Ini Dia Pendiri Rock n Roll
“Well I don`t care about history
`Cause there`s no place I wanna beI just wanna have some chicksI just wanna get some kicksRock, rock, rock n` roll high school”
Jins belel, jaket kulit warna hitam, dan rambut poni. Musik minimalis: cukup tiga chord; tanpa solo gitar. Sekali gebrak, “one, two, three, four”: lagu mengisi panggung. Dalam waktu tak lebih dari 30 menit, Ramones menyuguhkan tak kurang dari 20 lagu. Siapa menyangka kisah empat anak muda pengusung rock n` roll yang enerjik—belakangan disebut pelopor Punk Rock–ini mampu mempengaruhi perjalanan banyak grup musik sepanjang masa. Termasuk, grup-grup besar di zaman sekarang, seperti Metallica, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Greenday, dan Offsfrings. Bahkan, empat kelompok musik yang disebut terakhir ini ikut ambil bagian dalam proyek Tribute to Ramones, sebuah album yang dipersembahkan buat mengenang The Ramones dan bertajuk “We`re a Happy Family”–diambil dari sebuah judul lagu Ramones. “We`re a Happy Family” dirilis Februari 2003.
Jeffrey Hymann alias Joey Ramone (vokalis Ramones, 19 Mei 1951-15 April 2001) mungkin tak akan pernah menyangka tatkala menyaksikan musik yang diusungnya dulu, kelak menjadi sebuah genre tersendiri yang identik dengan sebuah subkultur: punk rock. Padahal, saat itu, keempat pemuda di Ramones (Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, dan Marky), cuma kepingin main musik yang mereka klaim sebagai “lain dari yang lain”. Seperti dikatakan Joey Ramone pada 1974, “Kami tak mendapat apa-apa dalam musik saat ini. Kami bosan menjadi Led Zeppelin atau The Stones (Rolling Stones)”. Dan, Ramones pun memainkan musik yang mereka inginkan; yang serba minimalis hingga seorang pengamat musik di AS menilai, musik Ramones sangat tak beradab dengan vokal yang konyol, lirik pendek yang diulang-ulang, serta suara gitar yang meraung-raung persis suara gergaji mesin.
Namun begitu, buat menjadi sebuah pionir dalam genre punk rock, Ramones tak serta merta menjadi “Ramones”.
Joey Ramone bocah New York asli yang lahir dan tumbuh menjadi pria jangkung di kawasan Forest Hills, New York, Amerika Serikat. Dalam sebuah wawancara dalam film dokumenter “Lifestyle Ramones”, ibu Joey menyebut Jeffrey kecil—nama asli Joey—sebagai bocah penurut dan sangat lucu. Tommy Erdelyi (Tommy Ramone) dikenal sebagai penggemar berat The Beatles yang lahir di Budapest, 29 Januari 1952 dan besar di Queens, New York. John Cummings (Johnny Ramone) lahir 8 Oktober 1951 sedangkan Douglas Colvin (Dee Dee Ramone) lahir 18 September 1952 di Fort Lee, Virginia, dan sempat tinggal di Berlin, Jerman.
Keempat anak muda ini bertemu pertama kali saat masuk Forest Hills High School pada September 1966. Musik menyatukan mereka dan akhirnya sepakat membentuk sebuah band bernama The Ramones. Nama ini dipinjam dari Paul Ramon, nama samaran Paul McCartney, pemetik bass The Beatles, saat dia solo.
Saat itu, Jeffrey ingin namanya diganti menjadi sesuatu yang lain dan terkesan keren (cool) atau bahasa anak sekarang “gue banget”. Mereka pun sepakat memakai nama panggilan. Jeffrey menjadi Joey, Douglas menjadi Dee Dee, dan John menjadi Johnny. Cuma Tommy yang tetap Tommy. Semua memakai nama Ramone di belakang nama panggilan masing-masing.
Pada formasi awal, Joey di posisi drum, Johnny main gitar, Dee Dee sebagai vokalis, dan seorang bernama Ritchie Ramone yang diminta untuk bermain bass. Namun Ritchie tak bertahan lama lantaran harus masuk rumah sakit jiwa. Dee Dee menggantikan posisi Ritchie dengan bermain bass. Saat itu, Tommy menjadi manajer Ramones. Lagu pertama yang ditulis Joey cs adalah “I Don’t Wanna be Loved” yang segera mengawali trend lagu-lagu Ramones yang banyak berawal dengan kata “I Wanna..” atau “I Don`t Wanna..” Semisal “I Wanna Be Sedated” atau “I Don`t Want To Live This Life” dan “I Don`t Wanna Grow Up”.
Ramones unjuk gigi pertama kali di Performance Studio di East 23rd Street , NY, 30 Maret 1974 yang disaksikan 30 orang. Pada Juli 1974, Tommy mengambil posisi drum sehingga Joey bisa konsentrasi pada vocal. Ramones mulai menyita perhatian publik saat mereka tampil di Max’s Kansa City dan CBGB (Country Bluegrass and Blues)—sebuah klub yang setelah Ramones pentas di sana dinobatkan sebagai klub musik underground pertama di AS. Ramones main di CBGB pada 16-17 Agustus 1974 sebagai grup pembuka Blondie. Sejak itu pula punk rock merajalela di New York. Penampilan Ramones dinanti-nanti para punkers (sebutan untuk anak punk).
Konser besar pertama Ramones berlangsung Juni 1975 saat mereka sepanggung bersama Johnny Winter di Palace Theatre di Waterbury. Dan atas usaha Bizarre yang pernah mengorbitkan Iggy Pop dan Television, album pertama Ramones keluar pada April 1976 lewat label Seymour Stein’s Sire. Album pertama Ramones yang juga bertitel Ramones diselesaikan dengan waktu kurang dari dua pekan dengan biaya cuma $ 6.400. Sebuah era baru dimulai. “Heyho Let`s Go”, lirik dalam “Blizkrieg Bop&”, salah satu lagu di album pertama Ramones menjadi yel-yel para punkers hingga kini Begitu juga “Gabba Gabba Hey”. Marky Ramone masuk menggantikan Tommy sebagai penggebuk drum.
