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."
I'm Against It
Ramones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like politics
I don't like communists
I don't like games and fun
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like Jesus freaks
I don't like circus geeks
I don't like summer and spring
I don't like anything
I don't like sex and drugs
I don't like water bugs
I don't care about poverty
All I care about is me
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like playing ping pong
I don't like the Viet Cong
I don't like Burger King
I don't like anything
And I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
"I'm Against It" is a song by the iconic punk rock band, Ramones, that was released in 1977. The lyrics of the song express a nihilistic and rebellious attitude towards everything, claiming to be against anything and everything, including politics, communism, Jesus freaks, circus geeks, sex and drugs, poverty, and even ping pong. The repetition of the phrase "I'm against it" throughout the song emphasizes this attitude and portrays a sense of apathy towards the world and its issues.
The song's lyrics can be interpreted in different ways. Some argue that it is a critique of society and its flaws, highlighting the disillusionment of the younger generation with the political and economic power structures. Others suggest that it is a response to the punk movement's rejection of mainstream societal norms and expectations, focusing on self-expression and individuality while lashing out against conventionality.
Regardless of the interpretation, "I'm Against It" is a classic punk rock song that resonates with audiences even today. Its themes of anti-conformity and rebellion are still relevant, and its catchy chorus and anthemic quality have made it a popular Ramones song over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm against it
I strongly disagree with whatever it is that is being presented to me
I'm against it
Once again, I reiterate that I do not agree with whatever is being mentioned
I don't like politics
I am not interested in discussions and activities related to the governing of a country
I don't like communists
I have a strong dislike towards individuals and groups who support communism as a form of government
I don't like games and fun
I have very little interest in participating in recreational activities
I don't like anyone
I have a general disdain towards all human beings
I don't like Jesus freaks
I have a deep aversion towards individuals who are overly religious
I don't like circus geeks
I have a strong dislike towards people who perform in circuses
I don't like summer and spring
I am not fond of the seasons of summer and spring
I don't like anything
All aspects of life hold little appeal to me
I don't like sex and drugs
I am not interested in or a fan of sexual activity or drug use
I don't like water bugs
I have a distaste towards insects commonly known as water bugs
I don't care about poverty
I have little regard or concern for people who are dealing with financial difficulties
All I care about is me
I prioritize my own well-being above all else
I don't like playing ping pong
I am not interested in the recreational activity of ping pong
I don't like the Viet Cong
I have a strong dislike towards the North Vietnamese Army and the National Liberation Front, collectively known as the Viet Cong, who fought against the United States during the Vietnam War
I don't like Burger King
I have a negative opinion of the fast food restaurant chain Burger King
I don't like anything
Once again, I have little interest in anything in life
And I'm against it
To summarize, I do not approve of the subject matter being discussed
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Douglas Colvin, Jeff Hyman, John Cummings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@VampireKillRadio
Lyrics:
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like politics
I don't like communists
I don't like games and fun
I don't like anyone
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like Jesus freaks
I don't like circus geeks
I don't like summer and spring
I don't like anything
I don't like sex and drugs
I don't like water bugs
I don't care about poverty
All I care about is me
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like playing ping pong
I don't like the Viet Cong
I don't like Burger King
I don't like anything
And I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Songwriters: Dee Dee Ramone / Douglas Colvin / Jeffrey Hyman / Joey Ramone / John (ramone) Cummings / Johnny Ramone
I'm Against It lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, BMG Rights Management
@lou1502
I was 16 years old cranking this song on my technics stereo in 1981 now I am 55 and still cranking it!!!!!!
@joejones9520
we're same age as Johnny when he died...
@DeAnnaParisRN
@@joejones9520 I’ve outlived him
59 in two months
@joejones9520
@@DeAnnaParisRN Youve also outlived John Entwistle who I thought was very old at 57 when he died, now i'll be there next yr. Roy Orbison was just a kid to us now when he died. This aging stuff is getting out of control!
@TheMooCowReturns
I did the same in 1980 - I'm 56! :=8D
@Lori66angel
I saw them live at L'Amour in Brooklyn in 88. I'm 53.
@koenmaeyaert6876
The Ramones are - without doubt - the best band ever. They changed my life and I like it. Long Live The Ramones!
@georgemcmenimen1413
except for the fact that the 4 original members ARE DEAD.
@FAnd-bn8wv
RIP Ramones....
@ccreed50
Luv the f*k*ng Ramones. Three chords, done.