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."
Go Lil Camaro Go
Ramones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go lil Camaro go oohh!
Come on baby shake
Come on baby move
Come on baby let's shake
Come on baby move
Go lil' Camaro go oohh!
Come on baby shake
Come on baby move
Come on baby let's shake
Come on baby move
Girls cars sun fun
Girls cars sun fun
Girls cars sun fun
Good time for everyone
The Ramones' song “Go Lil Camaro Go” is a high-energy anthem that celebrates the joys of cruising and having a good time. The Camaro in the song is a symbol of freedom and fun, as the singer urges his beloved to let loose and get moving. The repetitive nature of the lyrics creates a sense of unbridled excitement, capturing the thrill of being out on the open road with someone you care about. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody make it impossible to sit still while listening, infusing the listener with the same sense of giddiness and exuberance.
The repeated refrain of “Go lil Camaro go” is a nod to the classic car's speed and power, as well as its association with youth culture and rebellion. The singer's commands to “shake” and “move” encourage his partner to let go of inhibition and embrace the moment. Additionally, the repetitive use of the phrases “girls cars sun fun” and “good time for everyone” reinforces the idea that the Camaro is a symbol of freedom, independence, and joy. The song celebrates the power of cars to unite, as cruising and driving have been a popular pastime for generations, bringing people together and forging lasting memories.
Overall, “Go Lil Camaro Go” is a lighthearted and infectious rock song that perfectly captures the spirit of youth and freedom. Its simple lyrics and driving guitar riffs create a feeling of unbridled exhilaration, making it a favorite among fans of the Ramones and vintage rock music.
Line by Line Meaning
Go lil' Camaro go oohh!
Encouragement to the Camaro to go faster and stronger.
Come on baby shake
An invitation to shake the body and feel the rhythm.
Come on baby move
An invitation to move the body and follow the beat of the music.
Go lil Camaro go oohh!
Reiteration of the encouragement to the Camaro to go faster and stronger.
Girls cars sun fun
An expression of the ideal summer day- with girls, cars and the sun.
Girls cars sun fun
Reiteration the ideal summer day- with girls, cars and the sun.
Girls cars sun fun
Reiteration the ideal summer day- with girls, cars and the sun.
Good time for everyone
Affirmation that the perfect summer day has something for everyone to enjoy.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Racheal Plymale
on I Wanna Be Sedated (Live)
My Alltime favorite band!!!!!!!!! Joey Ramone was yummmy!!!!!