The Ramones. They did more than three records, ya know...

[John Battles]

How many of you are of the opinion that  THE RAMONES did NOT jump the shark after their 4th , or even third , album? The way I see it , they never did a BAD album , even if some material was'nt up to par. In the 80's and 90's , their worst still beat the competition at their best . Their shows and their records always had a magic about them, even when they were no longer breaking new ground.   What are some of your favorite later Ramones albums , and why? Any favorite songs that most people are barely cognizant of.     BTW , Joey's second posthumous solo album is much better than anyone had a right to expect. Give it a go.

[John Battles]

     I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN , BUT , I WAS ALWAYS GLAD TO PLUNK DOWN MY CHANGE TO GO SEE THE RAMONES IN THE LAST 12 YEARS OF THEIR EXISTENCE , BECAUSE , WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A PITIFUL FEW (CRAMPS , IGGY , MOTORHEAD , e.g.), THE COMPETITION WAS'NT SAYIN' NUTHIN FROM WHERE I STOOD. The only "Bad" show I ever saw 'em do was their last gig in Chicago ( Barring Lollapalooza.). But , the monitors were shot , and you could tell they could'nt hear each other, half the time. That , and people throwing piles of plastic cups at the band did'nt help. I don't care if it was the worst show of their career , which it was'nt , you respected The Ramones , or you exercised the right to take your lame ass out the exit doors.

[Mystic Mike]

I honestly like them all; Their first post-Sire, post Dee Dee LP album "Mondo Bizzaro is very cool. They didn't fall apart, and sound just as great as ever....

[melissa scott]

Re John Battles' comment:

"... BUT , I WAS ALWAYS GLAD TO PLUNK DOWN MY CHANGE TO GO SEE THE RAMONES IN THE LAST 12 YEARS OF THEIR EXISTENCE , BECAUSE , WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A PITIFUL FEW (CRAMPS , IGGY , MOTORHEAD , e.g.), THE COMPETITION WAS'NT SAYIN' NUTHIN FROM WHERE I STOOD.

Too right! Even on their bad nights (didn't remember hearing any of those), a night of the Ramones live? Well, it couldn't be beat. Sorry. And it wasn't even that the competition as such wasn't just not saying anything, they weren't PLAYING anything I wanted to hear at the time. If there WAS another show on on the same night, I'd still be at the Ramones, thank you very much.

"...and people throwing piles of plastic cups at the band did'nt help. I don't care if it was the worst show of their career , which it wasn't , you respected The Ramones, or you exercised the right to take your lame ass out the exit doors."

Now, ok, I have heard this before but it still makes me certifiably ropeable. I mean, I can't imagine any crowd throwing anything at the Ramones. Seriously? This happened many moons ago; nevertheless, reading it here makes my blood boil. I'm really glad I wasn't at that show because I probably would have gotten into trouble picking a fight with one of those idiots. *sigh* No respect.

[John Battles]

NOW THAT IT'S COOL TO LIKE THE RAMONES , AGAIN (AND IT WAS'NT , FOR YEARS.), THOSE SAME PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY BRAGGING ABOUT HOW THEY SAW THE RAMONES ,IN DECLINE , AND THEY WERE STILL GREAT....

[Jason Feldmann]

I love the Ramones. And no, they didn't jump the shark.  I only saw them once... at Lolapalooza 1996 of all places in Tennessee... and they still had it. Sweltering 90 degree heat and they still rocked the Converse, blue jean, black T shirt, black leather jacket look. The best sound.

I dig most of their stuff, even the later stuff. But "My brain is hanging upside down" from Animal Boy is one that comes to mind form the later years. And heck, the whole "Adios Amigos" LP is a fine listen.

[Dalevis]

I saw them on that Lollapalooza tour in Rockingham, NC. What struck me about that show was that guys from all the other bands were at the side of the stage watching the Ramones.

I was introduced to the Ramones by the End of the Century album by MTV of all things. I still have that one memorized. Whatever I could find I would buy. I didnt grow up with the benefit of hipster hindsight. I bought an album like Animal Boy when it was released and I loved it.

[Jason Feldmann]

Hey. I remember thinking the same thing. The guys from Rancid, Rage and others just filled the wings of the stage watching Joey and the guys do their thing. In fact, the band that plugged in just before the Ramones was Rancid. Tim walked to the mic (and this is when Rancid was SUPER fucking popular and on MTV and all that crap) and he said something like "the only reason we're here is b/c we get to play with one of the best fucking bands in the world - the Ramones!!!" Still one of my all-time favorite shows. Drove from Cincinnati to Tennessee b/c it was one of only 4 dates that Rage Against the Machine played. great to see them, rancid, melvins, screaming trees... even soundgarden and metallica weren't "bad."