Lirik lagu-lagu Ramones banyak menceritakan situasi sosial saat itu, seperti 53rd and 3rd atau tentang kenakalan remaja, semisal “Rock N` Roll High School” atau “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”.
Dalam History of Punk Rock ditulis bahwa banyak band-band sebelum Ramones, seperti Iggy and The Stooges, MC5, Richard Hell dan The Voidoids menampilkan beberapa aspek dari punk, tetapi tak ada band yang mengkombinasikan semua unsur dalam punk hingga Ramones menyatukannya tahun 1975. Ramones memang mengisi setiap lagu dengan sedikit nada yang ditimpali frase pendek yang diulang-ulang, gitar yang berisik dengan melodi yang nyaris tidak ada dan berkutat pada three magic chord. Durasi setiap lagu rata-rata cuma dua menit.
Banyak yang suka, tapi tak sedikit pula yang geleng-geleng kepala. Bahkan, saat itu tak ada satu pun major labels yang mau menerbitkan lagu-lagu Ramones. Danny Field dari A&M Record mengaku merasa jijik dan segera pergi meski baru mendengarkan setengah dari lagu Ramones. Dia mengaku sama sekali tidak tertarik dengan musik punk dan menyebutnya sebagai sebuah onggokan besar omong kosong yang tak seorang pun ingin mendekat.
Ramones tak kecil hati. Lagu-lagu mereka tetap dinanti. Konser-konser mereka juga selalu padat, meski hanya digelar dalam sebuah klub malam. Bahkan, dalam sebuah penampilan di Jerman pada 1976, para anak muda setempat nekat berdiri di setiap celah yang kosong di antara empat bangku plus satu meja yang memang disediakan panitia untuk para penonton Ramones.
Pada 4 Juli 1976, Ramones menggebrak public London, Inggris, yang juga ditonton personel Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Generatiion X, serta Siouxsie and the Banshees. Merekalah cikal bakal punk di Inggris yang meledak setahun kemudian. Bahkan, musik Sex Pistols disebut banyak pengamat musik sebagai lebih tidak beradab dan lebih kasar daripada Ramones. Konser di London’s Roundhouse itu pula yang menjadi salah satu aksi Ramones dengan jumlah penonton sepulub kali lipat dari yang seharusnya ada di tempat itu.
Single kedua Ramones yang berjudul “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” diterbitkan pada Oktober 1976 disusul album kedua yang bertajuk “Ramones Leave Home”. Album selanjutnya keluar nyaris dengan beda waktu sekitar setahun, yaitu “Rocket to Russia”, “Road to Ruin”, “It`s Alive”, “End of The Century”, “Pleasent Dream”, “Subterranean Jungle”, “Too Tough to Die”, “Animal Boy”, “Halfway to Sanity”, serta “Ramones Mania”. Hits demi hits diciptakan Ramones mengiringi album demi album yang terbit, seperti “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”, “Cretin` Hop”, “Pinhead”, “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”, “Do You Remember Rock `n Roll Radio?”, “53rd and 3rd”, “Rockaway Beach”, dan “Psychoterapy”.
Ramones terus menancapkan pengaruh di jagat musik rock. James Hetfield dan Lars Ulrich, masing-masing guitar-vokal dan penggebuk drum Metallica mengakuinya. Metallica tak akan pernah ada seandainya Hetfield dan Ulrich tak menonton aksi Ramones pada pertengahan 1980-an. Saat itu, Hetfield terkesima dengan ulah Joey Cs yang tak henti-henti bernyanyi dengan jeda antara lagu demi lagu yang nyaris tidak ada—hanya diselingi komando Dee Dee yang berteriak “One, two, three, four”. Hetfield pun mengutarakan niatnya ingin membentuk sebuah grup rock yang enerjik seperti Ramones. Alih-alih kayak Ramones, justru Metallica tetap dengan gaya sendiri yang mereka sebut heavy metal.
Penggemar Ramones memang bukan cuma musisi. Penulis novel misteri Stephen Kings juga menjadi salah satu fans Joey Cs. Bahkan, Kings dikabarkan menyumbangkan tulisan khusus untuk Ramones di album “Tribute to Ramones”. Salah satu karya Kings yang difilmkan juga pernah diisi soundtrack lagu Ramones yang berjudul “Pet Semetary”.
Album selanjutnya yang dikeluarkan Ramones, berturut-turut adalah “Brain Drain”, “All The Stuff and More” (1 dan 2), “Loco Live”, “Mondo Bizarro”, “Acid Eaters”, dan “Adios Amigos”. Dee Dee sudah tak bersama Ramones saat “Mondo Bizarro” dikerjakan. Dia digantikan C.J. Ramone. Dee Dee keluar karena ingin menjadi penyanyi rap dengan nama Dee Dee King. Dee Dee lalu membentuk sebuah grup bernama Chinese Dragon dan sempat menelurkan album sendiri. Adios Amigos menjadi album terakhir Ramones yang diklaim Joey Cs sekaligus sebagai album perpisahan. Setelah itu, Ramones membubarkan diri pada 1996. Joey solo dan sempat mengeluarkan album berjudul “Don’t Worry About Me”.
Majalah musik, Spin, belum lama ini merilis daftar 50 grup musik terbesar. Dan Ramones menduduki posisi kedua, setelah The Beatles di posisi pertama dan sebelum Led Zeppelin yang berada di tempat ketiga. Pilihan Spin memang masih bisa diperdebatkan. Namun, menurut para redakturmya, urutan 50 grup musik terbesar itu dibuat didasarkan bahwa “Kelompok-kelompok tersebut harus memiliki lagu yang berada di puncak tangga lagu-lagu, aura yang mengubah sejarah, gaya rambut, serta mempengaruhi musik saat ini”. Ramones tak bisa disangsikan, menurut redaktur Spin, memang mampu memenuhi kualifikasi tersebut. Lagu-lagu Ramones kerap masuk tangga lagu di AS dan Inggris. Bahkan, Ramones dinobatkan sebagai grup punk pertama yang menorehkan sejumlah lagu hitsnya di tangga lagu top dunia. Di antara lagu yang tenar adalah “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”.
