Customer Reviews

Ramones: An American Band

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have to say, Jim Bessman did a pretty good amount of research to get some of the information in this book. But the data does not compare to all the stuff featured in the book "Hey Ho, Let's Go: Story of The Ramones", but it doens't fall flat all together.

I originally got this is in mid 2003, but didn't take up reading it until late 2003. Anyways, it does have a fare amount of info- the only Ramones book to talk about the hidden demo "Succubus". And since it was the first Ramones book I read, I learned that the show Marky missed in 83' do to being drunk, was actually at my hometown- Virginia Beach, VA. Though other books said it, this was the first of my hearing of it.

Bessman goes over all the usual subjects- forming of the band, band members, and etc. He does include a nice array of hard to find, or only found in this book pictures. He includes lyrics from songs and such, but ironically, he lost most of the money he made from this book because he included the lyrics with getting permission! (Nice one Jim) And unlike a few other Ramones books, he goes over the short (2 show) lived band member-Elvis Ramone, AKA- Clem Burke from Blondie. Though, he doesn't cover to much of Richie, or the pre-Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Tommy grouping- Richi. But if you read Dee Dee's autobiography, he explains some about Richi, and the "Hey Ho Let's Go" book mentions him to.

After reading all English written Ramones books, I've classified them all as "Band Related"- mainly diving into what went on between everyone as time's went by, "Media Related"- primarily focused on what happened around the band before it came about, while they were together, and what they influenced in this world; also tapping in on record sales, videos made, and such. And finally: "Mixed"- these are the best types of Ramones books, including the inside of the band and the outside.

I classify "Ramones: An American Band" as "Media Related", but close to "Mixed". It tells of the band's upbringings and such, but focuses more on the songs themselve than the creaters.

In relation to this book, I recommend "On the Road With The Ramone"- really great mixed book. Provides more inside info than I've seen any other book about The Ramones have. Plus, a vast collection of photos. Also, "Hey Ho, Let's Go: Story of The Ramones" was very well documented.

Though, to finish this up, I have to say that Bessman released this a bit early- making it seem as though The Ramones would have kept touring at least another 10 or so years. But, they broke up about 4 years after this books publishing.

Thanks for reading and have a nice day,

Mikey.

Hearing the story of the Ramones is something I've looked forward to. And this is a fair telling of it. The writing verges at points of irritatiing congratulating tripe. During the first chapter there are so many "To take from there famous song..." and "To quote from..." that I wanted to quit right there. I want the story not a lot of fan boy c**p. Once into it however the story smooths out. A lot of great info and pictures. Overall recommended.

This is the book that any Ramones fan in the world would be anxious to read. A complete view into the most famous punk-rock band life through 20 years. You simply can't be a Ramones fan and do not read this book. It made me happy.

While the book is worth reading once to catch some interesting tidbits, Spellman is a mediocre writer. For instance, he several times refers to The Ramones as "the Grateful Dead of punk," which really doesn't make much sense. Both bands were together for a long time but the similarities pretty much end there. Are there many essential Ramones albums? Yes. Is this their essential biography? No.

Bessman wrote this book in collaboration with all of the Ramones while they were still alive. Because of the Ramones close involvement, it predictably skirts some sticky issues -- like Joey losing his girlfriend to Johnny and Dee Dee's teenage hustling -- but tackles others head-on, like Dee Dee's substance abuse. It does come off as fannish; there are a lot of sentences that end with exclamation marks!

While not as great as the other documents of the 70's New York punk scene -- Heylin's "From the Velvets to the Voidoids" or Kozak's "This ain't no disco" or especially McNeil's "Please kill me" -- this does have a lot of information about the Ramones that is missing from the aforementioned books. However, the better and more up-to-date book is Porter's "Ramones: the complete twisted history."

This book gives you the essential history of the Ramones. Not many other bands would right down important dates in their careers, but fortunately for us Johnny Ramone kept a good log of historical dates. This book is a must read for the informational part of it. As well as the pictures inside the book show you how the Ramones never sold out to any fashions trends.

While full of facts and history, The Ramones : An American Band seems to have been written by the band's biggest fan. Usually, that would at least provide some first person perspective. However, in this case, it falls somewhat flat as the writer appears to be a drooling sycophant. That itself makes it a somewhat unintersting read, as even tragedies and misfortunes are sterilized so much that the reader can't even feel them.

The most significant problem with this book is that founding member and collaberator Dee Dee Ramone, was not interviewed for it, rather his quotes were lifted from other sources. Known by fans and critics alike as the "heart & soul" of the Ramones, his perspective is sorely missed, and it is noted in this book that he was, at the time of publication, writing his own account. That account eventually was released as Lobotomy : Survivng the Ramones, which this writer highly recommends, as the good, the bad and the ugly are exposed and allowed to be felt to the fullest !

This book does not provide any useful information about The Ramones. One of music's most pivotal bands deserves more than the brief overview Bressman offers. He has the reader believe that through good times and bad these guys always loved each other-anyone see Dee Dee at the rock and roll hall of fame ceremony?
American Band is like a thin sandwich. What you get is a year by year account from 1974 to 1992 with very little to chew on in between.
Read Dee Dee's books if you want more information-if you can follow his train of thought. 'Please Kill Me' is a good starting point if you want to get a good overview of the whole punk phenom.
American Band's saving point-it had some pictures I hadn't seem before.

That's right, I couldn't put this book down. Well, I was writing a term paper on the influence and etiology of the Ramones, so I kind of had to read it. The book has its strong and weak points. First of all, it is great at giving accurate dates of many important events in the Ramones saga. It also gives a decent historical context for band, although Bessman could have dealt more with how and why the Ramones became popular. The idea of a three chord band emerging from the ashes of Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the late, experimental Beatles is a puzzling reality. The Ramones seem to have appealed to people who were fed up with disco and Led Zeppelin. It is unclear whether the Ramones emerged because they were something or because they weren't something else. Bessman doesn't exactly address this issue, but he gives the reader a great deal of information with which to form his or her own opinion. Lots of great pictures and actual quotes from the band and music reviews make the book vastly entertaining and informative. The hilarious anecdotes about the band are perhaps the most entertaining part of the book. Ramones: An American Band is especially useful for people of my generation, who grew up with 80's and 90's punk and wondered how it all started.

Needless to say, this is a must for every Ramones fan. The Ramones were (and still are) my favorite band. I was very sorry that they decided to call it a career a few years ago. This book reminds us that the Ramones saved rock n roll from the abyss of staleness. They reminded us that not only could rock be used to comment on the world and society, but that is was also fun. Most of their songs didn't have deep meanings to them, but they sure did rock. I saw the Ramones in concert many times.