Dalevis said:

I saw them on that Lollapalooza tour in Rockingham, NC. What struck me about that show was that guys from all the other bands were at the side of the stage watching the Ramones.

I was introduced to the Ramones by the End of the Century album by MTV of all things. I still have that one memorized. Whatever I could find I would buy. I didnt grow up with the benefit of hipster hindsight. I bought an album like Animal Boy when it was released and I loved it.

[John Battles]

THAT'S BECAUSE THEY COULD'NT BE TOUCHED. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES ON STAGE , I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN WITH THEM , TOO , BUT , OVERALL , THEY WERE STILL GENERATING MORE EXCITEMENT THAN ANYONE I REMEMBER SEEING AT THE TIME....

Of course , my older friends , and even my Sister - in - Law , will tell me 76 - 79 WAS THE TIME TO SEE THEM. I WAS A KID !!!   THE RAMONES WERE RECLAIMING ROCK'N'ROLL FOR THE KIDS , BUT , THEIR MISSION WAS FAR FROM ACCOMPLISHED .  

20 YEARS LATER , MY THEN - TWO YEAR OLD GODCHILD WAS DANCING AROUND THE ROOM THE SECOND ANY RAMONES SONG CAME ON , AND PLAYING "RIFF RANDALL" AND "ANGEL DUST" WITH HER BARBIES - "I'M FIRST IN LINE!". Mission Accomplished.
 
Jason Feldmann said:

I love the Ramones. And no, they didn't jump the shark.  I only saw them once... at Lolapalooza 1996 of all places in Tennessee... and they still had it. Sweltering 90 degree heat and they still rocked the Converse, blue jean, black T shirt, black leather jacket look. The best sound.

I dig most of their stuff, even the later stuff. But "My brain is hanging upside down" from Animal Boy is one that comes to mind form the later years. And heck, the whole "Adios Amigos" LP is a fine listen.

[John Battles]

i JUST COULD'NT COME TO TERMS , AT THE TIME , WITH SEEING THE RAMONES AT A HUGE THING LIKE LOLLAPALOOZA OR "ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK". NOT THAT THEY HAVE'NT DONE MAYBE ONE HUGE FESTIVAL (LIKE THE US FEST) IN AMERICA FOR EVERY , I DUNNO , 30 (?) THEY DID IN THE UK , EUROPE , SOUTH AMERICA , ETC......BUT , I REALIZE NOW , IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY COOL THING.    i went to lollapalooza a few years ago , mainly to see Roky Erickson and Patti Smith. I was blown away by how well - run everything was , no teeming masses to grapple with , sure there were a zillion people , but , not all situated in the same postage stamp - sized space. The sound was actually very good (Regina Spektor's people complained that Roky and The Explosives - who supposedly broke the volume record for the festival (After The Ramones , Metallica , Soundgarden  , etc.?) - were too loud to be playing 90 yards from her stage. THERE WAS NO WAY they were 90 yards from anything , except maybe the ice cream stand ! This actually made the news !!!) , and the people were actually very nice and helpful . The food was'nt even that expensive. It was my first one , probably my last , but a good experience , surprisingly enough.).
 
Jason Feldmann said:

Hey. I remember thinking the same thing. The guys from Rancid, Rage and others just filled the wings of the stage watching Joey and the guys do their thing. In fact, the band that plugged in just before the Ramones was Rancid. Tim walked to the mic (and this is when Rancid was SUPER fucking popular and on MTV and all that crap) and he said something like "the only reason we're here is b/c we get to play with one of the best fucking bands in the world - the Ramones!!!" Still one of my all-time favorite shows. Drove from Cincinnati to Tennessee b/c it was one of only 4 dates that Rage Against the Machine played. great to see them, rancid, melvins, screaming trees... even soundgarden and metallica weren't "bad."

Dalevis said:

I saw them on that Lollapalooza tour in Rockingham, NC. What struck me about that show was that guys from all the other bands were at the side of the stage watching the Ramones.

I was introduced to the Ramones by the End of the Century album by MTV of all things. I still have that one memorized. Whatever I could find I would buy. I didnt grow up with the benefit of hipster hindsight. I bought an album like Animal Boy when it was released and I loved it.