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."
The Crusher
Ramones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm on my way to stardom
I know I'm ready, I know I'm great
But first I've got to get in shape!
Cause I got my eye on the Russian Bear
Gonna tear him up, I swear
This guy, thinks he's the champion
I'm the Crusher, king of the ring (4x)
I'm ready for a match with the Russian Bear
Gonna pile drive him, pull his hair
I might have a foreign object in my trunks
I might have to use, on that punk!
Got the hardest hold you can put on anyone
If you're my victim you're beaten
I'm a lean, mean, fighting machine
Powerful and strong, like King Kong!
I'm the Crusher, king of the ring (4x)
Started having second thoughts I was scared as hell
The last thing I wanted was me hearing the bell
I mean the Russian Bear, could probably tear
Me limb from limb
He'd probably grin be real happy with himself
This is not, good for my health
I'm not comin' outta this dressing room
And get beaten up, by that goon!
Go back to Russia
Go back home
Don't want to get a broken bone
Or a lump on my head
I ain't gonna hide under the bed!
I'm the Crusher, king of the ring [Repeat x4]
I'm the Crusher (Crusher!) [Repeat x2]
The Ramones song "The Crusher" tells the story of an aspiring wrestler who dreams of becoming the king of the ring. He's not shy about his ambitions and declares them proudly in the opening lines, "Now I want to wrestle in the garden, I'm on my way to stardom." He's also aware that becoming a wrestling champion requires more than just a dream, and he needs to get in shape first. He needs to prepare himself for a match with the Russian Bear, who thinks he's the champion. The Crusher is confident he can tear him up and take his belt.
As the song progresses, The Crusher reveals that he has a few tricks up his sleeve if things get tough. He might have a foreign object in his trunks that he could use on the Russian Bear. He's also got the hardest hold anyone can put on someone else, and he's a lean, mean, fighting machine. He's so confident in his abilities that he considers himself the King of the Ring.
However, as he's getting ready to face the Russian Bear, he starts having second thoughts. He realizes the bear may tear him limb from limb and not come out of it in one piece. The Crusher is now scared as hell, and the last thing he wants is to hear the bell. In the end, he decides he doesn't want to fight the bear and would rather avoid getting beaten up. He tells the bear to go back to Russia and decides to hide under the bed.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I want to wrestle in the garden
I am eager to showcase my wrestling abilities in public.
I'm on my way to stardom
I am confident and determined to become a famous wrestler.
I know I'm ready, I know I'm great
I am fully prepared and capable of winning wrestling matches.
But first I've got to get in shape!
I need to improve my physical fitness to maximize my wrestling potential.
Cause I got my eye on the Russian Bear
I have targeted the Russian wrestler as my next opponent.
Gonna tear him up, I swear
I am determined to defeat the Russian wrestler in a fierce match.
This guy, thinks he's the champion
The Russian wrestler falsely believes that he is the strongest and toughest wrestler.
Gonna take his belt, gonna beat him!
I am confident that I can win the wrestling championship belt by defeating the Russian wrestler.
I'm the Crusher, king of the ring (4x)
I am the most dominant wrestler and the true champion of the wrestling ring.
Gonna pile drive him, pull his hair
I intend to use various wrestling moves and tactics to defeat the Russian wrestler.
I might have a foreign object in my trunks
I may have a hidden weapon or object in my wrestling gear to gain an advantage over the Russian wrestler.
I might have to use, on that punk!
I am willing to do whatever it takes to win the wrestling match against the Russian wrestler.
Got the hardest hold you can put on anyone
I have mastered a powerful wrestling hold that can defeat any opponent.
If you're my victim you're beaten
If I apply my wrestling hold on an opponent, they are guaranteed to lose the match.
I'm a lean, mean, fighting machine
I am in peak physical condition and fully equipped to compete in wrestling matches.
Powerful and strong, like King Kong!
I possess immense physical strength and power, similar to the famous giant movie monster.
Started having second thoughts I was scared as hell
I began to doubt my chances of winning and became extremely frightened.
The last thing I wanted was me hearing the bell
I did not want to hear the sound of the bell signaling the start of the match as it would mean unavoidable defeat.