Pada 15 April 2001 jam 14.20 waktu AS, Joey Ramone meninggal dunia di Rumah Sakit Presbyterian New York setelah berjuang keras melawan kanker limpa. Publik rock, khususnya punk berduka. Malamnya, di tengah konser U2 di Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon, vokalis U2, Bono, berbicara sejenak kepada para penonton. Dia mengatakan betapa Joey dan The Ramones telah mengubah U2 dan hidupnya sendiri melalui pesan-pesan dalam lagu Ramones yang kerap membuat jantungnya berdegup.
“Saya katakan, `Saya ingin berbicara dengan kalian tentang Joey Ramone…, dan seluruh penonton berdiri bergemuruh,” kata Bono sambil mengingat betapa terpananya dia waktu itu. Kepada penonton di Oregon, dia juga menceritakan bagaimana Ramones membuat Bono Cs membentuk sebuah band. Setelah itu, Bono menyanyikan karya emas Joey, “I Remember You” dari album Ramones, “Leave Home” (1977). “Yang mengejutkan adalah penonton menyanyikan lagu itu dengan seksama. Kemudian saya katakan bahwa Joey meninggal hari itu,” kata Bono, seperti dikutip dari Majalah Rollingstone yang menanyakannya perihal Ramones. Di CBGB, penggemar Ramones berkumpul dan menyalakan lilin untuk Joey serta menaruh karangan bunga di depan klub para punkers itu.
Dee Dee Ramone juga meninggal dunia di rumahnya di Los Angeles, California, AS, 5 Juni 2002, saat dia berusia 49. Hasil otopsi Los Angeles County Coroner`s Office menyebutkan, Dee Dee tewas karena overdosis obat-obatan terlarang.
Ramones memang meninggalkan cukup kesan di hati banyak orang dengan musik dua menitnya. Wajar kiranya Metallica, U2, Eddie Vedder, bahkan Stephen Kings merelakan waktunya untuk menggarap sebuah album yang dipersembahkan buat Ramones. Majalah Rollingstone dalam edisi April 2004 juga memasukkan Ramones sebagai satu dari 50 grup abadi sepanjang masa. Sebelumnya, pada Maret 2002, Ramones diabadikan dalam Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Seperti dikatakan Deryck Whibley, personel SUM-41 kepada Majalah Spin, “Kepandaian Ramones adalah mereka mampu mengatakan sesuatu hanya dalam waktu dua menit.”
`Cause there`s no place I wanna beI just wanna have some chicksI just wanna get some kicksRock, rock, rock n` roll high school”
Jins belel, jaket kulit warna hitam, dan rambut poni. Musik minimalis: cukup tiga chord; tanpa solo gitar. Sekali gebrak, “one, two, three, four”: lagu mengisi panggung. Dalam waktu tak lebih dari 30 menit, Ramones menyuguhkan tak kurang dari 20 lagu. Siapa menyangka kisah empat anak muda pengusung rock n` roll yang enerjik—belakangan disebut pelopor Punk Rock–ini mampu mempengaruhi perjalanan banyak grup musik sepanjang masa. Termasuk, grup-grup besar di zaman sekarang, seperti Metallica, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Greenday, dan Offsfrings. Bahkan, empat kelompok musik yang disebut terakhir ini ikut ambil bagian dalam proyek Tribute to Ramones, sebuah album yang dipersembahkan buat mengenang The Ramones dan bertajuk “We`re a Happy Family”–diambil dari sebuah judul lagu Ramones. “We`re a Happy Family” dirilis Februari 2003.
Jeffrey Hymann alias Joey Ramone (vokalis Ramones, 19 Mei 1951-15 April 2001) mungkin tak akan pernah menyangka tatkala menyaksikan musik yang diusungnya dulu, kelak menjadi sebuah genre tersendiri yang identik dengan sebuah subkultur: punk rock. Padahal, saat itu, keempat pemuda di Ramones (Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, dan Marky), cuma kepingin main musik yang mereka klaim sebagai “lain dari yang lain”. Seperti dikatakan Joey Ramone pada 1974, “Kami tak mendapat apa-apa dalam musik saat ini. Kami bosan menjadi Led Zeppelin atau The Stones (Rolling Stones)”. Dan, Ramones pun memainkan musik yang mereka inginkan; yang serba minimalis hingga seorang pengamat musik di AS menilai, musik Ramones sangat tak beradab dengan vokal yang konyol, lirik pendek yang diulang-ulang, serta suara gitar yang meraung-raung persis suara gergaji mesin.
Namun begitu, buat menjadi sebuah pionir dalam genre punk rock, Ramones tak serta merta menjadi “Ramones”.
Joey Ramone bocah New York asli yang lahir dan tumbuh menjadi pria jangkung di kawasan Forest Hills, New York, Amerika Serikat. Dalam sebuah wawancara dalam film dokumenter “Lifestyle Ramones”, ibu Joey menyebut Jeffrey kecil—nama asli Joey—sebagai bocah penurut dan sangat lucu. Tommy Erdelyi (Tommy Ramone) dikenal sebagai penggemar berat The Beatles yang lahir di Budapest, 29 Januari 1952 dan besar di Queens, New York. John Cummings (Johnny Ramone) lahir 8 Oktober 1951 sedangkan Douglas Colvin (Dee Dee Ramone) lahir 18 September 1952 di Fort Lee, Virginia, dan sempat tinggal di Berlin, Jerman.
Keempat anak muda ini bertemu pertama kali saat masuk Forest Hills High School pada September 1966. Musik menyatukan mereka dan akhirnya sepakat membentuk sebuah band bernama The Ramones. Nama ini dipinjam dari Paul Ramon, nama samaran Paul McCartney, pemetik bass The Beatles, saat dia solo.
