All of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname "Ramone", though none of them were related. They performed 2,263 concerts, touring virtually nonstop for 22 years. In 1996, after a tour with the Lollapalooza music festival, the band played a farewell concert and disbanded. By a little more than eight years after the breakup, the band's three founding members—lead singer Joey Ramone, guitarist Johnny Ramone, and bassist Dee Dee Ramone—had died. Drummer Tommy Ramone, the last surviving original member, died in 2014.
Their only record with enough U.S. sales to be certified gold was the compilation album Ramones Mania. However, recognition of the band's importance built over the years, and they are now cited in many assessments of all-time great rock music, such as the Rolling Stone list of the 50 Greatest Artists of All Time and VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. In 2002, the Ramones were ranked the second-greatest band of all time by Spin magazine, trailing only The Beatles. On March 18, 2002, the Ramones—including the three founders and drummers Marky and Tommy Ramone—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011, the group was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Formation: 1974–1975
Forest Hills High School, attended by the four original members of the Ramones
The original members of the band met in and around the middle-class neighborhood of Forest Hills in the New York City borough of Queens. John Cummings and Tamás Erdélyi had both been in a high-school garage band from 1966 to 1967 known as the Tangerine Puppets. They became friends with Douglas Colvin, who had recently moved to the area from Germany, and Jeffry Hyman, who was the initial lead singer of the glam rock band Sniper, founded in 1972.
The Ramones began taking shape in early 1974, when Cummings and Colvin invited Hyman to join them in a band. The initial lineup featured Colvin on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Cummings on lead guitar, and Hyman on drums. Colvin, who soon switched from rhythm guitar to bass, was the first to adopt the name "Ramone", calling himself Dee Dee Ramone. He was inspired by Paul McCartney's use of the pseudonym Paul Ramon during his Silver Beatles days. Dee Dee convinced the other members to take on the name and came up with the idea of calling the band the Ramones. Hyman and Cummings became Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone, respectively.
A friend of the band, Monte A. Melnick (later their tour manager), helped to arrange rehearsal time for them at Manhattan's Performance Studios, where he worked. Johnny's former bandmate Erdélyi was set to become their manager. Soon after the band was formed, Dee Dee realized that he could not sing and play his bass guitar simultaneously; with Erdélyi's encouragement, Joey became the band's new lead singer.
Dee Dee would continue, however, to count off each song's tempo with his signature rapid-fire shout of "1-2-3-4!" Joey soon similarly realized that he could not sing and play drums simultaneously and left the position of drummer. While auditioning prospective replacements, Erdélyi would often take to the drums and demonstrate how to play the songs. It became apparent that he was able to perform the group's music better than anyone else, and he joined the band as Tommy Ramone.
The Ramones played before an audience for the first time on March 30, 1974, at Performance Studios. The songs they played were very fast and very short; most clocked in at under two minutes. Around this time, a new music scene was emerging in New York centered around two clubs in downtown Manhattan—Max's Kansas City and, more famously, CBGB (usually referred to as CBGB's). The Ramones made their CBGB debut on August 16. Legs McNeil, who cofounded Punk magazine the following year, later described the impact of that performance: "They were all wearing these black leather jackets. And they counted off this song...and it was just this wall of noise.... They looked so striking. These guys were not hippies. This was something completely new."
The band swiftly became regulars at the club, playing there seventy-four times by the end of the year. After garnering considerable attention for their performances—which averaged about seventeen minutes from beginning to end—the group was signed to a recording contract in late 1975 by Seymour Stein of Sire Records. Stein's wife, Linda Stein, had seen the band play at CBGB; she would later co-manage them along with Danny Fields. By this time, the Ramones were recognized as leaders of the new scene that was increasingly being referred to as "punk". The group's unusual frontman had a lot to do with their impact. As Dee Dee explained, "All the other singers [in New York] were copying David Johansen [of The New York Dolls], who was copying Mick Jagger.... But Joey was unique, totally unique."
