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."
Let
Ramones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say that you'll let me have this dance.
Well let's dance, let's dance.
We'll do the twist, the stomp,
The mashed potatoes too
Any old dance that you want to do.
Well let's dance, well let's dance.
Hey baby yeah you thrill the soul
Hold me tight, never let me go.
Well let's dance, let's dance
We'll do the twist, the stomp,
The mashed potatoes too
Any old dance that you want to do
Well let's dance, well let's dance
Hey baby if you're all alone
Baby you'll let me walk you home
Well let's dance, let's dance
We'll do the twist, the stomp,
The mashed potatoes too
Any old dance that you want to do
Well let's dance, well let's dance
Hey baby yeah you swing it right
Yes I know that tonight's the night
Well let's dance, let's dance.
We'll do the twist, the stomp,
The mashed potatoes too
Any old dance that you want to do
Well let's dance, well let's dance
Well let's dance, well let's dance
The Ramones' song "Let's Dance" is a classic example of a fun, danceable rock and roll tune. The lyrics are straightforward and cheerful, expressing the desire to dance with someone and enjoy a variety of classic dance moves, from the twist to the mashed potato. The song's simplicity and upbeat energy make it a perfect party song, and it's easy to imagine a crowd of people dancing and singing along to its catchy chorus.
The opening lines, "Hey baby won't you take a chance / Say that you'll let me have this dance," set the tone for the entire song. The singer is actively seeking a dance partner, and is both confident and polite in his approach. Throughout the rest of the song, he encourages his partner to let loose and have fun, promising to keep her entertained with a range of dance moves.
Overall, "Let's Dance" is a lighthearted and fun song that captures the spirit of rock and roll music. Its infectious energy and catchy chorus make it a favorite among fans of the Ramones and of classic rock more generally.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby won't you take a chance.
Asking someone to take a chance and dance with them.
Say that you'll let me have this dance.
Asking permission to dance together in a formal manner.
Well let's dance, let's dance.
An enthusiastic call to action to start dancing together.
We'll do the twist, the stomp,
Listing some possible dance moves to inspire the partner.
The mashed potatoes too
More examples of dance moves they can do together.
Any old dance that you want to do.
Expressing willingness to dance any style the partner chooses.
Hey baby yeah you thrill the soul
Complimenting the partner's ability to excite and inspire them.
Hold me tight, never let me go.
Expressing a desire to stay physically close while dancing.
Hey baby if you're all alone
Offering to keep the partner company and walk them home.
Baby you'll let me walk you home
Inviting the partner to accept the offer to walk them home.
Hey baby yeah you swing it right
Excitedly acknowledging a particularly impressive dance move from the partner.
Yes I know that tonight's the night
Suggesting that this is a special moment and they should enjoy it fully.
Well let's dance, let's dance.
Reiterating the desire to dance together and have a good time.
Well let's dance, well let's dance.
Concluding by calling once again for them to dance together.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GIKI ME, SOL LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maartendevrieze4761
My oh my, such raw energy! The audience looks like they’re having so much fun, wish I was there :)
@taniamunoz9786
Amoooooooooo 🖤🖤🖤🖤
@annesilvah7982
Ramones forever ❤
@biglowe4776
Nothing but Love for this band. In that Era they were like a British Iron Battleship and the rest of the World was in wood sailing vessels
@JmieYoutube
Making real memories and being in the moment is what it’s all about.
@greggorsag9787
As someone who plays both guitar and bass, I am convinced that what Johnny and Dee Dee are doing here is physically impossible. I know that what Tommy is doing on the hat is.
@carnoysusamigos836
Me encanta
@Sniferex
I love Ramones.... I love punk rock
@robdepolo122
Love this. Plus this was what concerts were like.
@jean-charlesvuillemot6720
Les bons vieux Ramones , merci c'est cool