Saat itu, Jeffrey ingin namanya diganti menjadi sesuatu yang lain dan terkesan keren (cool) atau bahasa anak sekarang “gue banget”. Mereka pun sepakat memakai nama panggilan. Jeffrey menjadi Joey, Douglas menjadi Dee Dee, dan John menjadi Johnny. Cuma Tommy yang tetap Tommy. Semua memakai nama Ramone di belakang nama panggilan masing-masing.
Pada formasi awal, Joey di posisi drum, Johnny main gitar, Dee Dee sebagai vokalis, dan seorang bernama Ritchie Ramone yang diminta untuk bermain bass. Namun Ritchie tak bertahan lama lantaran harus masuk rumah sakit jiwa. Dee Dee menggantikan posisi Ritchie dengan bermain bass. Saat itu, Tommy menjadi manajer Ramones. Lagu pertama yang ditulis Joey cs adalah “I Don’t Wanna be Loved” yang segera mengawali trend lagu-lagu Ramones yang banyak berawal dengan kata “I Wanna..” atau “I Don`t Wanna..” Semisal “I Wanna Be Sedated” atau “I Don`t Want To Live This Life” dan “I Don`t Wanna Grow Up”.
Ramones unjuk gigi pertama kali di Performance Studio di East 23rd Street , NY, 30 Maret 1974 yang disaksikan 30 orang. Pada Juli 1974, Tommy mengambil posisi drum sehingga Joey bisa konsentrasi pada vocal. Ramones mulai menyita perhatian publik saat mereka tampil di Max’s Kansa City dan CBGB (Country Bluegrass and Blues)—sebuah klub yang setelah Ramones pentas di sana dinobatkan sebagai klub musik underground pertama di AS. Ramones main di CBGB pada 16-17 Agustus 1974 sebagai grup pembuka Blondie. Sejak itu pula punk rock merajalela di New York. Penampilan Ramones dinanti-nanti para punkers (sebutan untuk anak punk).
Konser besar pertama Ramones berlangsung Juni 1975 saat mereka sepanggung bersama Johnny Winter di Palace Theatre di Waterbury. Dan atas usaha Bizarre yang pernah mengorbitkan Iggy Pop dan Television, album pertama Ramones keluar pada April 1976 lewat label Seymour Stein’s Sire. Album pertama Ramones yang juga bertitel Ramones diselesaikan dengan waktu kurang dari dua pekan dengan biaya cuma $ 6.400. Sebuah era baru dimulai. “Heyho Let`s Go”, lirik dalam “Blizkrieg Bop&”, salah satu lagu di album pertama Ramones menjadi yel-yel para punkers hingga kini Begitu juga “Gabba Gabba Hey”. Marky Ramone masuk menggantikan Tommy sebagai penggebuk drum.
Lirik lagu-lagu Ramones banyak menceritakan situasi sosial saat itu, seperti 53rd and 3rd atau tentang kenakalan remaja, semisal “Rock N` Roll High School” atau “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”.
Dalam History of Punk Rock ditulis bahwa banyak band-band sebelum Ramones, seperti Iggy and The Stooges, MC5, Richard Hell dan The Voidoids menampilkan beberapa aspek dari punk, tetapi tak ada band yang mengkombinasikan semua unsur dalam punk hingga Ramones menyatukannya tahun 1975. Ramones memang mengisi setiap lagu dengan sedikit nada yang ditimpali frase pendek yang diulang-ulang, gitar yang berisik dengan melodi yang nyaris tidak ada dan berkutat pada three magic chord. Durasi setiap lagu rata-rata cuma dua menit.
Banyak yang suka, tapi tak sedikit pula yang geleng-geleng kepala. Bahkan, saat itu tak ada satu pun major labels yang mau menerbitkan lagu-lagu Ramones. Danny Field dari A&M Record mengaku merasa jijik dan segera pergi meski baru mendengarkan setengah dari lagu Ramones. Dia mengaku sama sekali tidak tertarik dengan musik punk dan menyebutnya sebagai sebuah onggokan besar omong kosong yang tak seorang pun ingin mendekat.
Ramones tak kecil hati. Lagu-lagu mereka tetap dinanti. Konser-konser mereka juga selalu padat, meski hanya digelar dalam sebuah klub malam. Bahkan, dalam sebuah penampilan di Jerman pada 1976, para anak muda setempat nekat berdiri di setiap celah yang kosong di antara empat bangku plus satu meja yang memang disediakan panitia untuk para penonton Ramones.
Pada 4 Juli 1976, Ramones menggebrak public London, Inggris, yang juga ditonton personel Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Generatiion X, serta Siouxsie and the Banshees. Merekalah cikal bakal punk di Inggris yang meledak setahun kemudian. Bahkan, musik Sex Pistols disebut banyak pengamat musik sebagai lebih tidak beradab dan lebih kasar daripada Ramones. Konser di London’s Roundhouse itu pula yang menjadi salah satu aksi Ramones dengan jumlah penonton sepulub kali lipat dari yang seharusnya ada di tempat itu.
Single kedua Ramones yang berjudul “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” diterbitkan pada Oktober 1976 disusul album kedua yang bertajuk “Ramones Leave Home”. Album selanjutnya keluar nyaris dengan beda waktu sekitar setahun, yaitu “Rocket to Russia”, “Road to Ruin”, “It`s Alive”, “End of The Century”, “Pleasent Dream”, “Subterranean Jungle”, “Too Tough to Die”, “Animal Boy”, “Halfway to Sanity”, serta “Ramones Mania”. Hits demi hits diciptakan Ramones mengiringi album demi album yang terbit, seperti “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”, “Cretin` Hop”, “Pinhead”, “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue”, “Do You Remember Rock `n Roll Radio?”, “53rd and 3rd”, “Rockaway Beach”, dan “Psychoterapy”.