I mean the Russian Bear, could probably tear
The Russian wrestler possesses incredible strength and could easily cause severe physical harm.
Me limb from limb
The Russian wrestler could physically dismember me during the wrestling match.
He'd probably grin be real happy with himself
The Russian wrestler would delight in causing severe physical harm to me.
This is not, good for my health
Participating in a wrestling match against the Russian wrestler would pose a significant risk to my physical well-being.
I'm not comin' outta this dressing room
I have chosen to withdraw from the wrestling match to avoid certain physical harm.
And get beaten up, by that goon!
I refuse to subject myself to the physical abuse and injury that would ensue from facing the Russian wrestler.
Go back to Russia
I demand that the Russian wrestler return to his home country rather than continue competing against me.
Go back home
I insist that the Russian wrestler cease participating in wrestling matches in my home country.
Don't want to get a broken bone
I fear sustaining serious physical injury, such as a broken bone, if I were to compete against the Russian wrestler.
Or a lump on my head
I am concerned about developing a painful swelling on my head as a result of physical blows during the wrestling match.
I ain't gonna hide under the bed!
I am not going to retreat out of fear, but rather make a strategic decision to avoid potential harm.
I'm the Crusher (Crusher!) [Repeat x2]
I am the most dominant and feared wrestler in the wrestling world.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL REY, DEE DEE RAMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Totalwreck 31
Now I wanna wrestle in the garden
I'm on my way to stardom
I know I'm ready I know I'm great
But first I have to get in shape
Cause I've got my eyes on the Russian Bear
Gonna tear him up I swear
This guy thinks he's the champion
Gonna take his belt and beat him!
I'm the crusher king of the ring
I'm ready for a match with the Russian Bear
Gonna pile drive him pull his hair
I might have a foreign object in my trunks
I might have to use on that punk
Got the hardest hold you can put on anyone
If you're my victim you're beaten
I'm a lean mean fighting machine
Powerful and strong like King Kong
I'm the crusher king of the ring
Started having second thought I was scared as hell
The last thing I wanted was to hear them ring the bell
I mean the Russian Bear could probably
tear me limb from limb
He'd probably grin be real happy with himself
This is not good for my health
I'm not coming out of the dressing room
And get beaten up by that goon
Go back to Russia go back home!
Don't wanna get a broken bone
Or a lump on my head
Ain't gonna hide under the bed
I'm the crusher king of the ring
I'm the Crusher
Totalwreck 31
Now I wanna wrestle in the garden
I'm on my way to stardom
I know I'm ready I know I'm great
But first I have to get in shape
Cause I've got my eyes on the Russian Bear
Gonna tear him up I swear
This guy thinks he's the champion
Gonna take his belt and beat him!
I'm the crusher king of the ring
I'm ready for a match with the Russian Bear
Gonna pile drive him pull his hair
I might have a foreign object in my trunks
I might have to use on that punk
Got the hardest hold you can put on anyone
If you're my victim you're beaten
I'm a lean mean fighting machine
Powerful and strong like King Kong
I'm the crusher king of the ring
Started having second thought I was scared as hell
The last thing I wanted was to hear them ring the bell
I mean the Russian Bear could probably
tear me limb from limb
He'd probably grin be real happy with himself
This is not good for my health
I'm not coming out of the dressing room
And get beaten up by that goon
Go back to Russia go back home!
Don't wanna get a broken bone
Or a lump on my head
Ain't gonna hide under the bed
I'm the crusher king of the ring
I'm the Crusher
tiggerpete
Never heard this song until it was the song of the week on colt cabana's art of wrestling. Great song, possibly my new favorite ramone's song
Chris Brown
I love singing this in the morning.
Hudson Bell
long live Ramones!!!!!
Captain Freedom
Fun song to figure out on guitar. Don’t even look up the tabs. Seriously.
JHOW399
foda!!
Josh Garrett
This song is great. Dee dee wasn’t even in the band and they were still playing songs he wrote.
bernard pantelidis
immortals ramones
MarioDaBean
Honestly, not bad, especially for The Ramones without Joey
crazysteve 42
Coolbean94vevo lol. This the final ramones studio album. Joey sings on the chorus.