Chop Suey
Ramones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the kids all dance
I know a place
In Paris, France
Chop Suey [x2]
I know a place
Whomp bomp flip flop
Slam dance screw
Chop Suey [x2]
Chop Suey [x2]
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Chop Suey
She's the one
That's got that beat, yeah
She's the one
That's got that beat
Chop Suey [x2]
She's the one
That's got that beat
Got those crazy
Tiger feet
Chop Suey [x2]
Chop Suey [x2]
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Chop Suey
Chop Suey [x2]
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Chop Suey
I know a place
Where they really shake, yeah
I know a place
Where they really shake
Chop Suey (x2)
I know a place
Where they really shake, yeah
Punk funk (_)
A real clambake
Chop Suey [x2]
Chop Suey [x2]
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Chop Suey
Chop Suey [x2]
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Chop Suey
Chop Suey [x2]
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Chop Suey
Wha wha wha wha wha wha
Wha wha wha wha wha wha
Wha wha wha wha [x2]
Chop Suey
The song 'Chop Suey' by Ramones is an energetic and upbeat song that talks about a place where kids dance, move, and really shake. The singer talks about a place in Paris, France, where they dance and move, and the chorus repeats the phrase "Chop Suey" which could refer to the fast-paced nature of the dance or the energy in the place. The lyrics suggest a fun and lively atmosphere where people are free to let loose and have a good time.
Throughout the song, the singer talks about a woman who has a beat and crazy tiger feet. The lyrics seem to suggest that this woman is a great dancer and is possibly the center of attention in this dance hall. The song also mentions "whomp bomp flip flop" and "slam dance screw," which could be a reference to the various dance moves or styles that people are doing. Overall, the song is a celebration of dance and letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a place
The artist knows of a specific location
Where the kids all dance
At this location, the younger generation enjoys dancing
I know a place
The artist knows of another specific location
In Paris, France
The particular location is in Paris, France
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
I know a place
The artist knows of a third specific location
Where they really move, yeah
The people at this third location dance with a lot of energy
Whomp bomp flip flop
Onomatopoeia indicating the sound of the dancers' movements
Slam dance screw
A specific type of raucous dance style where the dancers bump into each other
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Vocalization that does not convey any discernible meaning
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
She's the one
The artist is referring to a specific person
That's got that beat, yeah
This person has a great sense of rhythm
She's the one
The artist is still referring to the same person
That's got that beat
This person has excellent timing when dancing or playing music
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
She's the one
The artist is still referring to the same person
Got those crazy
This person's moves are wild, unpredictable, and exciting
Tiger feet
Their dancing is compared to the powerful and graceful movement of a tiger
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Vocalization that does not convey any discernible meaning
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
I know a place
The artist knows of a fourth specific location
Where they really shake, yeah
People dance in this place with a lot of enthusiasm
I know a place
The artist knows of a fifth specific location
Where they really shake
People dance in this location with a lot of movement and energy
Chop Suey (x2)
Repetition of the song's title twice
I know a place
The artist knows of a sixth specific location
Where they really shake, yeah
This place has intense energy and movement when people dance here
Punk funk (_)
A specific style of music characterized by fast beats, aggressive energy, and loud sounds
A real clambake
A lively and fun event, usually involving food and dancing
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Vocalization that does not convey any discernible meaning
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Suey ah ahhhhhh
Vocalization that does not convey any discernible meaning
Chop Suey
Repetition of the song's title
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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@alextuozzo7138
Some small decaying part of me thought this would be a system of a down cover even though that's physically impossible
@SpeedKing..
EXACTLY
@PrinceDecember
una GRAN ROLA en PERUSALEN ninguna emisora la he ESCUCHADO sino es por SAN YOUBE.
@cuddlesthetiger5739
I'm glad to see two great bands come together; The Ramones and The B-52's. The B-52's making crazy noises in the background, of course.
@gmar7836
I’m glad Joey liked animals. 😊
@davel9252
Johnny did as well. Was a supporter of the World Wildlife Foundation" in fact.
@pam5826
Me encantan los Coros por Kate Pierson y Cindy Wilson de B-52's!!! <3
@pike666db
Y Debbie Harris, no olvides a Debbie Harris!
@enriquegonzalez8631
Son de lo mejor.
@chinito4130
kate and cindy ( b52s) and debbie harry ( blondie ) , great voices