Ramones terus menancapkan pengaruh di jagat musik rock. James Hetfield dan Lars Ulrich, masing-masing guitar-vokal dan penggebuk drum Metallica mengakuinya. Metallica tak akan pernah ada seandainya Hetfield dan Ulrich tak menonton aksi Ramones pada pertengahan 1980-an. Saat itu, Hetfield terkesima dengan ulah Joey Cs yang tak henti-henti bernyanyi dengan jeda antara lagu demi lagu yang nyaris tidak ada—hanya diselingi komando Dee Dee yang berteriak “One, two, three, four”. Hetfield pun mengutarakan niatnya ingin membentuk sebuah grup rock yang enerjik seperti Ramones. Alih-alih kayak Ramones, justru Metallica tetap dengan gaya sendiri yang mereka sebut heavy metal.
Penggemar Ramones memang bukan cuma musisi. Penulis novel misteri Stephen Kings juga menjadi salah satu fans Joey Cs. Bahkan, Kings dikabarkan menyumbangkan tulisan khusus untuk Ramones di album “Tribute to Ramones”. Salah satu karya Kings yang difilmkan juga pernah diisi soundtrack lagu Ramones yang berjudul “Pet Semetary”.
Album selanjutnya yang dikeluarkan Ramones, berturut-turut adalah “Brain Drain”, “All The Stuff and More” (1 dan 2), “Loco Live”, “Mondo Bizarro”, “Acid Eaters”, dan “Adios Amigos”. Dee Dee sudah tak bersama Ramones saat “Mondo Bizarro” dikerjakan. Dia digantikan C.J. Ramone. Dee Dee keluar karena ingin menjadi penyanyi rap dengan nama Dee Dee King. Dee Dee lalu membentuk sebuah grup bernama Chinese Dragon dan sempat menelurkan album sendiri. Adios Amigos menjadi album terakhir Ramones yang diklaim Joey Cs sekaligus sebagai album perpisahan. Setelah itu, Ramones membubarkan diri pada 1996. Joey solo dan sempat mengeluarkan album berjudul “Don’t Worry About Me”.
Majalah musik, Spin, belum lama ini merilis daftar 50 grup musik terbesar. Dan Ramones menduduki posisi kedua, setelah The Beatles di posisi pertama dan sebelum Led Zeppelin yang berada di tempat ketiga. Pilihan Spin memang masih bisa diperdebatkan. Namun, menurut para redakturmya, urutan 50 grup musik terbesar itu dibuat didasarkan bahwa “Kelompok-kelompok tersebut harus memiliki lagu yang berada di puncak tangga lagu-lagu, aura yang mengubah sejarah, gaya rambut, serta mempengaruhi musik saat ini”. Ramones tak bisa disangsikan, menurut redaktur Spin, memang mampu memenuhi kualifikasi tersebut. Lagu-lagu Ramones kerap masuk tangga lagu di AS dan Inggris. Bahkan, Ramones dinobatkan sebagai grup punk pertama yang menorehkan sejumlah lagu hitsnya di tangga lagu top dunia. Di antara lagu yang tenar adalah “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”.
Pada 15 April 2001 jam 14.20 waktu AS, Joey Ramone meninggal dunia di Rumah Sakit Presbyterian New York setelah berjuang keras melawan kanker limpa. Publik rock, khususnya punk berduka. Malamnya, di tengah konser U2 di Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon, vokalis U2, Bono, berbicara sejenak kepada para penonton. Dia mengatakan betapa Joey dan The Ramones telah mengubah U2 dan hidupnya sendiri melalui pesan-pesan dalam lagu Ramones yang kerap membuat jantungnya berdegup.
“Saya katakan, `Saya ingin berbicara dengan kalian tentang Joey Ramone…, dan seluruh penonton berdiri bergemuruh,” kata Bono sambil mengingat betapa terpananya dia waktu itu. Kepada penonton di Oregon, dia juga menceritakan bagaimana Ramones membuat Bono Cs membentuk sebuah band. Setelah itu, Bono menyanyikan karya emas Joey, “I Remember You” dari album Ramones, “Leave Home” (1977). “Yang mengejutkan adalah penonton menyanyikan lagu itu dengan seksama. Kemudian saya katakan bahwa Joey meninggal hari itu,” kata Bono, seperti dikutip dari Majalah Rollingstone yang menanyakannya perihal Ramones. Di CBGB, penggemar Ramones berkumpul dan menyalakan lilin untuk Joey serta menaruh karangan bunga di depan klub para punkers itu.
Dee Dee Ramone juga meninggal dunia di rumahnya di Los Angeles, California, AS, 5 Juni 2002, saat dia berusia 49. Hasil otopsi Los Angeles County Coroner`s Office menyebutkan, Dee Dee tewas karena overdosis obat-obatan terlarang.
Ramones memang meninggalkan cukup kesan di hati banyak orang dengan musik dua menitnya. Wajar kiranya Metallica, U2, Eddie Vedder, bahkan Stephen Kings merelakan waktunya untuk menggarap sebuah album yang dipersembahkan buat Ramones. Majalah Rollingstone dalam edisi April 2004 juga memasukkan Ramones sebagai satu dari 50 grup abadi sepanjang masa. Sebelumnya, pada Maret 2002, Ramones diabadikan dalam Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Seperti dikatakan Deryck Whibley, personel SUM-41 kepada Majalah Spin, “Kepandaian Ramones adalah mereka mampu mengatakan sesuatu hanya dalam waktu dua menit.”
Lennon's solo career began a year earlier with Unfinished Music No 1 - Two Virgins . The sleeve depicted him and Ono standing naked, and the cover became better known than the disjointed sound effects contained within. Three months later Lennon continued his marvelous joke on us, with Unfinished Music No 2 - Life With The Lions . One side consisted of John and Yoko calling out to each other during her stay in a London hospital while pregnant. Lennon camped by the side of her bed during her confinement and subsequent miscarriage. Four months after "Give Peace a Chance", "Cold Turkey" arrived via the Plastic Ono Band, consisting of Lennon, Ono, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and drummer Alan White. This raw rock song about heroin withdrawal was also a hit, although it failed to make the UK Top 10. Again, Lennon's incorrigible wit worked when he sent back his MBE to the Queen, protesting about the Biafran war, Britain supporting the American involvement in Vietnam and "Cold Turkey" slipping down the charts.
