on the soundtrack is a Ramones contribution called “Chop Suey”. It was an…