In February 1970, a freshly cropped-headed Lennon was seen performing "Instant Karma" on the BBC Television program Top Of The Pops ; this drastic action was another antiwar protest. This Phil Spector - produced offering was his most melodic post-Beatles song to date and was his biggest hit thus far in the UK and the USA. The release of John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band in January 1971 was a shock to the system for most Beatles' fans. This stark "primal scream" album was recorded following treatment with Dr. Arthur Janov. It is as brilliant as it is disturbing. Lennon poured out much of his bitterness from his childhood and adolescence, neat and undiluted. The screaming "Mother" finds Lennon grieving for her loss and begging for his father. Lennon's Dylanesque "Working Class Hero" is another standout track; in less vitriolic tone he croons: "A working class hero is something to be, if you want to be a hero then just follow me". The irony is that Lennon was textbook middle-class and his agony stemmed from the fact that he wanted to be working-class. The work was a cathartic exorcism for Lennon, most revealing on "God", in which he voiced the heretical, "I don't believe in the Beatles...", before adding, "I just believe in me, Yoko and me, and that's reality." More than any other work in the Lennon canon, this was a farewell to the past. The album was brilliant, and 20 or more years later, it is regarded as his finest complete work.
His most creative year was 1971. Following the album Lennon released another strong single, "Power To The People". After his move to New York, the follow-up Imagine was released in October. Whilst the album immediately went to number 1 internationally, it was a patchy collection. The attack on Paul McCartney in "How Do You Sleep?" was labored over in the press and it took two decades before another track, "Jealous Guy", was accepted as a classic, and only then after Bryan Ferry's masterly cover became a number 1 hit. Lennon's resentment towards politicians was superbly documented in "Gimme Some Truth" when he spat out, "I'm sick and tired of hearing things from uptight, shortsighted, narrow-minded hypocrites". The title track, however, remains as one of his greatest songs. Musically "Imagine" is extraordinarily simple, but the combination of that simplicity and the timeless lyrics make it one of the finest songs of the century. A Christmas single came in December, "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)", another song destined for immortality and annual reissue. Again, an embarrassingly simple message: "War is over if you want it".
The following year Sometime In New York City was issued; this double set contained a number of political songs, and was written during the peak of Lennon's involvement with hippie-radical, Jerry Rubin. Lennon addresses numerous problems with angry lyrics over deceptively melodic songs. The lilting and seemingly innocent "Luck Of The Irish" is one example of melody with scathing comment. The album's strongest track is yet another song with one of Lennon's statement-like titles: "Woman Is The Nigger Of The World". Once again he was ahead of the game, making a bold plea for women's rights a decade before it became fashionable. The following year he embarked on his struggle against deportation and the fight for his famous "green card". At the end of a comparatively quiet 1973, Lennon released Mind Games, an album that highlighted problems between him and Yoko. Shortly afterwards, Lennon left for his "lost weekend" and spent many months in Los Angeles in a haze of drugs and alcohol. During a brief sober moment he produced Nilsson's Pussycats. At the end of a dreadful year, Lennon released Walls And Bridges , which contained more marital material and a surprise US number 1, "Whatever Gets You Through The Night", a powerful rocker with Lennon sounding in complete control. That month (November 1974), he made his last ever concert appearance when he appeared on-stage at Madison Square Garden with Elton John. That night Lennon was reunited with Ono and, in his words, "the separation failed".
Rock 'N' Roll was released the next year; it was a tight and energetic celebration of many of his favorite songs, including "Slippin' And Slidin'", "Peggy Sue" and a superb "Stand By Me". The critics and public loved it and it reached number 6 on both sides of the Atlantic. Following the birth of their son Sean, Lennon became a house husband, while Ono looked after their not inconsiderable business interests. Five years later, a new album was released to a relieved public and went straight to number 1 virtually worldwide. The following month, with fans still jubilant at Lennon's return, he was suddenly brutally murdered by a gunman outside his apartment building in Manhattan. Almost from the moment that Lennon's heart stopped in the Roosevelt Hospital the whole world reacted in unprecedented mourning, with scenes usually reserved for royalty and world leaders. His records were re-released and experienced similar sales and chart positions to that of the Beatles' heyday. While all this happened, one could "imagine" Lennon calmly looking down on us, watching the world's reaction, and having a huge celestial laugh.
Lennon had a brilliant sense of humor and a deeply romantic heart. He could be cruel and unbelievably kind; he could love you one minute and destroy you with his tongue a few minutes later. Opinions as to his character are subjective. What is undeniable, is that the body of songs he created with Paul McCartney is the finest popular music catalogue ever known. His composition "Imagine" was voted one of the songs of the millennium, and for many of us has more power and meaning than any national anthem.
Ram, credited to McCartney and his wife Linda (born Linda Eastman, 24 September 1942, Scarsdale, New York, USA, died 17 April 1998), was also maligned as commentators opined that the singer lacked an acidic riposte to his often sentimental approach. The album nonetheless spawned a US number 1 in "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey", while an attendant single, "Another Day", reached number 2 in the UK. Drummer Denny Seiwell, who had assisted on these sessions, was invited to join a projected band, later enhanced by former Moody Blues' member Denny Laine. The quartet, dubbed Wings, then completed Wild Life, another informal set marked by an indifference to dexterity and the absorption of reggae and classic rock 'n' roll rhythms. Having expanded the lineup to include Henry McCullough (ex- Grease Band ; guitar), McCartney took the band on an impromptu tour of UK colleges, before releasing three wildly contrasting singles, "Give Ireland Back To The Irish" (banned by the BBC), "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and "Hi,Hi,Hi"/"C Moon" (all 1972). The following year, Wings completed "My Love", a sculpted ballad in the accepted McCartney tradition, and Red Rose Speedway, to that date his most formal set. Plans for the unit's fourth album were undermined by the defection of McCullough and Seiwell, but the remaining trio emerged triumphant from a series of productive sessions undertaken in a Lagos studio.
Band On The Run was undeniably a major achievement, and did much to restore McCartney's faltering reputation. Buoyed by adversity, the artist offered a passion and commitment missing from earlier albums and, in turn, reaped due commercial plaudits when the title song and "Jet" reached both US and UK Top 10 positions. The lightweight, but catchy, "Junior's Farm" provided another hit single before a reconstituted Wings, which now included guitarist Jimmy McCulloch (born 4 June 1953, died 27 September 1979; ex- Thunderclap Newman and Stone The Crows) and Joe English (drums), completed Venus And Mars, Wings At The Speed Of Sound and the expansive on-tour collection, Wings Over America. Although failing to scale the artistic heights of Band On The Run, such sets reestablished McCartney as a major figure and included best-selling singles such as "Listen To What The Man Said" (1975), "Silly Love Songs" and "Let 'Em In" (both 1976). Although progress was momentarily undermined by the departures of McCulloch and English, Wings enjoyed its most spectacular success with "Mull Of Kintyre" (1977), a saccharine paean to Paul and Linda's Scottish retreat which topped the UK charts for nine consecutive weeks and sold over 2.5 million copies in Britain alone.
Although regarded as disappointing, London Town nevertheless included "With A Little Luck", a US number 1, but although Wings' newcomers Laurence Juber (guitar) and Steve Holly (drums) added weight to Back To The Egg, it, too, was regarded as inferior. Whereas the band was not officially disbanded until April 1981, McCartney's solo recordings, "Wonderful Christmastime" (1979), "Coming Up" (1980) and McCartney II, already heralded a new phase in the artist's career. However, if international success was maintained through duets with Stevie Wonder ("Ebony And Ivory"), Michael Jackson ("The Girl Is Mine") as well as "Say Say Say" and "Pipes Of Peace", attendant albums were marred by inconsistency. McCartney's 1984 feature film, Give My Regards To Broad Street, was maligned by critics, a fate befalling its soundtrack album, although the optimistic ballad, "No More Lonely Nights", reached number 2 in the UK. The artist's once-prolific output then noticeably waned, but although his partnership with 10cc guitarist Eric Stewart gave Press To Play a sense of direction, it failed to halt a significant commercial decline. Choba B CCCP, a collection of favoured "oldies" solely intended for release in the USSR, provided an artistic respite and publicity, before a much-heralded collaboration with Elvis Costello produced material for the latter's Spike and McCartney's own Flowers In The Dirt, arguably his strongest set since Venus And Mars.
Paradoxically, singles culled from the album failed in the charts, but a world tour, on which the McCartneys were joined by Robbie McIntosh (ex- Pretenders ; guitar), Wix (keyboards), Hamish Stuart (ex- Average White Band ; bass/vocals) and Chris Whitten (drums), showed that his power to entertain was still intact. By drawing on material from the Beatles, Wings and solo recordings, McCartney demonstrated a prowess which has spanned a quarter of a century. The extent of his diversity was emphasized by his collaboration with Carl Davis on the classical "Liverpool Oratorio", which featured opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Off The Ground received lukewarm reviews and soon dropped out of the charts after a brief run. The accompanying tour, however, was a different story. The ambitious stage show and effects undertook a world tour in 1993, and was one of the highest grossing tours in the USA during the year.
Various rumors circulated in 1994 about a reunion with the surviving members of his most famous band. Both he and Yoko Ono appeared to have settled their long-standing differences, as had George Harrison and McCartney. The success in 1994-95 of the Beatles At The BBC indicated a ripe time for some kind of musical reunion. This was partly achieved with the overdubbing of "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" for the magnificent Anthology series in 1996. The profile of the Beatles had rarely been higher and this was celebrated in the new year honors list by a knighthood for services to music to McCartney. Presumably this was in recognition for his outstanding work with Lennon.
No doubt spurred on by the Anthology, Flaming Pie sounded like McCartney meant it again. The addition of Steve Miller on three tracks added some gutsy rock guitar credibility. Mostly however, it was a magnificent return to form. Jeff Lynne 's production was tempered to sound cooked to perfection, unlike some of his previous overbaked concoctions. This was most definitely for lovers of the Beatles' The Beatles. The varied contents included "Heaven On A Sunday", with its descending acoustic guitar dueling with the ascending lead guitar of son James, and "Used To Be Bad", an excellent simple up-tempo blues featuring Miller, both singers trading lines as their voices blended beautifully. Further tracks included the Memphis soul of "Souvenir", and "In It For The Money", which never loses pace for one moment. The folk simplicity of "Calico Skys" was topped by the exquisite "Somedays", a heart-tugging love song to Linda, and one of his finest songs in many decades. His love for his wife shone through the whole record. (Sadly, Linda lost her battle with cancer the following year, but was honored with a memorial service on 9 June in London's Trafalgar Square.) Flaming Pie should ideally be listened to as one piece, since, in that context, it sounds like a minor masterpiece.
In March 1999, McCartney was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist. Later in the year he recorded another back-to-basics collection of 50s rock 'n' roll cover versions, including three new tracks. Run Devil Run was an excellent collection and included versions of "All Shook Up" and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" in addition to lesser known material, notably "No Other Baby". This little known track, a smoldering slow blues, was recorded by the UK skiffle group, the Vipers in the late 50s. On 14 December 1999, McCartney took himself back to the famous Cavern club with his studio band, comprising guitarists Mick Green (ex-Pirates) and David Gilmour, keyboardist Pete Wingfield, and drummer Ian Paice. In reality, it was a rebuilt Cavern, next door to the original cellar. Musically however McCartney seemed fired up, singing and playing with an energy not seen for many years. In other areas McCartney might be seen as an overachiever, with his original paintings getting media coverage in 2000, and his book of poetry the following year.
These selections were, however, eclipsed by "My Sweet Lord", which deftly combined melody with mantra and deservedly soared to the top of the US and UK charts. Its luster was sadly removed in later years when the publishers of the Chiffons' 1964 hit, "She's So Fine", successfully sued for plagiarism. Harrison's next project was "Bangla-Desh", a single inspired by a plea from master musician Ravi Shankar to aid famine relief in the Indian subcontinent. Charity concerts, featuring Harrison, Dylan, Preston, Eric Clapton and Leon Russell , were held at New York's Madison Square Gardens in August 1971, which in turn generated a film and boxed-set. Legal wrangles blighted Harrison's altruism and it was 1973 before he resumed recording. Whereas All Things Must Pass boasted support from Derek And The Dominos, Badfinger and producer Phil Spector, Living In The Material World was more modest and consequently lacked verve. The album nonetheless reached number 1 in the US, as did an attendant single, "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)", but critical reaction was noticeably muted. A disastrous US tour was the unfortunate prelude to Dark Horse , the title of which was inspired by Harrison's new record label. His marriage to Patti Boyd now over, the set reflected its creator's depression and remains his artistic nadir. Although poorly received, Extra Texture partially redressed the balance, but the fact that its strongest track, "You", dated from 1971, did not escape attention. Thirty Three & 1/3 and George Harrison continued this regeneration; the latter was a particularly buoyant collection, but the quality still fell short of his initial recordings.
During this period Harrison became involved with his personal heroes, the Monty Python comedy team, in the production of Life Of Brian . His financing of the film ensured its success and cemented a long-lasting relationship with the troupe. In 1980 the artist's parent label, Warner Brothers Records, rejected the first version of Somewhere In England, deeming its content below standard. The reshaped collection included "All Those Years Ago", Harrison's homage to the murdered John Lennon, which featured contributions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. The song reached US number 2 when issued as a single, a position reflecting the subject matter rather than faith in the artist. Gone Troppo was issued to minimal fanfare from both outlet and creator, and rumors flourished that it marked the end of Harrison's recording career. He pursued other interests, notably with his company Handmade Films which included such productions as The Long Good Friday (1980), Time Bandits (1981), Water (1985), Mona Lisa (1986) and Shanghai Surprise (1986), occasionally contributing to the soundtracks. During this time Harrison cultivated two hobbies which took up a great deal of his life: motor racing and gardening. He was tempted back into the studio to answer several low-key requests, including Mike Batt's adaptation of The Hunting Of The Snark and the Greenpeace benefit album.
He joined the all-star cast saluting Carl Perkins on the television tribute Blue Suede Shoes, and in 1986 commenced work on a projected new album. Production chores were shared with Jeff Lynne , and the care lavished on the sessions was rewarded the following year when Harrison's version of the James Ray hit "Got My Mind Set On You" reached number 2 in the UK and number 1 in the US. The intentionally Beatles-influenced "When We Was Fab" was another major success, while Cloud Nine itself proved equally popular, with Lynne's grasp of commerciality enhancing Harrison's newfound optimism. Its release completed outstanding contracts and left this unpredictable artist free of obligations, although several impromptu live appearances suggest his interest in music was now rekindled. This revitalization also saw Harrison play a pivotal role within the Traveling Wilburys, an ad hoc "supergroup" initially comprising himself, Lynne, Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison . Harrison made his first tour for many years in Japan during January 1992 with his longtime friend Eric Clapton giving him support. He reappeared on-stage in England at a one-off benefit concert in April. In 1995, the UK press seemed to delight in the fact that Harrison had hit hard times caused by various business ventures and ill advice from people he used as advisors. The Beatles reunion in 1995 for the Anthology series banished any thoughts of bankruptcy. A further bonus came in January 1996 when he was awarded $11.6 million following litigation against Denis O'Brien and his mishandling of Harrison's finances.
Harrison's tact and the way he has dealt with his inner self should not be underestimated; the "quiet" Beatle does seem to have this part of his life totally sorted out. On December 30 1999, Harrison was stabbed when he attempted to accost a burglar in his home. The man was later charged with attempted murder, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He supervised the magnificent reissue of All Things Must Pass in 2000, and rumors of a new album began to circulate. This was hampered in 2001 when it was confirmed that Harrison was being treated for cancer.
Fears that his career would then falter proved unfounded. Starr's debut single, "It Don't Come Easy", co-written with George Harrison , topped the US charts and sold in excess of 1 million copies while the same pair also created "Back Off Boogaloo" (UK number 2) and "Photograph". Ringo featured songs and contributions from each of his former colleagues, although none were recorded together. Buoyed by strong original material and judicious rock 'n' roll favorites, the album later achieved platinum status and was rightly lauded as one of the strongest ex-Beatles' collections. "You're Sixteen" topped the US chart in 1974, but despite further success with "Oh My My", "Snookeroo" (penned by Elton John and Bernie Taupin ) and "Only You", Starr's momentum then waned. His film career enjoyed a brief renaissance, with production work on Born To Boogie followed by a highly-praised role in 1973's That'll Be The Day. The albums Ringo The 4th and Bad Boy showed an artist bereft of direction, however, and the 1983 album Old Wave was denied a release in both the US and UK. This period was also marred by alcoholism and chronic ill-health.
During this nadir, Starr reached a completely new audience as narrator of the award winning children's television series, Thomas The Tank Engine, but signaled his return to active performing with a guest appearance on Carl Perkins ' tribute show. However, an album recorded with US producer Chips Moman in 1987 was abandoned when sessions were blighted by excessive imbibing. Starr then underwent highly-publicized treatment at an alcohol rehabilitation clinic with his wife, actress Barbara Bach, before reasserting his musical career with the All-Starr Band. Levon Helm, Billy Preston, Joe Walsh and Dr. John were among those joining the drummer for a successful 1989 US tour, later the subject of an album and video. The stellar cast Starr was able to assemble confirmed the respect he is still afforded. Starr received a high-profile in 1992 with a new album and tour. The record coincided with the 25th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band which was a timely reminder that his playing on that album was quite superb, and, in addition to his equally fine performance on Abbey Road, begs for a reappraisal of his standing as a drummer which appears grossly underrated.
He undertook many interviews in 1998 when Vertical Man was released. It seemed for once that Starr had something to say about the past, although his apparent anger stems from the fact that he is still regarded as the "merely" the drummer for the Beatles. That is unlikely to ever change, and whilst he may tire of constantly having to recycle the past, to the detriment of his still active solo career; ex-Beatle Ringo Starr was far too important for millions of people.
